The Smyths at the Electric Ballroom

I have reviewed Smyths gigs a number of times before, so not much new to say. Very interesting demographic. I would say about 40% of the audience were (like myself) over 60 and 60% under 25. Very little in between. Pretty even gender split. Difficult to be accurate in this as by and large the oldies stick to the back and the sides and the youngsters fill the middle. 

Having arrived at doors open I got to front near middle so largely surrounded by the youngsters. After a while the rest of my party arrived, two 20 year olds and 17 year old, but before they did I just got chatting to a young lady next to me at the front. Which is one of the nice things about going to these events. She had never seen the Smyths before so I promised her she would find they were brilliant and a much better experience than going to see Morrissey himself playing a much bigger crowd in Manchester the same weekend. (Which she had toyed with doing despite the logistical challenge.)   By the end she confirmed I was right. She had very evidently loved the experience.

Opening for the Smyths was another tribute act, Billy Blagg. He is a good substitute for the real thing - luckily the real thing can't sing for toffee so getting the vocals right isn't hard. This guy obviously also believes in the politics too, sweetly naive. And finishes on New England which was the only song most of the audience knew and could lustily sing along to.

Then the Smyths. I can't stress how wonderful they are. Each time I see them I am surprised at just how superb they sound. The lead singer's voice is a very good replacement for Morrissey's although slightly deeper. But also just a much better singer. Boy can he hold a note. And a much more likeable personality. The young lady next to me, who said she had played guitar, confirmed how good the "Johnny Marr" was. The atmosphere was absolutely cracking, everyone singing along to absolutely every song. No downtime. All bangers. I guess a crowd of a thousand or so is just right perfect - great atmosphere but not an arena. Intimate but still feels a proper event.