The Sweet Illusions

Pictures Revisited Pt. 2

2009-04-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

I had some free time on my hands after "Adventureland" (which kicked so much ass)... so here's a few more. I'm not a photo snob, I don't know what I'm doing for the most part behind a camera or digital photo lab, but I thought I'd share regardless. For what they're worth - enjoy a few more pics from the Spring '09 run.

Cheers, sleep well. Happy Monday.

"A New Look"

2009-04-05T16:13:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that it's been 2 weeks since the epic, historical show at The Fox. Now that we're not glued to the archive site awaiting setlist updates, trading stories and predictions, and coming to grips with the reality of an indefinite hiatus (retirement), it definitely is a shitty pill to swallow; I wish, like I'm sure all of you do too, that the Cardinal train was still speeding like a fireball down the railroad tracks.

So here's a little something to wet your whistles and remind us of all of the awesomeness that occurred not even a month ago. I played with a couple of photos that I liked specifically of Ryan and decided to post 'em on the blog. Keepin' it alive!!! (or at least trying to)

One love.

-Haleness

You dig? Maybe more to come?

The Fabulous Fox Theater - Atlanta, GA (Goodnight...Rose)

2009-03-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

My apologies for the delay since that fateful night at the Fox! (technical difficulties and travel time) It's gonna be tough to put this one into words. I've had two nights to sleep on my thoughts and impressions and I'm just blown away... still... to a million blissful pieces. The Fox show was one for the history books, boys and girls.

I am not going to comment as much as I normally would from a review standpoint. I just want to relay to you all that this is how the Cardinals and LIVE MUSIC are meant to be heard. I always thought that I knew what Ryan and The Cards were supposed to sound like on a "good" night until Friday. Every jam, every vocal harmony, every drum beat, every guitar strum, every aspect of sound, light, color - it was a perfect, powerful, musical balance of intensity.

Thank you, Ryan, Brad, Chris, Jon, and Neal for an unprecedented performance. You gave us all a special show. I'm still picking up pieces of my brain from the mind explosion.

*** My apologies for some of the blurriness of the photos (although sometimes it captures the mood and nostalgia of 3/20 well). I was in row R and had to run up to the pit every 20 mins to snap shots, then get yelled at and asked to return to my seat... then run up to the pit... - you get the idea, but there are definitely some gems among the bunch

The Fabulous Fox Theater 03/20/09: SETLIST (via Joel @ www.ryanadamsarchive.com) Thanks!

On: about 8:45pm EST

1. Magick
2. Let it Ride
3. Two
4. Everybody Knows
5. Beautiful Sorta
6. Mockingbird>
7. Dear Chicago>
8. Blue Hotel (Sweet Man)
9. Cold Roses (So On) (Shiiiiiiiiiiit)
10. Natural ghost
11. Easy Plateau (Ryan and Neal solos sick and on spot)>
12. Bartering Lines (Fucking Sick) (dood)
13. Band Intros
14. Fix It
15. Magnolia Mountain (fucking on...That a fn mag mtn. Solos were so tight)
16. Please Do Not Let Me Go
17. Peaceful Valley (Intense)
18. Freeway to the Canyon

Off: 10:12pm EST

On 10:22pm EST

19. When the Stars Go Blue
20. Sink Ships
21. Oh My Sweet Carolina (fucking Beautiful Man)
22. Grand Island (Ryan's Solos are so sick)
23. Evening Joke
24. I See Monsters (Neal's solos were sick and delicate)
25. Come Pick Me Up
26. Rescue Blues
27. Wonderwall
28. Goodnight Rose (Fitting and with a Bang!!)

Off: 11:20pm EST

Highlights:
1.) Peaceful Valley Jam - Neal and Ryan melted my cereberals. #1 Highlight
2.) Goodnight Rose - a magnificent ending to an impeccable set
3.) Solos during: Maggie Mtn, Easy Plateau, Wonderwall, Icy Monsters, Cold Roses, Bartering Lines
4.) Come Pick Me Up & Oh My Sweet Carolina - dazzling, entrancing and sick harmonica work
5.) THE CROWD KICKED ASS !!!!!! (so did the venue!)

The Fab Fox, prior to showtime

Thug Life

First Merch Pic

The Lobby

The last rose

And it begins...

... yeah, a lot of Ryan pics tonight (cpmu pic)

Neal, ripping...

