Moztober: New tour, new songs, and Wilde new fashion

There was a time when October was my favourite month of the year. Having never been a sun-worshipper, and prone to being morbid and pale, I’ve spent my life craving crisp air and knit wear, not to mention the added bonuses of my birthday and Halloween. Over the last few years, however, I’ve found Fall somewhat troubling, mostly because October’s my birth-month, and I find the closer I trudge towards 40, the more daunting the entire aging process becomes; it’s just plain strange to see yourself change, to find lines tracing emotional road maps across your face, and discover that universal truth you’ve always known, but never wanted to consider, that - as some old cliché or other goes - human life has seasons of its own. Autumn, with its pretty golds and rusts, also conveys change, withering... oh, what a drag.

Luckily, I’ve been able to keep myself busy making travel plans – because – this autumn we are looking forward to a Morrissey US tour, which will kick off in Portland, Oregon on Halloween. It should be a treat, and Moz and the band might have some delicious tricks up their sleeves (I’m toying with the idea of deleting the trick-or-treat pun because it’s just not very clever, but I’ll hurdle you into the moment with me - too much caffeine, not enough sleep...so...let's make this stream-of-consciousness) However, as it is a holiday of sorts, perhaps something special will be arranged: remember the sugar skull face painting for last year's Día de los muertos concert in Santa Barbara? 

Of course, I'm wondering, as any other mid-thirty-something attending a Halloween concert would wonder, should I wear a costume?  In the meantime, check out the decadently beautiful historic venue:

Arlene Schnitzter concert hall in Portland, Oregon

Morrissey with Matt Walker at Santa Barbara Bowl
Via @freddyrules2 on Twitter

Leading up to the US tour and the November 17^th release of Low In High School, Morrissey will sing live on a number of programmes throughout the UK and Europe. To date he has appeared on...

BBC 6 Music Live (UK)

Later With Jools Holland (UK)

Le Live – C à Vous (Paris)

Arte concert – Schwuz (Berlin)

The appearance on BBC 6 fell on the heels of a horrific mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert. 58 people were killed, and hundreds injured, by a gun-loving lunatic gutlessly huddled within Mandalay Bay’s gilded towers, showering a hurricane of bullets on thousands of people who simply wanted to enjoy themselves for the night. Concerts are, for many of us, the places where we feel most free, and perhaps it is only at concerts that we can escape from the struggles within us, surrounding us, and engulfing us. Something about attacks in this vein strike as particularly evil... life is a pigsty.  This, of course, also begs the question, as I sit here up in relatively gun-free Canada... why do a certain number of NRA-obsessed Americans feel it is necessary to own guns, period? And those who excuse gun ownership for hunting... why feel the need to kill any animal, human or not? It is nothing but senseless death and violence.

Feeling a bit numb that particular Monday, and due to being about 8 time zones away, like many of my North American friends, I chose to pick up the BBC 6 concert the following night. Musing over some personal stress as well, my mood felt glum, unfocused... but I tuned in, nursing a glass of Malbec that tasted vaguely of dusty, dusky attics – and oh, my heart...

There was Morrissey – upon the stage – the first time I’d witnessed him singing live since Dallas in April. Wearing a sleek, plaid-lined Gucci jacket... he walked up to the lone, brave, powerful silhouette of the microphone - “made available” at Maida Vale.

Morrissey in Gucci collage by franeby on Instagram

Ultra-exclusive and difficult to attain tickets for, I only knew of one person in attendance at this gig. The band opened with Ringleader’s guitar-driven masterpiece You Have Killed Me, before jumping into a couple of new tracks: I Wish You Lonely and lead single, Spent The Day In Bed. At the right time, at the wrong time, at any time, truly great music says something to you about your life, and yet – it simultaneously helps you escape – into a different sphere. Awe.

