The Smyths

Formed in 2003 and impressing audiences ever since, THE SMYTHS are an authentic and loving tribute to the music of their heroes … Morrissey and The Smiths.

The Smyths built their reputation rapidly, playing to sell-out crowds in the UK, Europe and Asia; a reputation they have maintained ever since.

The Smyths skilfully work their way through their opening numbers, getting the crowd onside from the outset although no-one is at this stage brave or fuelled enough to dance. The singer lays on just enough posturing to make the performance tasteful and not preposterous, reaching out to the enraptured onlookers. The bass player has a delicious sound originating from the little SWR separates rig with 15”er that he’s brought along. He looks a little bit like Jimmy Nail’s younger better looking brother (or is it just the nose). The guitarist, who also has a familiar look, has also clearly spent many a night sitting up with a mug of Horlicks and the Johnny Marr Book of Guitar Technique.

Quite a few of the early songs in the set are big Smiths hits and you find yourself thinking ‘How can they keep this up? They have to slip into lesser known songs sometime soon and save the rest for the end’ – not so. It’s only when you’re faced with a show like this that you remember how many great songs the Smiths had. This Charming Man, Handsome Devil and Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now all get an early run out. A Smyths concert will feature all those hits as well as B-sides, album tracks and any other Smiths or Morrissey song the crowd request that night.

Of course, no Smiths-esque performance would be complete without the active participation of units of flora, an abundant supply of which had been strategically laid out on the stage from the beginning, doubtless much to the pleasure of some petrol station forecourt manager en-route. This plant life naturally provided to suffer the indignity of being casually yet expertly wielded by the singer and frequently launched out into the happy audience.

The Smyths provide a ‘spanking’ nights entertainment playing tribute to one of the great acts that polarised popular opinion in the 1980’s. This band are close enough to the real thing to induce swoons or infuriate you, depending on your politics. If you’re new to The Smiths or loved them then this band is probably THE only way you’ll get anywhere near to the real thing live now.