Morrissey Live in Austin

Today I will be screaming for the Moz performing at the Backyard. This will be the second time I have seen him perform. It should be the third. This is that story you have all heard a million times. It is a repost from another place I have blogged and on this day it demands your viewing on the porch.

Tuesday June 18th, 1991

I was fourteen years old. That morning my cousin, his grilfriend, and his buddy drove to my partents house and picked up my brother and I for a day trip to Austin. This would be my first time to go to Austin. It would be the first time I was allowed to be further than 25 yards away from my home and parents. It was also the first time I would attend a concert.

I sat in the bed of his girlfriend's truck under the false security of a camper shell for what felt like a lifetime. We arrived in the capital city and weaved our way to the venue. I was delighted by the throngs of people floating about in multi-colored docs and hair. They trapsed about flowers in hand and waited. Soon, very soon, we would be in the air of Morrissey.

I did my duty as a fan and purchsed my tour t-shirt and various other goodies for myself and friends. Then we waited, and waited, and waited. Finally a man with a bull horn fumbling on crutches emerged from the doors. "Excuse me!" he shouted, "may I have your attention. There was an incident at last nights show in Dallas. Due to insufficient security measures at this venue Morrissey will not be performing tongiht!" The crowd gasped and quickly turned from chants of "Morrissey " to "BOO!!!" The flowers once so lovingly held soon formed a pile on the ground. That pile became the designated exit from the line. Each heel that crossed ground itself into the pulpy mass that once meant love and now disappointment, truely, truely.

In that instant I was crushed. My first roadtrip and concert a bust. My over priced t-shirt clinged to my pasty thin frame a constant reminder of the concert that never was. We returned to the truck and began the drive back to San Antonio.

The tickets for the Austin show would be honored at the next show in Houston or for a full refund at place of purchase. My parents made that decision and while my cousin, his girlfriend, and his buddy sat in Houston the next day, I sat in my room and recounted the events to Elvis Michaels a DJ at the community college radio station KSYM.

Though not as poetic as my recount it was accurate. I walked away from this a little wiser, a little more experienced about the world, and jaded with the music industry. I went to Austin to see Morrissey and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.

The insult to injury occured one year later. I was at the mall trying to get away from the family and worked my way into the music store. There in a large display was a Morrissey concert video. "Morrissey Live in Dallas" the very show that ruined my Austin adventure. I am now 30 years old. I still have not watched that video and will continue to refuse until death.

Last night Morrissey performed in Dallas. Let us hope that history does not repeat itself. If it does I can assure you there will be more than one man walking with crutches by the time I am done.