Mr. Graboff in a blaze of glory

Best pic all night... gettin this one framed

During the last notes of 'Goodnight Rose'...

Lights up. Wow.

Minds melted.

Outside the Fox

Sweet satisfaction. Not only did the Fox a provide a scorching hot make-up show, it was one of the best concerts I've ever been a part of.

Courtesy of 'BatDance' on youtube via the RAA - I've probably watched this video 10 times since I found it. Maybe if I keep watching, I will understand the blazing genius of this solo...

TRY LINK: "Peaceful Valley Jam"

Thanks everyone for reading so far! I've enjoyed meeting up with so many of you and I hope these last dates were just as satisfying to you all as they were to me. One last post to go and I'm gonna need all of your help on this one, so please stay tuned again!!!!!

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened..." - Dr. Seuss

Saenger Theater - Mobile, AL

2009-03-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

Sorry to drop the ball on this one - my camera was on a strange setting that I couldn't fix until after the show, so I could only salvage a few pics and I was so exhausted from the 7 hour drive from Memphis to Mobile that I overslept and I need to beat the hour change to Atlanta from here...so...damn.

So very quickly:

The Pros:
1.) The acoustics at the Saenger were disgustingly good, flowed through my loins
2.) The lighting looked amazing against the backdrop curtain
3.) Graboff gave us a steel pedal licking last night
4.) There were no drunk asshole awards handed out
5.) 23 songs were played

The Cons:
1.) Ryan's vocals weren't as strong as what we've seen so far this tour, very subdued
2.) No setlist surprises
3.) There was some obvious tension and back and forth battles for paces of songs to be changed that made for some disappointment
ie. I love "PV" and "Goodnight Rose" because they are the jammiest
cuts of the arsenal right now on tour, but the solos were more bland than
normal and right when you thought that they were escalating to levels of
glory, they kind of dropped back to flacid. It seemed like Brad and Jon
tried to take songs to new heights, but everything kind of fell short...

Not the heroic, redemptive show I was hoping for last night in Mobile, but the venue was solid and at least we got 23 songs to the face. I'm really hoping that Atlanta is a blowout...

Sorry to run, but I gotta roll...

Saenger Theater 03/19/09: SETLIST

On: 9:44pm EST

1. I See Monsters
2. Fix It
3. Everybody Knows
4. Crossed Out Name
5. Come Pick Me Up
6. Cobwebs
7. Two
8. Freeway To The Canyon
9. Beautiful Sorta
10. Let It Ride
11. Natural Ghost
12. Grand Island
13. Born into a Light
14. Stars Go Blue
15. Goodnight Rose
16. Lost Satelight
17. Mockingbird
18. Cold Roses
19. Shakedown on 9th Street
20. A Kiss Before I Go
21. Peaceful Valley
22. Evergreen
23. Magick

Off: 11:16pm EST

Downtown southern ass Mobile, AL

Inside the venue

At a piano bar after the show...

... And if you don't know who Kenny F-ing Powers is, then you're a retard

(My apologies again for the camera malfunction)

Minglewood Hall - Memphis, TN

2009-03-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

Memphis Meltdown ... kind of. It was like a hearty turkey melt with not enough condiments. Personally, I was in it and fully taking the vibe-age from song 1; I loved the switch up with a Let it Ride opener. The first 6 songs were crusher good, above average, wham-bam cuts. I loved Peaceful Valley yet again - it has become my favorite song of the tour. Which is weird. I still can't even stomach the glory that was the Louisville "PV". It was so sick, I feel sick thinking about the sickness. Tonight's "Peaceful V" got me going too - it needs to stay a constant as we move toward ATL.

However, Evergreen was just ok and from there I felt the awkward electricity. It didn't surge well with the people who cared, that is the ones that weren't talking like they had fog horns attached to their uppers and bottoms. And once the first so called "set" broke, I became more inerested in the people I've met so far than even the music.

Easy Plateau was pretty good as it went on. I guess the towell was just thrown hard on this one. I hate to see a tension like this between so many great musicians, but it needs to get straightened out for the remaining two shows. I talked to people from the friggin' United Kingdom tonight and if anything they deserve a moderate show, so do the ones I met from Fargo or Maine. People are traveling far and wide to celebrate this band. It's a gut wrenching bummer when this shit doesn't pan out.

The thing is, I have the faith that it was just a mixture of the elements and the show tomorrow will trump this one hard. Fingers crossed.

