Morrissey + Kristeen Young - Guildhall, Portsmouth. 19/05/06.

Kristeen Young is one of those performers that leave you standing there with your mouth open wondering what the hell is going on as she hits her keyboards and warbles away in a semi-operatic manner. Once you get past the seemingly random tunes you begin to notice snatches of classical music fusing with electro and pop creating a strange hybrid that is held together by a live drummer; one begins to think of The Kills but on bad drugs and being dragged through a cat filled hedge backwards. It's quite spectacular and I'm sure that many here, myself included, expected something different from a Morrissey support, so it's refreshing that we should be treated to something out of the ordinary that gets us thinking.

Morrissey, hero to some, annoying twat to others and so it's quite interesting to be working this gig as local crew. He obviously holds some power as the restaurant in the Guildhall is closed for the day so that meat is not cooked and we are warned not to bring any meat products in with us while working and then having to arrange the gear around an array of burning incense sticks and rumours spread like wildfire. But anyway, makes for an interesting working day and watching the audience arrive is quite interesting also, an odd mixture of Smiths throwbacks who still think they are in the 80s, student types plus many more sub-groups. The one thing they all have in common is that they worship Morrissey, the man is met like a God when he appears on stage and it is in stark contrast with the Richard Ashcroft gig the other day in that nearly everyone hangs off every word spoken or sung, and that he does indeed ooze charisma whether you like him or not. As for the music, it's heavier than The Smiths, less jangly and more intense; a couple of Smiths tunes are included, Girlfriend In A Coma, Still Ill and my personal favourite How Soon Is Now? which rounds the set off in spectacular style. Mixed in with this are tunes from the new album and some old favourites that are all welcomed by the crowd; for those of us not Morrissey fans it can sound a tad depressing and to be honest I'd rather dig out some old The Smiths vinyl and listen to that as his solo material doesn't really do it for me but having said that there is no doubt that Morrissey is adored, it's been a long time since I've seen fans at the front clambering to touch hands with their hero and more often than not he obliges. Tonight is a complete success for him and the hardcore fan base appeared to love it; I enjoyed parts of the set and am pleased to have seen a performer with character and charisma that so many are lacking these days, it's just that I won't be rushing out to add to my cd collection with any of his solo stuff...I'll stick with my old jangly vinyl.