Morrissey @ The Mann Center: Now My Heart Is Full

The lengths I travel for Morrissey. Literally! When Moz postponed, and ultimately canceled, his only NYC appearance (in three years) at Madison Square Garden, I was left with two options. I could either sulk about the missed opportunity, or I could hop skip and jump to the next closest city to check out one of the final dates on his self-proclaimed 'Greatest Hits' tour. I chose the latter. Last night's epic show in Philly was everything I had dreamed for it to be, and more.

After a brief a capella intro, Mozzer commenced with Smiths classic, 'The Queen Is Dead'. Dressed in all black, Morrissey's cunning stares, inimitable mic cord twirling, and most importantly - his vocal delivery - were all dead on. The energy in the air was instant and contagious throughout the course of the ninety-five minute mega-set.

Performing tracks from various points of his expansive career, fans were just as responsive to brand new tunes such as 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris' & 'All You Need Is Me', as they were to landmark singles, in the form of 'Girlfriend In A Coma' and the main set-closing, 'How Soon Is Now?'. One of my personal highlights was witnessing an incendiary and electrifying version of You Are The Quarry's 'Irish Blood, English Heart'. All in all, from start to finish, this show was spectacular.

Morrissey's concluding gig of his 2007 US tour will take place tonight at The Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey. View the complete setlist from The Mann Center below.

Setlist: The Queen Is Dead/First Of The Gang To Die/You Have Killed Me/All You Need Is Me/In The Future When All's Well/Whatever Happens, I Love You/The Boy With The Thorn In His Side/Let Me Kiss You/Everyday Is Like Sunday/I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris/Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want/Irish Blood, English Heart/National Front Disco/Disappointed/I Will See You In Far Off Places/I Just Want To See The Boy Happy/Girlfriend In A Coma/At Last I Am Born/Life Is A Pigsty/How Soon Is Now?//The Last Of The Famous International Playboys

MP3: Morrissey - The Last Of The Famous International Playboys

Supporting Moz over the course of the American tour has been New York's very own, Kristeen Young. In spite of a parade of negative comments on myriad Morrissey-related message boards, I was quite impressed with Kristeen's performance. Kristeen's sound is reminiscent of early PJ Harvey & Shiny Toy Guns with a tinge of Shirley Manson. Learn more about Kristeen here on her official site.