The "Drunk Asshole Award" goes to the entire crowd tonight. I felt like I was at a sorority formal pre-game party (with expensive beers) for the majority of the night.

Minglewood Hall 03/18/09: SETLIST

On Stage: 8:38 pm

1. Let it Ride
2. Two
3. Mockingbird
4. Goodnight Rose
5. Fix It
6. Peaceful Valley
7. Evergreen
8. Grand Island (NC)
9. Beautiful Sorta
10. Blue Hotel

Set Break approx 9:40 pm

On Stage 9:53 pm

11. Everybody Knows
12. Come Pick Me Up
13. Freeway to the Canyon (NC)
14. Natural Ghost
15. Shakedown
16. Easy Plateau
17. Magick

Off Stage 10:26 pm

The only outside pic I could snap
And the good, bad, and the rest of the ugly...

Killer Neal

Pember-blast

Decent band shot

Favorite pic of the night

Some B-Nasty

The last "good one"

Whitney attack!

And then the bar across the street... beer and pool distractions

The bummed, but seemingly happy fans

Dudes

Whatever. Memphis kicked ass and Alabama will be a satisfying cup of redemption. I know it. It better be anyway after a near 7 hour drive.

...on the flipside kiddos.

Hot Damn, Memphis!

2009-03-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

HAPPY (BELATED) St. Patty's Day! ... I'm an embarrassed Irishman to not have added a celebratory holiday post yesterday, but I had no internet access at my hotel in the heart of Memphis (I do for tonight's concert review and pics, so keep an eye).

Yesterday. Was. Epic.

Waking up, red-eyed and thirsty, I spent the day on my own. Wandering. Memphis has surprisingly filled my bones with some fire - there's a thickness of American-a (notably music and civil rights) that I just wasn't expecting. I'm very glad that this town made the Cardinal travel itinerary. I really dig ol' Memphis.

So, with my camera in hand I retraced my "Irish" steps from the night before on Beale Street - a drunken tourist trap littered with everything from Elvis memorabilia, to BB King's BBQ sandwiches, to music pouring out from every bar that overlaps to the point of an extreme-o migraine (when you're not consuming alcohol).

A sea of southern green last night...
My hotel was right across from the Gibson Factory. Sick.

This homeless dude is "Cliff". We chatted it up outside the hotel and I ended up buying him some garlic fries to go.

This ridiculous vehicle belonged to a Memphis Grizzlies player and was parked outside the hotel for all to admire... or for us to just say, "wow, that's kind of retarded".

More wandering led be to an understanding: trolley cars are everywhere in this town

I took a right turn down this one street and came face-to-face with....

...The Lorraine Hotel, where MLK jr. was assassinated...

The balcony was a surreal sight. My brief stop at the Loraine was humbling and heavy and made me very sad. But I couldn't be happier that I literally stumbled across such a significant cultural landmark.

I've always wanted to visit Sun Studios. When in Memphis...

Where the greats (Elvis, Cash, Orbison, Jerry Lee, Perkins) would walk in to record. Many thanks to the guys at Sun for granting me free admission after a casual conversation about my trip across the south with the Cardinals. Very generous.

Elvis's High School diploma - the first in the fam to ever make it to a senior year graduation

The actual studio. Still pretty much untouched - original flooring, walls, ceiling, some mics and amps... the aroma in the air was like a blues explosion in an old folk's home

An homage to the Cash-man in the studio (note the rose and bracelet. Roseanne's perhaps?)

The "Million Dollar Quartet"

Rock

Next, I took some advice and visited an absolutely killer record shop called, "ShangriLa"
Their overall selection was stellar and varied perfectly, most organized shop ever for having so much old stuff. You know when you walk in a record store and become so overwhelmed you wanted to take a giant xanax? This place was the complete opposite.

No Adams or Cards on vinyl, but this one came close

Some interesting discoveries

Classic. Wish I could've taken it home.

I ended up with 5 more vinyl liabilities (it was 85 degrees today and my car was steamier than "One Night in Paris"): Bob Marley: Exodus, Lou Reed: Rock n Roll Animal, Lennon: Shaved Fish, Jimmy Cliff: Special, & in honor of Memphis - Class of '55: Homecoming.

... Minglewood is apparently a new venue in the Memphis area. Looking forward to a Cardinal-tastic tasty taste festival tonight. Check the twitter soon!

