I'm Throwing My Arms Around Canada

How can I possibly find the words to write a fancy opening sentence when I am this excited? Last Tuesday, I woke up to the news that Morrissey has announced an 8 date (now 9 date!) Canadian tour, and I’ve been racing around in my own giddy little heart-eyed world ever since. Here in West coast Canada, the snow is finally melting, the sun casts its sparkle, and life is feeling a tad more springy, especially with this longed-for announcement. Even though Moz announced  last year on Central that he would be returning to Canada, tangible dates (and tickets) make this feel so much more real. And oh - how this round of ticket buying was quick-clicking, clock-ticking, high-friction drama... these tickets went fast, often catapulting coveted pit tickets out of grasp immediately. In fact, I think both of the Toronto shows sold out within minutes. As stressful as this made two of my mornings last week, I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s clear that Canada loves Morrissey.

As of the day of writing, the tour dates are:

April 14: Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver BC (Just added!)

April 15: Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver BC

April 17: Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary AB

April 18: Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Edmonton AB

April 20: TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK

April 22: Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg, MB

April 26: Sony Centre For The Performing Arts, Toronto, ON

April 27: Sony Centre For The Performing Arts, Toronto, ON

April 29: Mtelus, Montreal, QC

Remaining tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.ca

Tour poster via @officialmoz on Twitter

To put into perspective how huge a 9-date tour is for Canadians, here is a list of dates Morrissey has historically played in Canada throughout his solo career:

July 5^th, 1991: Vaughan, Ontario: Kingswood Music Theatre. Kill Uncle Tour.

October 28^th, 1991: Vancouver, British Columbia: Pacific Coliseum. Kill Uncle Tour.

September 15^th, 1992: Toronto, Ontario: Maple Leaf Gardens. Your Arsenal Tour.

October 5^th, 1992: Vancouver, British Columbia. Your Arsenal Tour.

September 12^th, 1997: Toronto, Ontario: Massey Hall. Maladjusted Tour.

September 13^th, 1997: Montreal, Quebec: Theatre St-Denis. Maladjusted Tour.

October 2^nd, 1997: Vancouver, British Columbia: Orpheum Theatre. Maladjusted Tour.

February 16^th, 2000: Hamilton, Ontario: Hamilton Place Theatre. Oye! Esteban Tour.

October 12^th, 2004: Toronto, Ontario: Humming Bird Centre. You Are The Quarry Tour.

... which is 9 dates total over 14 years. Us Canadians aren’t used to such a long visit, and this is joyous news indeed. Partial proceeds will be going to various animal charities including: Vancouver Chicken Save, Vancouver Fur Animal Save, Calgary Cow Save, Alberta Farm Animal and Horse Save, Regina Pig Save, Winnipeg Chicken Save, Manitoba Pig Save, Toronto Cow Save, Toronto Fish Save, Toronto Fur Animal Save, Ottawa Farmed Animal Save, Hamilton Animal Save, Newfoundland Fur Animal Save, and Nova Scotia Mink and Fox Save.

“We are here to save as many lives as possible.” - Morrissey

The news (via National Post) that Gail Shea will not be in attendance at any of the gigs is disappointing to no one, but I not-so-secretly hope the pie-in-the-face video of her (courtesy of Peta protestors), might make an appearance in the pre-show videos. Let’s be honest, the pie-in-the-face is an improvement for Shameful Shea.

A new tour – and – according to the Vancouver Sun - new songs from upcoming albums stir wonder about setlists and, naturally, Morrissey’s fashion looks. Being the Moz fashion aficionado I am, I decided to take to Twitter for a poll, with the following options:

Deluxe Shirt

Dashing Cardigan

Debonair Jacket

Other (Please Specify)

Jacket pic by Raph_PH:
www.flickr.com/photos/raph_ph/40763828031/in/photostream

It was a very tight race, and I am also pleased to say most other votes were specified, which isn’t always the case. Let’s look at the results:

Out of 103 votes, Other was a distant 4^th, with only 7% of 103 votes, Debonair jacket came in 3^rd place with 28% of the votes, Dashing cardigan (my heart!) came in 2^nd with 31% of votes, and – with 34% of the votes – Deluxe Shirt took first place.

Write-ins were as follows:

His own merch (this is a very handsome devil look on him!)

(Return of the) Gold Shirt

Maple leaf (very naughty!)

