Prague (Czech Republic), Archa Theatre
This Charming ManThis was another amazing concert in a fairly small venue. Morrissey was in a particular good mood and very talkative. The crowd was very welcoming and appreciative. The gap between stage and crowd was quite small but there were still no stage invaders because security was tight. Many changes were made to the setlist order and in the process "Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself" was replaced by its album-mate "Billy Budd".
Billy Budd
Black Cloud
How Soon Is Now?
Irish Blood, English Heart
Ask
I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
That's How People Grow Up
The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores
You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby
I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
Girlfriend In A Coma
Let Me Kiss You
Life Is A Pigsty
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
When Last I Spoke To Carol
The Loop
I'm OK By Myself
/First Of The Gang To Die
Morrissey came on stage and greeted the audience in Czech with a shout of "Ahoj!". He showed the audience that he also knew how to say 'thank you' in their language after set opener "This Charming Man" when he repeated "Dĕkuji, dĕkuji, dĕkuji..." Halfway into "How Soon Is Now?" he rewarded someone who was probably trying to make it on stage by telling them "nice try, nice try..." After "Irish Blood, English Heart" he said "This is of course our first visit to Prague (crowd cheers)... because I've never been invited... which means the people of Prague are very discerning, very intelligent people and (makes grunting noise)..." After "Ask" he told the cheering crowd "You have great taste... in prose, but not music..." After "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" he said "Thank you for understanding..."
Following "That's How People Grow Up" Morrissey told the crowd "Well, the essence of this song was in there somewhere and (gets interrupted by someone shouting) - yes we love Warsaw too, we love Warsaw... Why are you clapping?" After "The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores" he introduced his band by pretending that he and them were his opening band Doll & The Kicks: "Well of course, as you all know, I am Doll, these are the Kicks... Boz Boorer... there, standing there... standing there with a face is Solomon Walker... sitting here is Matt Walker... hanging around, (undecipherable word), is Jesse Tobias... and on the piano is our daddy Kristopher Pooley... no more information required.
After "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby" Morrissey said "That was some British patois from many years ago, when the world was a younger, uglier place. It hasn't really changed that much... So much? I don't think so... Would you like to say something? Is anybody stopping you?" After "One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell" he said "Thank you greatly..." He extended a line in "Life Is A Pigsty" to "Once again I turn to you... who else!?" Further into the song a yellow stage light blinded him so he shielded his eyes, and giggled as he sang "life is a pigsty... lights' a pigsty". After "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" he said "I had ridiculous aspirations of coming to such a majestic city and playing in a beautiful ornate theatre and I had no idea I was heavy metal. But now I know so thanks for telling me..." The latter comment was very likely a reference to a joke he had made the week before in Estonia, which was repeated to him by fans following the tour.
A generally good but at times distorted audience recording of this concert is circulated on bootlegs (recorder: Louder Than Bootlegs team). The recording features the first 17 songs, so up to and including "When Last I Spoke To Carol". This is usually circulated with artwork under the simple title "Prague".
Do you have information about this concert? Or do you own an uncirculated recording of it? If yes please contribute and get credited.