Palace Theater - Louisville, KY

2009-03-16T23:55:00.000-07:00

So, where to begin on a Monday night like this. Most Mondays I'm anticipating how much Tuesday is going to suck, but today I'm in a neighboring state to Ohio - my ol' stomping ground... without a job... which is weird, but comfortable. Regardless, I battled the time change from Nashville and had a chicken parm sub next to the venue after totally scoring a row 2 pit ticket - Thank You Sarah!

The first hour of the show was a bore to be honest, but the venue itself was beautiful - even though many I talked to disagreed. To reiterate, the first half of the show was completely unenthusiastic and boring. We got the standards for the first hour until Ryan decided to take an executive "set break" in which a return would occur until curfew.

The return was pretty majestic. We had no talking whatsoever, no banter, no nothing, until we got some scorching hot tunes and the mood picked up. The mood changed from boring to melancholy, somber jams (that ruled ruled ruled by the way) with a glorious "Please do not let me go" (wtf) and then a "Blue Hotel" (yup), "Games" and "Why do they Leave". We got the band intros and light banter, but I would consider this gig the "I miss Mandy gig". His disposition was screaming 'I miss my lady'.

Listen - not the best, but not disappointed at all. The fucking chords discovered in "Peaceful Valley" were the best I've heard all tour, but the show itself didn't touch the last 3 dates. I saw Ryan look over at Neal and Chris and give a look like "Holy shit, why does this sound so good?" during the PV jam - I closed my eyes and swallowed the awesome. Anyway, Louisville was a jam, but not the jam we would've expected. Good to hear some oldies dusted off - hopefully more to come. And I feel like they will come rolling out. I really do.

See y'all in Memphis (after a hiatus where I will go to Graceland, Sun Records, and enjoy ST. Patty's!)

And here's the "Drunk Asshole Award" for the Louisville show! When he wasn't fist pumping he was drooling on his chest right behind me. "Ryan!!!" also in a girl's voice that was faked by himself on purpose, "Ryan, I love you!!!". Really man? Wow.

Palace Theater 03/16/09: SETLIST

On Stage: 8:44 pm

1. Beautiful Sorta
2. Fix It
3. Born into a Light
4. Come Pick Me Up
5. Cobwebs
6. Two
7. Freeway to the Canyon (NC)
8. I see Monsters
9. Let it Ride (still no words from the band)
10. Goodnight Rose

Set Break 9:34 pm (then we will play until curfew)
Back 9:50 pm

11. Grand Island (NC)
12. Mockingbird
13. Please do not let me go.
14. A Kiss Before I Go
15. Cold Roses
16. Games
17. Peaceful Valley (Holy guitar solo batman - so groovin!)
18. Evergreen
19. Lost Satellite (NC)
20. BLUE HOTEL!!!!!!!!
band intros (Finally some banter - Louisville pronunciation)
21. Why Do They Leave?
22. Sink Ships
23. Wonderwall
24. Magick

Off Stage 11:06 pm

The Colonel made a cameo on the walk to the Palace Theater...

The Palace in the daytime

The Palace: A View from the Inside... including sideburn guy

A lot of Ryan pics tonight for a change...

And the "Wolf"

And finally some Brad!

And Neal...

And my only halfway decent Graboff

See all your fine asses in Memphis...plus a 1 day hiatus!

Off to Louisville...

2009-03-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

Packed my bags again and headed to Louisville... stay tuned

A fellow RAA member reminded me that I need to stay true to my "brownness", so in honor we'll have Gener and Deaner grace the blog for the first time today (hopefully not the last)

"don't caress the weasel, and don't fall too soon"

War Memorial - Nashville, TN (Night 2)

2009-03-15T23:31:00.000-07:00

Night 2 at the War Memorial exceeded the awesomeness of Night 1, hands down. The encore was long and satisfying (that's what she said) and really was the defining point of the set in my opinion. The Cards played for approximately 2.5 hours, with steady momentum. I think I wanted more in the middle of the set; it seemed to get a little lackluster for me after "Two" (I'm glad a Natural Ghost got thrown in the mix) and the highlight for me - when things picked back up - was a beautiful, mellow Stars Go Blue. Then the focus and song choices intensified and the end of the set got n-u-t-s: Why do they leave ---> Bartering Lines--> Shakedown ---> A Kiss before I go ---> Magick. And then the encore sealed the deal with Dear Chicago and This is It.

