JOHNNY MARR | LIVE REVIEW
Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Thurs 8 Nov
Having written dozens of songs that have put teenagers around the world in an emotionally-induced music coma, Johnny Marr has spent the better part of the last three decades trying to separate himself from The Smiths, whilst forging a successful solo career in his own right. Touring off his new, critically acclaimed album Call The Comet, Marr has packed out venues playing his distinctly funk and disco-infused riffs to devoted fans across America, Europe and the UK.
Swaggering onto the stage in silhouette, bathed in blue light and smoke, the audience began their football-like chants: “Johnny Fucking Marr!”. Slinging his guitar over his shoulders, Marr kicked off the night with a new, melodically fuzzy number, The Tracers. As the song drew to the end, what I thought was an electric round of applause rung out until the first few guitar chords for Smiths classic Big Mouth Strikes Again – an apt song regarding both the political climate and Marr’s former bandmates – made the crowd erupt with excitement.
This formula played out throughout the night. Marr would play a few newer songs before the room would fill with nostalgic energy as he belted out Smiths smashes: The Headmaster Ritual, Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me and How Soon Is Now?, doing vocal justice to each. Still, I would like to highlight solo selections like Day In, Day Out, Walk Into The Sea and Boys Get Straight, mesmerising and full of vigour.
An encore of There Is A Light That Never Goes Out exploded into a drunken crowd singalong as dads hugged their sons in joy. There’s a fine line between harping on nostalgia and trying to move forward with the baggage of past success, and Marr is walking it well. His newer material is full of life and excitement; watching him, you feel he’s still enjoying the music, but he’s willing to offer just the right amount of Smiths for any fan to walk away happy.
words JAYDON MARTIN photos ANTHONY CONWAY