Morrissey - Live In Liverpool
[Philharmonic Hall]

The pre-gig mumblings on the way in was of how Morrissey seems to play the same set on each night of the tour. So why is a keen punter parting with £30 to see him for the fourth time on this jaunt?

Well, Morrissey hasn't even entered the stage and a Liverpool F.C. banner is hung displaying the motto 'Ringleader Of The Tormentors', proudly advertising Liverpool's Champions League/European Cup triumphs and a soulful version of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' booms out. Even the boos from the Everton contingent are merely a token reaction, as opposed to displaying any real animosity, so a Morrissey hungry atmosphere is created.

The Salford old boy strides onto the stage, shaking hands with the lucky few at the front and bellows out with his usual vocal lucidity, his previous single You Have Killed Me. The crowd beams with pride and many join in with every word, as though it's a The Smith's classic.

This set has a modern Morrissey feel to it, being laden with the caustic sound of offerings from his past two albums 'Irish Blood, English Heart' and Ringleader Of The Tormentors, as 'First Of The Gang' and 'Let Me Kiss You' stand out for their heart and soul.

The nostalgic huggers present cling onto every word of The Smith's classic 'Girlfriend in a Coma', with the passion of a Man United fan hankering back to their European glory days. A powerful version of 'Irish Blood/English Heart' puts the lid on around 75 minutes of spirited musing from someone who is a legend even in Liverpool, despite his Mancunian roots. A few members of the crowd were hoping for a more surprising ending, though.