Best setlist of the tour so far!

I met a ton of great people tonight and a special thanks to Francesca (sp?) for fronting me a ticket before a slimeball scalper jumped in front of me to drain the remaining wave of gen ad tickets at the box office. And it was great to finally meet the 2 Whitneys - I wish I had had it in me to bar hop tonight, but you know the story.

On another side note, there was this trash barrel drunken dickhead that I think everyone in the memorial hall - including Ryan and The Cards - wanted to kill and he happened to be standing literally right behind me for the entire show! He was the one who kept screaming with a deep drawl intelligent phrases like "I'm on a Boat", "Let's do dis", "Nashville!", etc. and even interrupted the set to have Ryan wish him a happy bday- "It's my birfday, 25!". Well, I snapped a pic of the crowd before the show started - see if you can pick out the asshole (see below)

War Memorial 03/15/09: NIGHT 2 SETLIST

1. I See Monsters
2. Fix It
3. Everybody Knows
4. Crossed Out Name
5. Come Pick Me Up
6. Cobwebs
7. Two
8. Freeway to the Canyon
9. Same Shirt as Me (improv)
10. Beautiful Sorta
11. Let it Ride
12. Natural Ghost
13. Grand Island
14. Band Intros
15. Born into a Light
16. Stars go Blue (super mellow version)
17. Evening Joke w/ Graboff
18. Goodnight Rose
19. Lost Satelite
20. Rescue Blues
21. Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.
22. The Sun Also Sets
23. Why Do They Leave
24. Bartering Lines
25. Shakedown on 9th Street
26. A Kiss Before I Go
27. Magick

Off: 11:42pm est
ON: 11:44pm est

Set 2

28. Wonderwall
29. Sink Ships
30. Cold Roses
31. Mockingbird>
32. Dear Chicago
33. This is It

Another building to the right of the War Memorial

Neal on the keys

A collapsed Ryan during a jammy Goodnight Rose

This guy was waiting by the tour bus with a portrait silkscreen/painting - very cool

The 2 Whitneys

... See you MFC fans in Kentucky!!!!

War Memorial - Nashville, TN (Night 1)

2009-03-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

Still recovering from the insanity that ensued after the concert, so this show review will be short and hopefully concise. As I said in the twitter updates, better than Columbia, although the acoustics aren't as good as the Township Auditorium. Very intimate venue though, which is a big plus.

Ryan and the Cards were on fire, but the momentum really seemed to pick up towards the end of the set during Peaceful Valley and Mockingbird. Then came some goodies we haven't heard in a while - Sun Also Sets, Crossed out Name - into a Magnolia Mountain encore (which was disgustingly good to hear again). I was on Neal's side tonight, so most of my pics are stage left... and a bunch of Neal shots too.

I will be drinking a ton of water tonight. No beer/alcohol. None. And it will stay that way until St. Patty's day in Memphis.

Nap time until the show. Nashville is pretty awesome.

War Memorial 03/14/09: NIGHT 1 SETLIST

On Stage: 8:46

Beautiful Sorta (Jon Graboff singing a verse)
Fix It
Born into a Light
Come Pick Me Up
Cobwebs (ending vocals were epic)
Two
Freeway to the Canyon (Neal Casal)
Banter about Foreigner (Chris and Ryan)(Ryan is wearing a wedding band)
Icy Monsters (ryan: let's get back to songs about mental illness)
Let it Ride
evening joke w/ JG (3 piece suit joke)
Down in a Hole
Grand Island (Neal Casal)
Everybody Knows
When the Stars go Blue
Peaceful Valley> (best all night)
Mockingbird
Lost Satellite (Neal Casal)
Rescue Blues (Jon Graboff on lead guitar)
Oh My God, Whatever Etc (Jon still on guitar)
The Sun also Sets
Oh My Sweet Carolina
Crossed out Name
Wonderwall
Magick

off stage around 10:51

encore back on at 10:54
Magnolia Mountain

Beer Sellar pit stop

... And we tried to look at boobies in Nashville's red light district but it was closed

Had a burger and a couple Pabsts at a country bar pre-show (the bassist used to be in Cash's band -look far right)

The War Memorial - Nashville, TN (might be my favorite pic snapped so far on the road)

A view from the balcony inside

And a view from below

Evening Joke with Mr. Graboff

Dr. A

See you all tonight for round 2!