My purpose today is not to review the new songs or do so formally – letting them absorb with purity on release of the new album, to me, seems the way to go, but – wow – I adore I Wish You Lonely. I think it’s quickly becoming one of my favourite Morrissey songs of all time. Mando Lopez expertly drives the tune with a killer bass line, and the lyrics and Morrissey’s vocals are sheer emotional force, throwing you into the mindset of the grotesquely lonely. “Tombs are full of fools” who give their lives upon command to war, romance, addiction – and the intoxicating lure of lost causes, chasing any opiate to dissolve our own crippling sense of emptiness, inevitably hurling us into the grave.

Setlist for Maida Vale, October 2, 2017:

1. You Have Killed Me

2. I Wish You Lonely (new track)

3. Spent The Day In Bed (new track)

4. Speedway

5. Istanbul

6. Ganglord

7. Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up On Stage (new track)

8. Back On The Chain Gang (Pretenders cover)

9. World Peace Is None Of Your Business

10. The Bullfighter Dies

11. When You Open Your Legs (new track)

12. Jack The Ripper

13. Home Is A Question Mark (new track)

14. All The Young People Must Fall In Love (new track)

Moz sang friend Hynde's song Back On The Chain Gang

Fast Forward to October 9^th, when Morrissey appeared live in Paris for a very intimate set on French programme C à Vous Live, singing Spent The Day In Bed. I also missed watching this one live, but managed to get hold of some YouTube footage later. To my absolute delight, Morrissey was decked out in a tawny-coloured cardigan embellished with a gold peacock feather. As both a cardigan lover and bird lover, this sent me nearly over the edge of excitment. I don’t believe Mozzer has appeared on stage in a cardi since Bergen last August, where he wore a glorious black sparkly one.

Morrissey wearing a cardigan on French TV

Due to my fascination with Moz fashion (particularly cardigans), I took to Google to see if I could find any info about the knitted piece. It turns out the sweater is from Alexander McQueen’s 2017 Autumn Collection, which was inspired by Oscar Wilde’s aestheticism, hence the peacock feather. Peacock feathers and sunflowers were favourites of Wilde’s from his days at Magdalen College, when he immersed himself in the oft-critiqued (by rigid traditionalists, anyway) aesthetic movement, becoming one of the movement's head figures. It's been a while since I've read Wilde's tragedy Salome, but peacocks do make an appearance at some point (I think?) and feature on the play's cover art.

Morrissey reading Wilde

Original cover art sketch, by Audrey Beardsley, for Salome

Alla Nazimova as Salome 

Like Wilde, McQueen also cast a distinctly tragic figure, as both died in their 40s. While Wilde passed away at 46, his health never recuperating after his imprisonment, McQueen died at 40 from suicide, after a series of attempts, a battle with depression and substance use, and unbearable grief over his mother’s death. Like Wilde, McQueen was considered a genius and found success at a fairly young age: his fashion design blurred lines with art, shock culture, political commentary, and has been described as “menacing, disturbing, and uncompromising.” Having heard of McQueen by name only, I learned more of him after a Twitter follower of mine, @michaelgracejr from indie band My Favourite pointed out to me that McQueen designed a collection in 1998 based on Joan of Arc: “now I know how Joan of Arc felt.”

McQueen's Joan of Arc
via pinterest

Still from The Passion of Joan of Arc (Falconetti)
Used as backdrop by Morrissey

To add layer over layer, McQueen’s 1992 graduate collection was inspired by Jack the Ripper. The collection featured jackets lined with strands of human hair. Perhaps this isn’t as creepy or unusual as it sounds, because, as an accessory, and a form of mourning art, human hair was a thing in Victorian times; look up “Victorian Hair Jewellery”. McQueen’s collection was called “Jack The Ripper Stalks His Victims.” Between Wilde, Joan, and Ripper, it seems that McQueen and Morrissey, at least at some level, have been captivated by a few similar figures.

Morrissey singing Jack the Ripper via mischievousnose on IG

With a new tour and album, we are also treated to new interviews. This week, in an interview for Rolling Stone, Morrissey said the songs on Low In High School are united by the common thread of “a rage in the blood, plus endless hooks.” He also maintains that, while the world may be in a messy state, hope can be found in art: “the political elite has stopped breathing, and the people and politicians everywhere are openly in a state of mutual contempt. Translate all of this into great music and life becomes hopeful.” For, how many of us actually look to politicians to speak to us about our lives, and, if we do, what the hell is wrong with us? It really is music that speaks to us on a deeper level, that drills into our blood, our moods, our minds, and helps us feel understood amidst the depersonalizing chaos surrounding us.

