A rose for Moz

Fresh off a food-fueled feud with late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, Morrissey rolled into town and delivered a rocking set at the Balboa Theatre downtown. Appearing forlorn as usual, Morrissey kept the ranting against Kimmel to a minimum. He concluded his short diatribe by stating that Kimmel wears asbestos suits... So, look out asbestos industry! Prepare for the Wrath of Moz.

Morrissey's four-piece band rolled out in matching jeans and faded-pink Superman T-shirts. Perhaps asbestos suits would have been preferable to these get-ups, seemingly inspired by the outfits the Penguin's henchmen wore as they battled Adam West in the campy Batman TV series.

Despite the uniforms, the band rocked on this night. The set drew primarily from Morrissey's solo career, but the obvious highlight was the Smiths classic "How Soon Is Now." As the delayed guitar effect blasted off the walls of the theater, a hypnotic lightshow drove the serrated edge of this song into one's skull. I would argue that the lighting coordinator was the true hero of this set. Morrissey (by design) comes across as drab, depressed, and dull, whether on stage or anywhere else in the universe. The expert lighting did an astounding job of diverting attention from Morrissey's sad-sackery. A brilliant tour-strategy, perhaps...

"You're The One For Me, Fatty," off the still solid Your Arsenal record, got a revved-up showing and was a fun sing-along for the crowd, but Smiths classic "Meat Is Murder" was, ironically, overkilling.

After Morrissey treated the crowd to three shirt changes, numerous wafts of the hands, and the delirious Dance of the Microphone Cable, he accepted the requisite rose. As "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side" indicated the end of proceedings, diehard fans climbed onto the stage to rush and hug depression's champion. A depression caused, apparently, by fandom, because as each hug/kiss was delivered, the man looked away, the pain of adoration too great to face.

• Concert: Morrissey
• Venue: Balboa Theatre
• Date: February 27
• Seats: Loge A 112