TICKETS TORN IN HALF: June 18, 1985 THE SMITHS/ BILLY BRAGG @ The Beacon Theatre
My kid brother, Kevin Patrick( see post 2/16/18) had just finished a few new rounds of chemotherapy so his usually longish blond hair was basically non-existent except for what appeared to be braids coming out of his scalp. He refused to wear a baseball cap as recommended by everyone because he was one stubborn Irish boy. He also loved the SMITHS, first album, second newly released, and he had all their singles (with picture sleeves-British and American) stored safely in plastic.We scored nice orchestra seats, right side, at the end of the row. Arriving early we hit a local spot to get a bite to eat. While minding our own business, one guy who had been staring at my brother comes over to our table and said (verbatim) “Hey man, your hair, its different, kinda cool, Who does it, Man?” and my brother without missing a beat said “Chemo, chemosabe” (which was his newest greeting to others). The stoned punker said “wow, cool” and walked away.
“Stupid fucker”, my brother whispered.
Oh yea, THE SMITHS were great and the Meat Is Murder protesters outside before the show didn’t convert too many of us.
Setlist:
Meat Is Murder
The Headmaster Ritual
Reel Around The Fountain
Shakespeare’s Sister
Nowhere Fast
I Want The One I Can’t Have
This Charming Man
That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
Stretch Out And Wait
Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now
What She Said
Still Ill
How Soon Is Now?
(encores)
/William, It Was Really Nothing
/Hand In Glove
//Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
//Rusholme Ruffians
//Miserable Lie
///Jeane
///Barbarism Begins At Home
Leave it to your brother Pat to get you to see an “eighties” band. Granted there were only a few guitar driven bands, and not keyboard/synth driven bands, to come out of those years, but they were the very best. Great playlist!
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The Smiths were the real deal for a short period of time. Still like Johnny Marr on guitar. Before my brother passed away in Feb this was one of the shows we had spoken about.
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Thanks for reading. Feel free to pass it on to others.
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