Excited to see Moz, excited to see my friends from far-off places, and also to visit some new cities, I’m back to planning my trip. I’m particularly excited to travel to the Eastern US, as I’ve never been out that way before. Speaking of Wilde, New York City now boasts a bar devoted to the quick-quipping writer. While seemingly not having any original items of Wilde's on display... Oscar Wilde NYC might just be a place to check out, as it’s located near Madison Square Garden. I have a feeling that Wilde, a master of ready-with-ready-wit, would find the “Wilde mushroom pasta” slightly cringey, however, but the lure of absinthe cocktails may be too great to resist.  

Oscar Wilde Bar in NYC via Town & Country Magazine

As of the day of writing, I am happy to say that a few friends of mine were able to attend Morrissey in Berlin, where he debuted another new track from Low In High School:  My Love, I’d Do Anything For You.

Moz in Berlin via seemserene on IG

New beginnings, albeit later in the year.

Maybe I’ve found a silver lining to this autumn thing after all.

Spent The Day In Bed

Spent The Day In Bed Cover Art by Morrissey via @MozzeriansATW

It turns out Las Vegas is a good place to acquire a full night (or day... depending on what you’ve been up to) of sleep. Vegas is also one of those places whirling with endless juxtaposition, especially when it comes to its assortment of visitors: from gut-wrenchingly beautiful young model types to waddling sweatshirted retirees to polyester chain-smoking dime slot dads. As you walk out of the air conditioned casinos, onto the street, and into the heat, it strikes you that - provided you’re not famous - the strip is one of those places that’s so chaotically busy you could seemingly disappear into the lush blanket of anonymity for eternity. People think it’s small towns you can do that in, but I disagree... because in small towns everyone knows you.

Throwing My Arms Around Fake Paris

God Knows Your Secret Sins

Since I’ve been back home, though, it had been a bit of a drear-fest UNTIL... this past week, when Morrissey (or at least his official account) arrived on Twitter – as @officialmoz. I was lucky enough to be follower 25, and at the time of writing he has already reached nearly 90,000 followers (the account's bio has since been updated to say "Official Moz info. Not Moz.") Excitement brewed as the account teased his first single, Spent The Day In Bed, scheduled to be played around 8 am UK time, September 19th, on BBC radio.

Our international listening party gears up – and finally – we hear those first few notes we’ve been anticipating since news Moz and the band were recording in Rome in early summer. The air is filled with an organ weaving intricate chains of notes – perhaps I was expecting something a bit more guitar-oriented, but the fact it’s unexpected draws me in more. Something about the riff, to me at least, is reminiscent of a music box, except way catchier – and, as I fumble to find the perfect adjective to describe my blessed ears - way cooler!

Morrissey’s voice sounds smooth and glorious as ever. And oh – those lyrics – as soon as I heard the title – I thought they would say everything to me about my life – and they do! In an era where apprehension to turn on and tune into the news is nothing short of palpable, I can see how this song captures the zeitgeist, as a BMG rep said last month. Moz again demonstrates his art for conveying complexity of emotion in his lyrics – and we see that the world outside can be a depressing, draining, even frightening place; however, we also have the positive flip of creating our own internal world. Plus, the “I’m not my type” line is pretty darn funny. Spent The Day In Bed's lyrics have an existential hue – celebrating the freedom and reality of the mind – and there’s also something brazen and revolutionary about resisting the daily drudging grind. The spirit is punk rock: yes - staying in bed is a form of protest against what society dictates we should be doing - yet also it's weaved with a well-deserved and luxurious element of self-care. 