Je Suis Degrassi t-shirt

Floral brocade suit (as seen at Milan fashion week)

Tux

Priest

... I think there were more – but this is getting to be a lot of costume changes.

The most popular write-in was for Canadian Tuxedo (aka Double Denim) - this is not an easy look to wear well, but Morrissey most certainly dons it with incredible style.

As write in votes became increasingly exotic, I’m surprised no one mentioned the locker room hockey jock look – as Canada is a big hockey country. In fact, the NHL's Winnipeg Jets even have a player named Josh Morrissey! Morrissey has been known to wear football (soccer in North America) jerseys on stage, so we shall see. As for my vote, considering that much of Canada can still get rather chilly in April, particularly in the evenings, I think knitwear, especially cardigans, would be a very dapper – AND smart wardrobe choice!

Meanwhile, today, on the day of writing, Morrissey has released a swoonworthy snippet of a track from California Son on Spotify: a cover of crooner Roy Orbison's It’s Over.

Spotify pic via @JulieHamill

---

In memoriam:

The last time I saw Curtis, at Tropicalia Festival in November, we had a really wonderful day and talked about how excited we were for a potential Canadian Tour. That day is one of my favourite memories. A devoted Morrissey fan at heart, he will be missed. Here are Morrissey’s words about Curtis:

https://www.morrisseycentral.com/messagesfrommorrissey/curtis-butler-has-died

One Of Our Own

To Me You Are A Work Of Art

Not to sound cliched, but January truly is a sombrous, dragging month. After the initial collective gasp of relief from no longer being bombarded by Christmas music in every public locale, January lurks as a grey nothing, and each dark day feels longer than the previous. Thankfully, we are now through with the first month of 2019, yet – undeniably - we are still submerged in the icy depths of winter. Of course, these things are easier to bear with something exciting on the horizon, and as of the day of writing, there is not yet any official major tour or California Son news for those of us desperately refreshing our browsers for Morrissey info. Maybe we are a little addicted, but we’re really missing him, and tour dates would be a welcome reprieve from bleak blizzard-beaten days. This time last year, we were on the cusp of a Morrissey UK and Ireland tour, and I am not exaggerating when I say it was the best month of my life thus far.

Morrissey in Glasgow, 2018

Luckily, February has started to come to our rescue, as we have had news about a Limited Edition red vinyl release of Lover-to-be, complete with an unreleased b-side. While we hang on with patient impatience for more news, I have ordered a beautiful new Morrissey-related art book, which I will talk about further into this blog, and have otherwise kept busy dealing with the biggest snowfall my home city has seen in 22 years (over 18 inches!). The most important matter, of course, was making sure the resident ducks at my local pond were faring well in such unusual weather. While their pond was mostly covered with a slick layer of ice, the ducks themselves seemed to be in good spirits, and I made sure they were well-fed by bringing them mallard-approved snacks.

Snow ducks

For now, I have been trying to get my Moz fix from watching concert videos. Last month, while drinking malbec and watching Morrissey’s 2012 Chilean concert at Vina del Mar, I was struck forcefully by one of his lyrics: “I was bored in a fjord”, from Scandinavia, a song I have listened to countless times. Simple, yet such a unique rhyme: funny – and clever! This is one of the characteristics I love best about Morrissey’s art: there is no such thing as an “old” Morrissey song, because your senses are continually reborn and restruck with each listen. In moments, a detail, mood, or sound will jump out – something that, of course, had always been there, but is suddenly accented with a new power. Morrissey, as we know, has an incredible gift with words: he inspires vivid imagery and pure emotion with his lyrics, and weaves them dextrously with layers of rhythm and rhyme. This prompted me to ask other fans on Twitter what their favourite rhymes were – and I was bestowed with so many interesting answers, I thought I would post them here. Let’s get started:

Photo by Jake Walters

Ready With Ready-Wit:

“I crack the whip and you skip”

“Belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools”

“Frankly Mr. Shankly I’m a sickening wreck

I’ve got the 21^st century breathing down my neck.”

“You are repressed but you’re remarkably dressed”

Unconventional/internal rhymes:

“Monday – humiliation

Tuesday – suffocation

Wednesday – condescension”

“Irish blood, English Heart,

this I’m made of

There is no one on earth

I’m afraid of”

“Each household appliance is like a new science in my town.”

