At Last I am Born ...

So about 18 months after initially declaring I would enter the world of blogging, it's finally here - the gdpreston manifesto (title chosen with irony and a nod to Luke Haines).

In the intervening time, so many times have I come home buzzing after a gig planning my inaugural blog post ... but then the moment passes and it doesn't enter my thoughts again until the next gig comes around.

But now, on no special occasion, I have arrived and as it's still relatively fresh in my thoughts, I thought the triumphant return of Morrissey didn't deserve to go unmarked.

The first of this years 4 audiences I shall have with Mozza came on Bank Holiday Monday at Ally Pally. People seem to have mixed views on the venue but if you compare it to your larger venues, it wins hands down. At Wembley Arena you can't drink, smoke or smile within the venue; at Earls Court you can drink but have to be prepared to treck half a mile and queue for 3 songs ... at Ally Pally you can be at the bar and back with a load of draft Budweisers in less than a recent album track.

Not that I wanted to miss the recent album tracks, Life is a Pigsty apart, I think the new album is excellent and a big improvement than You Are the Quarry which was 50% filler. People may hark to the old days, but he's in his mid 40's and making music that fits where he is in his life now - it was great to hear Still Ill, Girlfiend in a Coma and How Soon is Now but the new work deserves a decent airing, which it certainly got. I want Morrissey now, not a Morrissey/Smiths tribute act.

Highlights for me, Still Ill aside, were I Will See You in Far Off Places, In the Future When All's Well and At Last I Am Born.

The last time I saw the same act four times in a year was the return of The Pixies in 2004 - two Brixton's, a Forum and V - each one a different experience, each one f'ing excellent - I'm hoping Morrissey's subsequent Palladium and V appearances work out the same way.

Well here I am - at last I am born - vulgarians note.

G.