Cover featuring Mando's son

Spent The Day In Bed is a Morrissey/Manzur composition and Gustavo also contributes some backing vocals en español (think the bésame muchos of Kiss Me A lot). Gus is a multi-talented musician: he plays about a hundred instruments (I’m actually not even sure I’m exaggerating on this number – keyboards, trumpet, Spanish guitar, accordion, digeridoo – just to name a few!) and he’s an all-around great guy.

Gustavo playing Spanish guitar photo by @mischievousnose

The “time do as I wish” refrain is otherworldy, transporting you with rolling keyboards, which take on a transcendent harp-like effect, and Morrissey’s repetition of the phrase has the quality of an incantation. And - check out this chorus:

Stop Watching the news!

Because the news contrives to frighten you

To make you feel small and alone

To make you feel your mind isn’t your own.

I wholeheartedly agree with Moz on this. I stopped watching television news about 8 years ago, during one of my first stretches with major depression; it seemed the news was dragging me down further. Morning news crew was especially unsettling: from the moment you wake up you are slammed with bone-headed alpha-aggressive politics, devastation, despair – and in the next frame, “good morning y'all – we are sharing our tips for making the fluffiest pancakes.” The thrust of this contrast, without the mere bat of an eyelash, seems bizarrely inhumane.

“The news contrives to frighten you” perhaps because frightened people are easier to control... and “your mind isn’t your own” because mass media of course selectively reports, and even the most seemingly unbiased reports may actually not be so, because the nuances of language and word choice can be sneaky. Individuality and critical thinking also make people far more difficult to control...

Of course, out of curiosity, I made a poll to see how many people religiously watch the news... and the results were as follows:

The lyrics to Spent The Day In Bed make you think, and the tune is very catchy. It makes me ultra excited for the new album. Some more thoughts on the track from Twitter:

"It's beautiful. Real classic Moz." - @morrissey2020

"...my favourite part is the chorus, I bet it'll be emotional when Morrissey sings it live and it'll be fun to sing along"  - @loserlicious  (yes, yes, 1000 x yes - I can't wait to see this live!)

"Awesome song. How I feel everyday. Going to be a great album. Thank you Morrissey."  - @51johnd

"Loved the synths on the new #Morrissey single. Totally unexpected. Had a charming late 60's early 70's pop feel - #Chicorytip with balls" - Kevin Cummins

"I find this new @officialmoz tune, very optimistic... Moz always views life from an unusual angle." - Boy George


To get the new lyrics rolling off your tongue, here is the official lyric video for Spent The Day In Bed:

Immediately after the single’s premiere radioplay, the album was available for preorder, in multiple formats, on US Mporium, UK Mporium and iTunes, as well as being available on Spotify.

The track listing for Low In High School has also been released (via iTunes):

1. My Love, I'd Do Anything for You
2. I Wish You Lonely
3. Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up on the Stage
4. Home Is a Question Mark
5. Spent the Day in Bed
6. I Bury the Living
7. In Your Lap
8. The Girl from Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel
9. All the Young People Must Fall in Love
10. When You Open Your Legs
11. Who Will Protect Us from the Police?
12. Israel

Some intriguing titles – I can’t wait!

Photo by Sam Esty Rayner

@officialmoz also hinted at some US tour dates with this tweet:

It’s a truly exciting time to be a Moz fan. And while the internet certainly has its drawbacks, undoubtedly it also draws you together with fascinating people you might not otherwise meet. Our little online single release listening party featured people from: the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, Indonesia, and Australia. For a while now, I’ve also been chatting with a fellow Morrissey fan Ruba Badwan, who is an artist from Abu-Dhabi. Her paintings are abstract and awash with life and colour. She sent me a photo of her painting, “Pure And Kind,” which is based on Morrissey’s movements on stage:

“The painting ‘Pure and Kind’ is based on Morrissey’s movements on stage, trying to capture his anthropomorphic soul from my perspective... and his voice also triggered the sounds of purity that I hopefully have expressed visually. This was all a split-second feeling towards the emotions I have picked up on Morrissey.”