“Lonely in Barcelona”

“Writing frightening verse

To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg”

“Spineless swines,

cemented minds.”

“Your mild best wishes

They make me suspicious.”

Imagery-rich

“I said Charles don’t you ever crave

To appear on the front of the Daily Mail

Dressed in your mother’s bridal veil” (still makes me laugh every time!)

“You have never been in love

until you’ve seen the sunlight thrown -

Over smashed human bone.”

“And the pain was enough to make a shy, bald Buddhist reflect

and plan a mass murder,

Who said I’d lied to her?”

“Everyday is like Sunday,

Everyday is silent and gray”

Cheeky:

“I have been brave

deep in every shaven cave”

“There are explosive kegs between my legs”

“She wants it now, and she will not wait

But she’s too rough and I’m too delicate”

Powerfully concise:

“Balancing life’s riches against the ditches”

“Beware I bear more grudges

Than lonely high-court judges.”

“You don’t agree -

But you don’t refuse

I know you.”

“What she said, was sad

But then, all the rejection she’s had.”

Stylistically Mesmerizing

“And the Fulham road lights

stretch and invite into the night” (oh how that rolls off the tongue!)

“Dab-hands at trouble

With four days of stubble”

“Why did you stick me in

self-deprecating bones and skin?

I also thought I’d add some of my own faves:

“With my hands on my head,

I flop on your bed

With a head full of dread,

For all I’ve ever said.”

“Hopes may rise on the Grasmere,

But honey-pie you’re not safe here.”

“Just as motherless birds fly high

Then so shall I...”

“Streets of wet-black holes

On roads you can never know.”

“I was a small fat child in a welfare house

There was only one thing I ever dreamed about.”

“Prostitutes stylish and glum

In amongst them you are one”

“Head-of-state, potentate”

“Just some rain coated lovers’ puny brothers.”

Revolver Dolls Morrissey Book

As I mentioned earlier, I have been lucky enough to get my hands on a new Morrissey art book by Juliana Rodriguez, also known as Revolver Dolls. Juliana is an Argentine artist, now based in the United States, and her colourful, figurative, contemporary pieces use digital mixed media and often focus on musicians and pinups, blending symbolism with social commentary. I came across her account on Instagram a few months ago, and noticed she has created many brilliant Morrissey pieces. The first one that caught my eye was I Wish You Lonely, named for one of my favourite tracks on Low In High School. I Wish You Lonely features a hybrid younger-and-older Moz, with salt and pepper hair, wearing blue jeans and no shirt, inviting intrigue with piercing blue eyes. He is surrounded by vibrant gladioli and holds a cute little dog similar to the pugs playfully tearing around the I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris video. I was instantly enchanted as I felt this piece represents much of Morrissey’s essence: his eternal youthfulness, the timelessness of his aesthetic, his love for animals... and also his mystery.

I soon discovered Revolver Dolls has released a hardcover book of her Morrissey prints available for order, and immediately knew I wanted it to add to my Morrissey books collection. I was excited to learn I am the first person in Canada to receive this art book, along with a t-shirt designed by the artist, featuring the piece All You Need Is Me. On the book’s cover, Morrissey dons a vivid blue, silky (Rodriguez has a stunning ability to capture textures) Dries Van Noten style shirt, while holding, with one hand, a baby cow, and in the other, a tambourine (the cover piece is titled That’s How People Grow Up). Inside, prints include Morrisseys from many eras, some blended, some grippingly life-like, some surreal, with themes of animal rescue, nature, music, and fashion weaving throughout. I feel Rodriguez’s art also portrays ongoing themes of hope and despair found in Morrissey’s work. The book includes a total of 20 full colour pieces (works ranging from 2016-2019) printed on glossy pages. She was also kind enough to sign and number my copy. Here are just a few of my favourite pieces:

Juliana Rodriguez’s work is inspired by a number of influences, including Irving Penn, Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol, Rene Magritte, James Ensor, Salvador Dali, David LaChapelle, Richard Avedon, Frida Kahlo, Max Ernst, and Alice Neel. To check out more of her art, and for more information, please visit:

Revolver Dolls Instagram

It takes ducks to be gentle and kind <3

Top Ten Morrissey Moments 2018

I don’t mind New Year’s Eve as a holiday. It’s certainly not up there with Morrissey’s birthday, or Halloween, but it has its own charm. Perhaps I like it because it’s an excuse to drink lots of champagne (or maybe Fernet, a drink I discovered recently in Buenos Aires) and stay up extra late (a plus if you’re nocturnally inclined, like me) but I often do these things anyway. To be truthful, I probably also like it because it means I’ve somehow survived the tinsel tinged social awkwardness and forced joviality of obligatory Christmas gatherings and I don’t have to think of that for nearly another year. Phew!

