Michael Shannon spends most of his existence creeping audiences out in movies like The Iceman and shows like Boardwalk Empire, but he changed course to deliver his best Charming Man impression on Saturday night. Shannon played the role of Morrissey in a tribute band at Evanston, Ill.’s SPACE venue. Members included bassist Jason Narducy (Superchunk), guitarists Dag Juhlin (Poi Dog Pondering), Curt Morrison (Tributosaurus), and drummer Gerald Dowd (Robbie Fulks). Morrissey’s drummer, Matt Walker, joined in the fun too. The band performed a full-LP tribute to The Smiths’ 1986 album, The Queen Is Dead.
Shannon used his dramatic edge to throw an easy (yet still intense) presence on stage. Two audience-made videos, “Queen” and “Shoplifters of the World Unite,” surfaced on YouTube for your listening pleasure. In these songs, Shannon ran through a variety of emotions and worked magic on the tamborine. But this performance did lack a certain authenticity. If Shannon would have ripped off his shirt and tossed it into the audience, he would have nailed it.
(Via Spin)
