YOU know you’re witnessing a special form of fandom when middle-aged women fight over pieces of a 57-year-old man’s sweat-soaked shirt.
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But that is the kind of peculiar devotion Morrissey attracts.
On Monday night the indie icon made his Newcastle debut at the Civic Theatre. While it lacked the drama of his Wollongong show - where he threatened to walk off stage following a fight among fans over a gentleman allegedly talking loudly about horse-racing – Morrissey’s legion of true believers lapped up the opportunity to see their hero in intimate surrounds.
The weirdest moment came towards the back-end of the 21-song set when Morrissey ripped off his shirt to expose a surprisingly-fit torso and flung it into the audience. Several women initially began a tug-of-war for the sweaty garment, before they reached a truce.
At that point security was called over and asked to cut the shirt into about six pieces, which were distributed among the rabid fans.
It wasn’t the only comical moment. Several fans attempted to jump on stage and touch their idol, only to be denied by enthusiastic security, who guarded the stage like soldier crabs.
It isn’t hard to understand why the former Smiths front man attracts adoration.
Even 35 years into his performing career he still exhibited charisma on stage. The twirling microphone chord, the flamboyant posturing – it all made compulsive viewing.
The famously moody performer was focused on the task at hand. Banter with the audience was at a minimum - barring a short condemnation of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton – instead the “Pope of Mope” concentrated on singing. His baritone was in fine voice too.
His biggest solo hit Suedehead opened the night to rapturous applause, followed by renditions of All You Need Is Me, the terrific Irish Blood, English Heart and I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris.
Unfortunately the energy of the opening half of the set dissipated towards the back end of the night as Morrissey focused on new material from his 2014 album World Peace Is None Of Your Business.
During the Australian tour Morrissey has played The Smiths’ classic How Soon Is Now at every show, but he left Novocastrians hanging to the disappointment of many. One of his biggest solo hits, Everyday Is Like Sunday, was also surprisingly absent from the set.
Smiths fans settled for a sinister version of Meat Is Murder accompanied by a bloody video depicting cows, sheep, pigs and fish being slaughtered in abattoirs.
Many in the audience chose to look at their phones during the video, which made the Four Corners’ vision of abuse in the live-export trade appear relatively PG.
Gore aside, Morrissey’s band enjoyed their shining moment during Meat Is Murder with the industrial guitar almost sounding like abattoir machinery as the song reached its frenzied climax.
The only other Smiths song played was a rollicking What She Said, which showcased why Johnny Marr remains Morrissey’s greatest collaborator.
While Morrissey’s set list may have disappointed casual fans, he kept the die-hards happy. The B-side Good Looking Man About Town was performed for the first time since 2007 and Because Of My Poor Education from 2009 album Years Of Refusal was given a public airing after seven years.
A short and snappy cover of The Ramones’ Judy Is A Punk appeared in the encore and closed the show with renewed energy.
No walk-outs, no tantrums and no lengthy diatribes; just a slick musical performance from a living legend. Maybe it wasn’t what everybody wanted, but Morrissey proved he remains a performer and an artist of real substance.
