Concert review: Morrissey, Sydney Opera House

Morrissey has kicked off a series of shows at Australia's Sydney Opera House. Photo/Getty

"Is this Vivid enough?" Morrissey yelled to his cheering fans as he performed at the opening night of his series of show at the Sydney Opera House. "Thank Christ!"

An Evening with Morrissey started outside the Opera House's concert hall, where the cafe Bistro Mozart forwent its meat options to appease the former Smiths frontman's vegan ideals.

Inside, Morrissey drew a diverse crowd, from those in their 20s and 30s, to those reliving their 20s and 30s. That included one overly excited and incredibly annoying fan - later seen jumping and head banging in the seated venue - who wouldn't stop yelling during the entire performance. He started before Morrissey came on stage while a reel of retro videos and music videos played on a white curtain.

To be fair, the videos, which ran for half an hour, were interesting but also tedious. When the singer finally arrived onstage, he was appropriately singing "I'm so sorry" (Suedehead) to a standing ovation.

Once the music was going it was full of fun and energy. His band dressed in matching white shirt with suspenders and nose plasters as if they'd all just been punched in the face prior to the show, stomped out the '80s indie rock ballads as Morrissey's rich iconic voice soared over the music.

An Australian didgeridoo was played before World Peace Is None of Your Business, from his latest album of the same name. The World is Full of Crashing Bores ended with reverberating noise of giant gong, set up behind Morrisey's drummer.

While news footage of police brutality was shown on a large wide screen during Ganglord. Ominous and dark, matching the intense, gritty, melancholy song as Morrissey droned out "the police can always be bribed".

The singer-songwriter played a variety of his catalogue from his most recent work, with songs like Istandbul and Scandinavia, to Smith song, Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before, to the elation of the audience - no one was going to stop this man.

Vintage photos played on a loop changing with every song or so as simple washes and bursts of coloured lights flooded the Opera House. Morrisey himself swaggered about the stage, flicking the cable of his microphone and touching the hands fans in the front row. An Evening with Morrissey was full of squealing guitar solos, raging indie rock and slower solemn songs.

Morrissey
Where: Sydney Opera House
When: Tuesday, May 26