Johnny Marr unleashes stunning songcraft and guitar work in Los Angeles

Johnny Marr, the Belle Game
Where: The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles
When: Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018
Next: Johnny Marr performs at the Paper Tiger in San Antonio, Texas on Oct. 8
Information: JohnnyMarr.com


It's not often that I'm moved to tears at a rock show. I can recall over the years at select concert dates featuring Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, U2, Dead Can Dance and Peter Gabriel being deeply moved by a poignant performance. That happened again on Thursday night (Oct. 4, 2018) in the midst of Johnny Marr's sensational show at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. The uptempo synth pop-styled Electronic song "Getting Away With It" doesn't lend itself emotional currents, but Marr's shimmering and textured guitar solo was so beautiful I suddenly found myself crying (excuse the cliche) like a baby.

Johnny Marr creating magic with
his electric guitar. 

I was fully impressed when I caught Marr perform at Coachella back in April 2013, but fast forward five years to last night's masterful headlining turn from the Manchester, England native and I am ready to count the singer-songwriter/guitar great one of modern rock's top live acts. 

For close to 100 magical minutes in front of a capacity crowd, Marr and his skilled three-man band performed a mix of material reflecting his seminal role as guitarist of The Smiths, work with the aforementioned Electronic and his trio of wonderful solo efforts dating back to 2013's The Messenger.

While it's clear many ventured to the venue in hopes of hearing Marr cover Smiths classics (he did that, via spectacular takes on five of the band's best-known classics including a bewitching "How Soon Is Now" and night-ending one-two punch of "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" and "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby"), discerning listeners were treated to a 19-song set that featured some of the most alluring rock of this decade. Take "Walk Into The Sea," one of the standouts from Marr's 2018 album Call The Comet; the stage was bathed in green light as a deep drum pattern beat out before Marr's otherworldly guitar came in. The song grew in power as Marr's strong voice came in with the band's dynamics ever-building.

As I sit writing this review a flood of special moments from last night's concert come to mind. A crowd-pleasing run through The Smiths' "Bigmouth Strikes Again" was played early in the set. The infectious drive of "Hi Hello" and "Hey Angel" (both outstanding cuts from his latest album), the undeniable groove of "Easy Money" and a wonderfully wistful and melodramatic rendering of The Smiths' "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" were among the many standout performances in an outstanding night.

Now my only question is, when do I get to see Johnny Marr perform live again?

Opening the show was the emerging Vancouver, Canada-spawned quartet The Belle Game, a group whose lush keyboards textures, driving rhythms and soaring vocals from Andrea Lo were a good fit for the night.  The group's 30-minute set left this writer wanting to hear more.


Review by Robert Kinsler