What Will The Top Morrissey moments of 2018 be?

On the other hand, the passing of time and all of its crimes can be overwhelming, and it strikes me that years become shorter and shorter segments of time as decades pile onto my life. Not to mention, I find the fact I am hurdling towards 40 increasingly daunting – but don’t get me started on that. Anyway, New Years can be a time to reflect on the good parts of a year and hopefully, metaphorically at least, to close the door on some negative parts... or perhaps it’s simply another day bemarked as a holiday. However, since the concept of resolutions is ingrained into many of us, I thought I’d ask my Twitter followers, once again, if they bother with New Year’s Resolutions. It seems like not much has changed since last year, with 44% of 59 voters replying, “What’s the Bloody Point?”

Well, bring on the champagne.

Now, let’s get started on the true purpose of this blog post, which is to list the top ten Morrissey moments of 2018:

Every year someone freaks out about the order, and every year I make a point to say that there is no order and I’m just listing the top ten moments as they come to me... so keep that in mind... here we go:

Top Ten Morrissey Moments of 2018:

1. Latin American Tour

Morrissey played a 9-date tour of South America, including electrifying back-to-back shows in Mexico City and Chile. South Americans and Mexicans showered Moz with love, and after gigs in Peru and Mexico, he referred to the 2 ardent Moz-loving countries as his “heart’s lighthouse.” From footage, and the concert I attended in Buenos Aires, I can attest the fans are passionate, devoted, and full of vigour, and the rush of attending a Morrissey concert in South America is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

Morrissey singing Jack The Ripper in Buenos Aires

2. US Tour

This year, Morrissey played four dazzling sold out shows in Southern California, plus TV and radio tapings, starting with a Halloween date in picturesque seaside town Ventura. Each concert featured a versatile setlist and massive energy from Moz, the band, and the crowd. Tropicalia Festival was a long, hot day, but fans were fresh with excitement for headliner Morrissey, and some were even able to scale the barrier and towering festival stage for coveted hugs from Moz (no easy feat at a festival!) For the TV taping on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Morrissey and his band played new single Back On The Chain Gang. Hooray for Hollywood!

Morrissey at Tropicalia Festival

3. UK and Ireland Tour

Morrissey kicked off 2018 with an 11-date UK and Ireland tour starting in Aberdeen and wrapping up with 3 sold-out London dates in March. With Moz playing a good mix of intimate theatres and large arenas, fans got a chance to see him in a variety of venues, and many queued for hours in ice and snow, as a massive cold front struck the UK (the experience of queuing in below freezing temperatures in Brixton – with my friend from Indonesia who had never seen snow before - is something I’ll never forget!) The grandest jewel in the cap was March 10th’s gig at London Palladium: the packed theatre audience was beaming with love, and Morrissey wore an exquisite black jacket embroidered with a sparkling peacock, singing a 21-song setlist including November Spawned A Monster (for its first live outing since 2013). By the end of the gig, some of the seats in the pit had been ripped out of their hinges! Pure, unbridled, otherworldly ecstasy.

Morrissey in Newcastle

4. Glorious Setlists

2018 featured breathtaking setlists, with a great mix of classics and newer songs. In Aberdeen, there were some first (and only, at the time of writing) appearances of Low In High School tracks Israel and The Girl From Tel Aviv Who Wouldn’t Kneel, as well as powerfully poetic I Bury The Living, which became a setlist staple for many of the remaining UK dates. Classic live rarities such as Hairdresser On Fire (not played live since 2004), Sunny (last played live in 1999), and Break Up The Family (last played 2000) delighted in California, including the emotional live debut of Dial A Cliche. Years of Refusal’s All You Need Is Me and Something Is Squeezing My Skull were also tempo charging highlights.

On a personal note, a high point for me was seeing Life Is A Pigsty back on the setlist. I have longed to see Pigsty live since I first discovered Morrissey, and I got my chance for the first time in San Diego this year. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life.

