In Richmond concert, Morrissey shows he’s still a crowd-pleaser

Morrissey shows why he remains a fan favorite British music icon delights with new songs, Smiths hits

Morrissey's fans bleed a devotion not usually seen in people older than 16.

About 45 minutes into the concert, during "Let Me Kiss You," the thoughtful British crooner whipped off his blue plaid shirt and tossed it into the crowd.

The action resulted in a shark-to-blood frenzy, and it also prompted one excitable fan to squirt past security and climb onstage, trying to grab the half-clad -- and now fleeing -- singer, who returned moments later in a new, nicer button-down, completely unfazed by the ambush.

Earlier this week, fans sweated whether their hero would even show up for his sold-out gig at The National; immigration issues and illness had nixed all but one show until Wednesday, when he arrived in Durham, N.C., reportedly in solid form.

Last night, he proved again that whatever had been plaguing him is no longer a concern.

For 90 minutes, "The Moz" stalked the stage, flicking his mike cord as if at a rodeo sponsored by "Absolutely Fabulous," while oozing drama and sounding crisp and clear.

Much of his generous set list came from his latest album, "Years of Refusal," but he also didn't snub his roots with The Smiths.

Only five songs into the set, the opening mash of guitar reverb and the haunting whine of keyboards sent the crowd of 1,500 into a new level of exhilaration as they recognized "How Soon Is Now."

Morrissey performed the song like a man who enjoys paying tribute to his past and ended it dramatically, curled in a fetal position while drummer Matt Walker pounded a gargantuan bass drum under a shower of flashing white lights.

Walker established himself as the star of an excellent five-piece band, ushering in "Black Cloud" by fluttering away on an equally giant gong and maintaining a relentless marching beat during "Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed."

Morrissey, meanwhile, engaged in some serious tambourine slamming during the rockabilly-tinged "The Loop," a B-side from the'90s that remains a fan favorite.

Though the singer is renowned for his moody lyrics -- and there is little argument that lines such as "One day goodbye will be farewell, and you will never see the one you love again" fall under the category of Depressing -- his songs usually possess a perky drumbeat and chiming guitars that contradict the bleakness.

That contrast, combined with Morrissey's sardonic wit and dramatic flair, makes him an intriguing musical character, and one, who, two months away from 50, still carries his crown elegantly.

Contact Melissa Ruggieri at (804) 649-6120 or .