Some artists are dynamic frontmen, some are awe-inspiring guitar players. Only one is Johnny F*cking Marr.
Returning to Chicago for the first time since Riot Fest 2018, the legendary Smiths musician engrossed concert-goers with a set full of masterful licks, catchy melodies and jangly swagger during his stellar May 13 concert – billed as An Evening with Johnny Marr – at The Vic Theatre. Tunes from Marr’s latest release Call the Comet made several appearances on the setlist as did Smiths classics, Electronic favorites and hits from the songwriter’s storied solo career.
The determined beat of “The Tracers” – which began the show – was the initial cadence that caused fans to dance at the start of Marr’s set, but it was the unmistakable ode to Joan of Arc, “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” that generated a deafening eruption of cheers as the first of many Smiths song sing-alongs of the night. “The Headmaster Ritual” – guitar-heavy with an extended exploratory solo – an evocative rendition of “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me” and the pre-encore set-closer of “How Soon Is Now?” also appealed to the Smiths fans in attendance.
Later in the night, Marr reminisced about the first Smiths performance in Chicago and asked fans if the Aragon is still open. “We were here for a week. It was great,” said Marr calling the city the “Home of the blues.”
It was the “Manchester disco song” “Getting Away with It” – the 1989 Electronic hit – that arguably earned the honor of the performance of the night. Dreamy and danceable, the synth-pop single featured not one, but two sublime guitar solos. Marr got as close as possible to fans in the front row, first stage right and then stage left, to unleash the instrumental interludes each time further demonstrating his ingenuity and originality.
Marr also revisited the Electronic era with “Get the Message” before sharing a tongue-in-cheek tease of Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like an Eagle.”
Songs from Playland – including the effervescent “Easy Money” – proved to be fan favorites as well, but it was the Call the Comet songs that did the best job highlighting Marr’s range as a songwriter. “Hi Hello,” dreamy and patient in its composition, and the guitar-driven “Walk into the Sea” both had a timeless sound while the climbing build of “Hey Angel” gave Marr an opportunity to absolutely shred.
Whether singing a meaningful verse or exploring the reaches of his instrument on an arpeggiated tear, Marr’s deceptively effortless approach invited fans to relax, enjoy the show and escape into the music.
Johnny Marr will continue to tour across North America before heading across the pond in late-May and beyond. More information can be found at JohnnyMarr.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)