Morrissey singing I Bury The Living in Dublin

5. A Big Year For Cardigans!

2018 was one of the biggest cardigan years for Morrissey ever, as he donned the dashing knitwear item at the majority of his shows on the Californian and South American tours. Be still my heart! Cardigans are my favourite Morrissey fashion look and he is very handsome devil every time he steps out in one. Other notable cardigan years include 2002 and 2009, the Grado cardigan of 2012, the Sparkly Bergen cardi of 2016, and 2017 – where Moz wore a navy and white number at some of his US dates and a peacock-feathered one on French TV. I keep track of these important details! There’s nothing like a good-looking man about town in a cardigan!

Charming cardigan Moz in Ventura

6. Chain Gang Single and Video

Since its debut at Maida Vale in 2017, Morrissey’s cover of Pretender’s song Back On The Chain Gang has been a fan favourite. This fall, Morrissey released the seven inch single version, including a reggae intro, and it debuted at #1 on the official vinyl charts, with terrific radio airplay in North and South America. The single was accompanied by a music video, aesthetically inspired by 60’s flavoured Everlasting Love by Love Affair, complete with pouty cat-eyed backup dancers and a swoon-worthy Morrissey strumming guitar.

7. Low In High School Deluxe Album

On December 7^th, Morrissey released Low In High School’s “edition extreme de luxe” (excuse my lack of french accents) on vinyl. Released on Morrissey’s label Etienne, the deluxe edition features teenage (or early 20’s) Morrissey on the sleeve, and is dedicated to Dick Gregory. It includes all 12 tracks from the original Low In High School album, plus an entire bonus record, which features three previously unreleased songs, a bevy of of live covers, and new single Back On The Chain Gang. Lover-to-Be has a 60’s feel, with flirty vocals and groovy organ riffs and This Song Doesn’t End When It’s Over is haunting high drama. My personal favourite is Never Again Will I Be A Twin, a bass-driven deep, dark piece with reverberant cascading guitars. The lyrics are Morrissey at his cynically romantic best, with lines like: “...the plastic art of falling in love, what a joke that was.” For the covers, Moz shows his prowess for dynamic vocal versatility, covering styles ranging from punk (The Ramones) to country classics (Waylon Jennings), while still making each song absolutely his own.

8. Covers Album Announcement

It’s great to have something to look forward to in the coming year, and Morrissey gave us an early Christmas gift by announcing the release of a new covers album, California Son, set for release March 2019. According to Morrissey Central, the album will include an eclectic variety of tracks from artists such as Jobriath, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Bob Dylan, and Dionne Warwick. I’m particularly excited to hear Moz cover fellow crooner Roy Orbison, and judging by the cover work spanning his career since the Smiths days, the album should be a gem.

Morrissey and Buffy Sainte-Marie - photo via TTY

9. Morrissey Announces He Is Returning To Canada

When I awoke on September 20^th, my phone was buzzing and blazing with notifications that Morrissey would be returning to Canada – as he had announced on Central that he had lifted his ban on touring the country. Due to the barbaric seal hunt, Morrissey banned touring Canada back in the mid-2000’s, and I've always understood and supported his reasoning, but thought I would never have the opportunity to see him appear live in my home country. This announcement felt like a dream come true, and what’s absolutely wonderful is Morrissey will be making donations to Animal protection groups, such as Toronto Pig Save and Vancouver Chicken Save, in each city he will play in. The last time Morrissey played in Canada was Toronto during the You Are The Quarry tour in 2004, and he hasn’t played the West coast, where I’m from, since a Vancouver date for 1997’s Maladjusted tour.

Morrissey with Canadian Pam Anderson

10. Morrissey Wears His Own Merch

2018 was definitely a dashing fashion year for Moz, as he rocked everything from tailored shirts and jackets to divine cardigans. In fact, Morrissey proved he can make casual wear look impeccable too, wearing his own merch tees with incredible style. He even customized his tees, cutting the necks and sleeves, giving them a 70’s feel – and also probably making them easier to tear off for the shirt toss! Vegan life is certainly treating him well, as he looks extra fit and youthful. The tees also pair oh so charmingly with cardigans.

T-shirt Moz photo by basia_ana via Instagram

This seamlessly leads us to our yearly favourite merch item, and no doubt, for me this year, it was the Morrissey Sugar Skull tee, worn by the man himself!

Happy New Year and thanks for reading!