Morrissey and Interpol have officially kicked off their joint 2019 U.S. tour. On the road in support of new music, both Morrissey and Interpol are anxious to share their new live sounds with fans around the country.
Released in May, 2019, Interpol’s recent EP A Fine Mess features the classic Interpol indie vibe, very similar to their most recent album Marauder. And that’s no coincidence as the EP features five songs that were previously recorded for the 2018 album, but for limited purposes, never made the cut.
On the other end of the bill, Morrissey’s recent release California Son takes a bit of a different route than what Morrissey fans are used to. Instead of original cuts, the 2019 album features a long list of reinvented covers by artists such as Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. There are even a couple of brief features on the album by legends like Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day.
With new music in tow, both Morrissey and special guest Interpol were more than prepared for opening night in Columbia, Maryland.
Playing a relatively short setlist of eleven songs, Interpol opened the show with enough energy to roll through twenty more. As frontman Paul Banks stepped onto stage, the crowd's enthusiasm soared. Opening with their 2002 hit "Untitled," Interpol quickly made a statement, hinting at a more classic Interpol setlist to come.
Hitting even more old school Interpol classics like "C'Mere," "Take You on a Cruise," "NYC" and "Evil," the band continued to harp on their original indie vibes before slipping in "The Rover" off of their most recent album.
Ending their set with two of their biggest hits, "Slow Hands" and "Obstacle 1," the indie rockers left it all out on the stage as they jammed their way through rekindled versions of both songs. It was a pure Interpol moment that perfectly summed up the free nature of their entire set.
It was now time for the main act to take the stage and Morrissey was more than ready. Strutting out in a full-piece suit, Steven Morrissey took center stage, fog billowing around him. As hinted by the vintage Morrissey pictures flashing on the screen behind the man himself, Morrissey’s performance perfectly blended his ‘80s rock roots with his more modern twists on a classic sound.
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Though not afraid to hint at his past with the band The Smiths, Morrissey didn’t necessarily embrace it either as only two Smiths songs made the twenty-three song setlist. However, he did open the show with a killer version of “How Soon Is Now?” before later dishing out “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore” as die-hard fans embraced the nostalgic moments.
While the stage setup was relatively simple, the large fixed lights behind the stage served as a unique addition to the full production. What often serves as a more practical feature to light the talent, became an artistic choice that brought the stage, and at times the audience, to life.
Riding this production high, Morrissey continued his set with a bunch of solo tracks like “Alma Matters,” “I Wish You Lonely,” “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris” and “The Bullfighter Dies” but not before promoting some newer hits off of California Son.
From Jobriath’s “Morning Starship” and Laura Nyro’s “Wedding Bell Blues” to Gary Puckett and the Union Gap’s “Lady Willpower” and Melanie’s “Some Say I Got Devil,” Morrissey made it clear that he was not only supporting his new album, but also showing it off considering how impressive his own renditions were.
As he geared up for the ensuing encore, the rock legend was sure to throw in a couple of unexpected tracks, including the live debut of “Never Again Will I Be a Twin” along with deep cuts like “Why Don’t You Find Out for Yourself” and “Seasick, Yet Still Docked.”
Returning to the stage for a final time, Morrissey rolled out a two-song encore featuring his two most-played songs live “Everyday Is Like Sunday” and “First of the Gang to Die.” As he hung up his old-school wired mic for the night, fans roared in appreciation of the entire experience.
See Morrissey's complete setlist and the joint tour's full list of remaining dates below. And don't forget to grab tickets at LiveNation!
Morrissey and Interpol Remaining 2019 U.S. Tour Dates:
09/05 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
09/07 – New York, New York @ Forest Hills Stadium
09/09 – Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion
09/11 – Kettering, OH @ Fraze Pavilion
09/13 – Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
09/14 – Highland Park, IL @ Ravinia Amphitheater
09/18 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Verizon Theatre
09/20 – Austin, TX @ Frank Erwin Center
09/21 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Outdoor Lawn
09/26 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
09/28 – Salt Lake City, UT @ SaltAir
09/30 – Portland, OR @ Theatre of the Clouds
10/01 – Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater
10/03 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Auditorium
10/05 – Irvine, CA @ Five Point Amphitheatre
10/06 – San Diego, CA @ Pechanga Arena
10/26 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