Pure And Kind by Ruba Badwan

The talent spans worldwide, as on my return from Las Vegas, I was lucky enough to receive a parcel in the mail from Jakarta, created by my friend Yunara Gunarso (@YunaraGunarso), who is a web designer and graphic artist. She has recently been creating some gorgeous, lush wrapping paper and cards inspired by Morrissey and his lyrics:

Morrissey-inspired designs by Yunara Gunarso

AND - after drafting this blog post up yesterday, I noticed another lovely Morrissey fan from the UK, Charlie (@charm972) tweeted this gorgeous jewelry creation, inspired by the lyrics to Spent The Day In Bed. I simply had to ask if I could include it in my article. (She can also knit and sew! I can't even sew a stitch - sigh!)

Charming bracelet by Charlie

I’ve met many artists while queuing as well, and can honestly say these fans are a multi-talented bunch – some are musicians, some are writers, some are painters, some are photographers – and all have the common tie that Morrissey is a source of inspiration. 

To wrap up, in celebration of the new single, I thought I’d post a few of my favourite photos of Morrissey, spending the day in bed.

Photo by Bryan Adams

Notebooks in bed

Morrissey in LA

If it's the daytime then I might be in bed

Teenage Moz (photo via TTY)

Solitaire in bed

I fell out of bed twice. Photo by Bryan Adams

UPDATE (September 22): Morrissey has announced a US tour! 

(dates via Billboard.com)

* I only write my own personal takes on music. I believe you come to a song or album as your own self. Everyone’s experience and relationship with a song is unique

School's About to Start

Insomnia is one of those problems that starts to trickle and sneak its way into too many aspects of your life. While you’re awake far more hours than the average person, it’s likely you'll end up getting far less done because you're feeling chronically exhausted, or as if you’re constantly wandering around in a fog. I’ve been struggling with sleep these past few months, and I’m at least partially blaming my atrocious neighbours who seem hellbent on torturing me from above with the most bizarre noises imaginable.

Luckily, there are some ways to pass the time even if I feel too befuddled to enjoy my usual hobbies like reading. One benefit to the internet (which is perhaps more noticeable to those of us who are slightly... err... more 'mature' and didn't grow up with it) – is that it connects time zones - there’s usually someone awake somewhere. And, as a constant, of course, at any time of day or night – there’s music to listen to. The important thing is to try not to lie there in post-midnight silence (or lack thereof), where the temptation can be to veer off the cliff of overthinking – a habit wandering sleepless minds tend to flirt with recklessly and relentlessly.

Regardless, I’ve had enough of the noise in my place, so I’m taking off to Las Vegas this weekend. But no one really cares about that, what we do care about is...

MORRISSEY IS RELEASING A NEW ALBUM, LOW IN HIGH-SCHOOL, ON NOVEMBER 17TH.

Since I learned Moz and his band were recording in Rome earlier this summer, I have been waiting for this announcement. A couple nights ago, when I couldn’t sleep, a Manchester Evening News article was retweeted onto my Twitter timeline – and my heart soared. Morrissey has signed with BMG, partnering with his own label, Etienne Records.

“There are not many artists around today that can compare to Morrissey. He is an extraordinary talent. He is prodigious, literate, witty, elegant, and above all, courageous. His lyrics, humour, and melodies have influenced many generations. The music on this new landmark record will speak for itself and we are delighted to welcome him to BMG.”

- Korda Marshall,BMG

In addition to the album release date, a tour date at the Hollywood Bowl on November 10^th has been announced. Bliss!

The last time Morrissey played the Hollywood Bowl was in 2007, and some highlights included him wearing a decadently dashing deluxe white suit and singing an exquisite version of Life is a Pigsty and How Soon Is Now. The entire show was brilliant.

“And of course you only have to think of the incredible legends who walked on this stage: Charles Nelson Reilly, Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller... and me.”

Hooray For Hollywood

I’m truly excited about this album, which is described by BMG as"capturing the zeitgeist of an ever changing world."  Politics, veganism, the human condition, love, education, hope, and despair are all topics that lyrics could potentially cover, but I’m not going to over-speculate what it will be like, or what it will necessarily be about –my ears just want to discover and uncover it for themselves. What I do know is the record will be thought-provoking, ground-breaking, soul-stirring, and a beautiful work of art. I look forward (these words aren’t enough) to hearing about it in the coming weeks.

