Johnny Marr
@ The Phoenix, Toronto
April 27, 2013
Iβve always thought of Johnny Marr the way I think of Mick Jones, as a revered writer and collaborator whoβs never been prolific, or confident enough, to tolerate the sustained spotlight of being a front man. However, with the release of this yearβs The Messenger, Marr has been changing many minds, including mine. Itβs a record that combines many of the styles and influences youβd expect, but also showcases a more-assured Marr taking his musical legacy by the throat and dragging it further around the map than most expected. However, I was still slightly skeptical, knowing the extent that Iβve seen turds polished in a modern studio, about how true the album is to Marrβs live performances.
Live Marr was even better. Opening with βThe Right Thing Rightβ, (The Messenger) the vocals were deservedly front and centre, and showcased a swagger that mightβve surprised some still pining over The Smiths. However, Marr quickly won over those fans, following it with βStop Me If You Think That Youβve Heard This One Beforeβ, (Strangeways, Here We Come, 1987) allowing his own voice to give the song a little more punch.
Marr proceeded to play nearly all of The Messenger, a healthy mitt-full of The Smithsβ songs, as well as touching on other projects like Electronic. Iβm sure a portion of the audience was grateful that Marr is so gifted at mimicking Morriseyβs vocals, especially on songs like βBig Mouth Strikes Againβ, and βThere Is a Light That Never Goes Outβ. But I preferred when he allowed his own voice to leak through, balancing the yearning with a little testosterone.
Broken Social Sceneβs Kevin Drew joined the band for an encore of The Clashβs cover βI Fought The Lawβ, which was easily the most animated reaction from the crowd. But equally heartening was seeing that new songs like βI Want The Heartbeatβ, βGenerate! Generate!β and βUpstartsβ received as warm a reception as several of The Smiths songs, including closer βHow Soon Is Now?β (Meat Is Murder, 1985).
With a career as extensive and influential as Marrβs, and the audience inevitably split between a fine new record and nostalgia, you canβt help think of the old adage βYou canβt please everyoneβ. However on this night, Marr proved it wrong.
βΒ Jeff Vasey
ArtistΒ Links
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BLITZ VEGA SHARE NEW SINGLE “STRONG FOREVER” FEATURING JOHNNY MARR
