Morrissey struts, saunters and Dad dances for a grateful Sydney Opera House crowd

REVIEW: While Morrissey was in very fine voice, and his audience adoring, the opening night of four concerts felt more of a rehearsal than a lift off.

Heightened security ... stage invaders would be advised to keep themselves in the crowd. Picture: Stephen Cooper

MEAT ban aside, if the perennially precious Morrissey really wanted to test the patience of an audience, he makes them sit through a 30 minute pre-show preamble of old punk videos and random clips on a giant screen at the front of the Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall stage.

It may be a clever strategy because by the time he took the stage 32 minutes after the advertised kick-off, even the most ardent fam would be relieved that the habitual canceller was actually going on with the show.

Enough with the preamble.

Generous ... a full voiced Morrissey who gave fans exactly what they expected. Picture: Stephen Cooper

Delightfully droll ... even scripted patter was met with adulation. Picture: Stephen Cooper

All gratuitous tardiness was forgotten when Moz walked on stage and opened with the enduring fabulous Suedehead.

And from that moment it was a full voiced and generous Morrissey who gave fans exactly what they expected, if not dare to demand.

He gladly and warmly grasped the hands of the adoring in the front rows and strutted and sauntered and Dad danced, obviously into the occasion of his tole as this year’s Vivid Live headliner.\

Stop me if you've heard this one... #Morrissey at #VividLIVE pic.twitter.com/5MjA9IETqH

— Vivid LIVE (@VividLIVE) May 26, 2015

He chose not to drastically shake up his recent European festival sets for the opening Vivid performance, including the didgeridoo opening of the title track of last year’s record World Peace Is None Of Your Business which no doubt resonated strongly with his Australian fans.

His visuals for the typically sensory overload Vivid gigs were politically charged clips or patterned coloured loops rather than any grand AV statement.

Morrissey concert at the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid. Pic Stephen Cooper

Morrissey’s match-fit band were in synch with the acoustics of a hall which can prove fraught for amplified rock music.

“We aim to please and only to please,” he said after the opening bracket of songs which included Kiss Me A Lot and Istanbul.

#Moz is here! Why do you come here? pic.twitter.com/lDwPrgfyJv

— Vivid LIVE (@VividLIVE) May 26, 2015

The dancing in the crowded aisles of the venerable venue amped up when he punctuated the set with The Smiths classics such as Stop Me ...

“Is this good enough?” He asked after giving over the mic to a band member to 1D screams from some female quarters of the audience.

The punkish What She Said proved a crowd favourite while Morrissey himself became particularly ebullient during songs on the theme of his pet subject of animal rights including The Bullfighter Dies and Meat Is Murder.

Fine voice ... Morrissey became particularly ebullient during songs on the theme of his pet subject of animal rights. Picture: Stephen Cooper

He was delightfully droll with his patter even when it was scripted and interrupted by exclamations of adulation.

“I would like to state the blindingly obvious to all of us in the room ... what I am trying to say ... the world is full of crashing bores,” he finally got out, to introduce the song of the same name.

The closing bracket — including Now My Heart Is Full and Everyday Is Like Sunday — did please the crowd.

Yet while Morrissey was in very fine voice, the band in strong, punchy form and the audience especially adoring, the opening night of his four concerts felt more of a rehearsal than a lift off.

The energy levels remained static and there was a palpable will for something exciting to happen.

Maybe the next three nights there will be a vivid concert from the venerable headliner.

And stage invaders would be advised to keep themselves in the crowd — you have never seen more security at an Opera House gig as the enthusiastic souls who tried to get close discovered as they were sent back to the floor.

Five stage crashers in the encore. He's still got it. #Morrissey @VividLIVE

— Glynis Traill-Nash (@GlynisTN) May 26, 2015

Originally published as Morrissey struts, saunters and Dad dances for a grateful Sydney Opera House crowd