And yes... I can’t wait to sing my heart out to it.

Animal rights tracks on new album?
Moz is a hero for animals - a cow I recently met

I know I'm not the only one who absolutely adores singing along to Moz. One Friday night I had the place to myself, poured a big glass of Malbec, and turned my stereo on to Years of Refusal (as I’ve said before, I love playing this one extra loud!). As the first few notes of I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris engaged my ears, I lacked the inhibition provoked by the presence of other humans, and started CROONING along.

This, of course, led me to ask the question on Twitter....

"Do you have a favourite Moz song to sing at the top of your lungs?"

The first person to answer was my friend and fellow companion in insomnia drenched nights, Vanesa (@vnsdietz) from Argentina, who said she always sings along with Moz. Come to think of it, I usually do too - especially if I'm driving! My question received more answers than I expected - and perhaps the coolest part of it was the variety of songs listed - spanning Mozzer's whole career - from the blazingly uptempo to the mournfully melancholic. Here are your favourites to sing:

How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?
Hairdresser On Fire
Everyday Is Like Sunday
Staircase At The University (2 votes for this one!)
I Have Forgiven Jesus
The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores
Jeane (the Smiths)
Arthounds (2 votes - my life is opera!)
The Edges Are No Longer Parallel
All You Need Is Me (3 votes!!)
Ask (the Smiths)
Boy With The Thorn In His Side (the Smiths)
Stretch Out And Wait (the Smiths)
Southpaw
Irish Blood, English Heart (top volume in the car!)
Seasick Yet Still Docked
I Want The One I Can't Have (the Smiths)
Glamorous Glue
Our Frank
Sing Your Life
Tomorrow (2 votes!)
Boy Racer
Something Is Squeezing My Skull
Come Back To Camden
Trouble Loves Me
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (the Smiths) (2 votes!)
Action Is My Middle Name
The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
Miserable Lie (the Smiths)
Nobody Loves Us
Lost

Many people, including myself, acknowledged our favourite musical number to sing changes quite often. For me it was Art Hounds for a few weeks, then I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris, and most recently, Jack The Ripper.  While we love singing along in our homes or cars... I'm not sure how many of us would be willing to sing in front of Moz... remember Rustle's embarrassment when he was asked to sing for our idol?

In other news, Twitter was able to help me out with a fashionable mystery this past week. While searching for info about Morrissey concerts in LA, I became entirely deliciously distracted as I discovered a concert photo of Moz that looks to be from the early 90's. In the picture, he appears to be wearing a cardigan - or double denim - and it's not 100% certain which it could be. If you'll remember, a few times I've had trouble discerning in photos if Morrissey is wearing a cardigan or not, and I took to Twitter to make a poll. Knowing that people would be able to help out with this tremendously important query, I took to Twitter once again.

New cardigan found found found?

As you can see, it's a little perplexing, because the clothing item looks denim-esque - but look again - the CUFFS! With baited breath, I posted the poll, and inwardly prayed cardigan would win...

Here are the results:

Cardigan won with a smashing 76% of the votes!

Some of the write-ins combined the two:

"Denim Cardigan"
"Denigan" (Why didn't I think of this?! - via @loserlicious)
"Cardenim" (And Why didn't I think of this?! via @rubajb)

One lucky person mentioned the first time they saw Moz live in the early 2000's, he wore a cardigan (2002-ish was a very good year for cardigans). I'm thinking it was perhaps paired with either a ruffle shirt or tie-up shirt, like this:

Early 2000's cardigan Moz

Have I discovered a new cardigan photo? And on the day of a tour date announcement again (yes, I know this time it was after)! I've always thought there is something very special about them.

Anyway, thanks for reading...

I'm still rather mystified that I've chosen a trip to Vegas in order to catch up on some sleep...