Asheville Detour ---> Restin' up in Tennessee

2009-03-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

After having to hit the road earlier than I had anticipated on approximately 4 hours of hazy sleep, I decided to split up the drive to Nashville by paying a quick visit to Asheville, NC along the way.

June Phish, anyone?

Stopped at Lexington St

Made sure to stop by Voltage Records - sick used records, well organized, highly recommended

Voltage is down with the Cardinals (bottom left)

Ended up with some essential Marley albums (please don't warp, bad idea?)

I arrived in Murfreesboro, TN late afternoon. Destroyed tired. Cody, Sarah, and I did dinner and a movie - Last House on the Left. I'd give it a "B" or "B-". Some really great horror/suspense stuff and some really cliche horror stuff... and some intense rape and torture scenes that will haunt my sleep.

War Memorial Double Header, Night 1... less than 24 hours...

Columbia, SC - Township Auditorium 03/12/09

2009-03-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

What a night, what a night... The jams were heavy, the mood was positive, the beers kept flowing, and the vibes couldn't have been better for a first show jump-off. Eric Nielsen helped me incorporate "Twitter" into 'Sweet Illusions' so from now on, we will have instantaneous setlist updates as the Cardinals rip from jam to jam via my iPhone. I hope some of you Ryan Adams Archive kids were able to enjoy the live "Tweets", so to speak- and if you weren't there's no reason why you shouldn't in the future! I give you my word to stay consistent through Atlanta.

The Cards played for at least two hours. I was able to bring in the camera for this one, but the show was so dark overall... take the pics for what you will. I'm still sobering up as I write this; just know that I couldn't have asked for a better gig tonight and everyone in the Township Auditorium was in the best of spirits.

It was great to meet up with some Raleigh and Elon friends in Columbia. Tomorrow holds a shitty 7 hour drive to Nash-Vegas, but I'll be there until Monday, so there will be plenty to report.

Setlist: Ryan Adams & the Cardinals Township Auditorium - Columbia, SC
(check my twitter too!!!!)

Beautiful Sorta
Born Into a Light
Cold Roses
Come Pick Me Up
Everybody Knows
Wonderwall
Freeway to the Canyon
Fix It
Grand Island
Goodnight Rose
Shakedown on 9th St.
Let It Ride
I See Monsters
Lost Satellite
Two
The Rescue Blues
Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.
Evergreen
Magick

Encore
Oh My Sweet Carolina
Easy Plateau

Ready to roll in Raleigh...

My fellow Dead-head Cardinal fan - THANK YOU for the 5th row tickets! Thanks Trip & Gang!

Beautiful Sorta...

Born Into A Light

Time to clear out...

Good to see the Raleigh kids - we'll meet again in ATL!

Goooooodnight Rose... See you in Nashville!

Off to the Races...

2009-03-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

Heading out the door to Columbia, SC. Finally!

Setlists and updates after the show. Trying to figure out Twitter to instantaneously update setlists in the future. Check back later for updates.

Morrissey @ DPAC 03/11/09

2009-03-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

Morrissey tore the DPAC in Durham to shreds last night. This was my first show at the DPAC and from the acoustics to the raised seating to the architecture - near perfect theater venue. I'm glad I had a chance to see one of the greats there before the big move to Chi-town. My camera had to be put back into my car after snapping a few shots outside the venue, so the lower quality pics attached were captured by my iPhone... which was a bummer. I've included a link to last night's setlist below, but my highlights had to have been "How Soon is Now?", "This Charming Man" and "Life is a Pigsty" ... and of course all the flamboyant men with makeup and skull caps who rushed the stage in hopes of grabbing a smooch from "The Moz".

SETLIST : Morrissey Live @ The DPAC - Durham, NC 03/11/09

Red Cortez opened. They sounded like the bastard child of Chris Martin and the Followill bros.

Morrissey's epic backdrop of a sailor flexing his guns with a stogie in his mouth

... I guess the only downside was no "You Have Killed Me"

Married?

2009-03-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

Really?

24 hours 'till Township Auditorium...

2009-03-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

First post on Sweet Illusions... After what I'm hoping will be an epic, tremendous performance from (a mysticaly ill, rebounding) Morrissey at the DPAC in Durham, NC tonight, it will be time to set sail on a 10 day farewell journey through the South with The Cardinals. I leave first thing in the morning. My first stop will be the Township Auditorium in Columbia, SC.

Stay Tuned...