Johnny Marr - The Vic Theatre (Chicago, IL) – May 13, 2019

Photos by Philamonjaro.

Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and his sharp three-piece band returned to Chicago’s Vic Theatre to play material from 2018’s Call the Comet including the breezy “Hi Hello,” strident “Bug,” and anthem of obsession “Day In Day Out.” Other solo gems included “Easy Money” from 2014’s Playland and new electro-pop single “Armatopia.” The set list featured Manchester disco favorite “Getting Away with It” and “Get the Message” by breakout side project Electronica. Heavyweight hits from the Smiths included “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” “Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me,” and show-stopping versions of “How Soon Is Now” and “There is a Light that Never Goes Out” featuring the Vic audience as a choir of thousands. The seamless blend of old and new songs was a potent reminder of Marr’s role as the principal architect of the Smiths’ sound.