Morrissey at Kodak Center on Saturday November 16, 2024 in Rochester, New York
“He’s a pure breed. Half handsome, half genius,” said a sharply dressed man out of the blue, standing next to me in the good seats about halfway through Morrissey’s concert at Kodak Center on Saturday, November 16. I responded, “Yeah, definitely white people music.”
If there’s any performer who can channel an emotional connection with his fans or embody a larger-than-life persona or even inspire weird language, it’s pop icon Morrissey. The former frontman of legendary band The Smiths has been creating music for decades, building an impressive catalog and earning recognition as one of his generation’s finest lyricists. Morrissey is the kind of artist who can craft songs that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant, though it occasionally might also come across as a bit uncomfortable when the words become uncompromising.
Having grown up loving The Smiths, this concert was one of my most anticipated shows. Although I’m less familiar with Morrissey’s solo work excluding hits like “Suedehead,” the chance to see Moz himself live was irresistible. The evening began with a selection of short films, mostly a curated mix of music videos—ranging from the soulful Dionne Warwick to the obscure Sigue Sigue Sputnik. The videos lasted about half an hour, giving the audience plenty of time to settle in before the band took the stage.
When the six-piece band entered the center of the stage, it immediately took a end of show bow, greeted by a roar of applause. From there, the energy in the room was real, with fans eagerly standing in anticipation.
The band, which was as diverse in its makeup as it was in its sound, added a rich, almost symphonic quality to the performance. Morrissey treated the crowd to a handful of Smiths classics, including a particularly electrifying rendition of “How Soon Is Now” by far my favorite moment of the night.
Morrissey’s rapport with the crowd was palpable; it felt as though the audience was hanging on his every word, absorbing his every move. At one point, he mentioned planning an excursion to Rod Serling’s grave but admitted he had overslept.
The concert lasted around an hour and a half, with “Speedway” from his fourth studio album “Vauxhall and I” serving as the encore. Overall, it was an fantastic performance one I was happy to check off my bucket list. And judging by the long line at the merchandise table beforehand and applause afterwards, I’m sure many others felt the same way.
