Classic talent returns to awe

As a full-fledged believer in the cult of The Smiths, seeing the lead singer Morrissey live is nothing short of a religious enlightenment. Fortunately, the ex-front man of the British rock landmark was able to grace Atlanta last Monday at the Tabernacle.

Along with guitarist Johnny Marr, Morrissey formed the musical group The Smiths in the English city of Manchester. Joined by drummer Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke, the reign of The Smiths lasted from '82 to '87; however, its legacy did not stop after the bitter break up. Often hailed as the most influential indie rock band of the '80s, The Smiths have cast shadows over a considerable number of artists ranging from Radiohead to Andre 3000. Since the break up of The Smiths, the lead singer's solo career is far from disappointing; Morrissey materialized eight albums with the last one being released last year.

Morrissey's visit to Atlanta on Nov. 12 was not his first one in recent times; the vocalist was also invited to play in Chastain Park in July. His earlier performance brought much negative reaction from his fan base due to the venue. Season ticket holders appeared to have a much more heavily invested interest in their food, wine and conversations than the performance itself. Morrissey made a daring return four months later to the venue of choice: The Tabernacle.

The diversity of the crowd represented Morrissey's fan base quite proportionally, ranging from the elderly who fell in love with The Smiths' very first single to newly exposed teenagers. Disregarding their levels of exposures, it is universal to claim that their fanaticism towards Morrissey is inarguably fervent.

Despite the welcoming atmosphere, the playlist was somewhat disappointing for most of the Morrissey fanatics in the crowd. Morrissey opened with the landmark Smiths' song "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before," which ignited the crowd's energy. With the powerful and provocative follow up of "Irish Blood, English Heart," Morrissey continued to sustain the dedicated crowd.

Afterwards, the songs were primarily composed selections from his newest album, which has not been as well received as some of his older albums. However, even Morrissey's slightly uninspiring songs couldn't quench the enthusiasm of the crowd.

As the act came to an end, the playlist also regressed into Morrissey's more celebrated songs, and the fans' fervent spirit rose along. During the last song "First Of The Gang To Die," literal waves of human torpedoes were launched toward the front of the stage, propelled by fans underneath them, in a vain attempt to have themselves launched onto the stage, only to find the intercepting lines of security.

The conglomeration of excitement did not depart as the English icon left the stage, as he threw his shirt into the crowd, fans tore it apart to ensure acquiring their own pieces.