The rain fell hard on this not so humdrum town, as the hardcore fans waited to catch a glimpse of their hero. Some had camped out overnight outside Ardwick's beautiful art deco Apollo, in the hope of clinching the best spot when its doors eventually opened.
The slightly less devoted spent hours in the queue after selfishly spending a night in their own beds, many travelling miles from far and wide, and even further than that. But it was all in a day's work for one of the most loyal fanbases in music, who long for that all important connection with the man himself.
And where else would they be, the night Morrissey returned to his city for the first time in six years? A lot has happened in the world since that August night at the Manchester Arena.
READ MORE : Morrissey fans queue for nearly 24 HOURS overnight outside Apollo with sleeping bags
During those intervening years, Morrissey, as ever during his storied 40 year career, has proved divisive and actively embraced controversy. His views on the monarchy and animal rights have been clear for all to see, and indeed celebrated by many.
For some, his apparent recent flirtation with far right politics was too much to stomach. However no such qualms were on display during this sold out show, a rapturously received, triumphant homecoming for one of Manchester's most famous sons.
For the devoted, the 90 minute set was a pilgrimage not to miss. Unbeknownst to many, the show also came with a remarkable anniversary.
"This hour, this day, is 40 years since four not very sweet, not very tender hooligans played for the first time in this city," Morrissey tells his audience. It was on October 4, 1982, that The Smiths, who by that point did not even include bassist Andy Rourke, performed a four song set just over a mile away at The Ritz.
Johnny Marr later recalled that only about '11 people' were there. Four decades later, without his famed axeman by his side, Morrissey began his Apollo set in front of a 3,000 strong crowd, with one of his old band's most cherished anthems.
As soon as that tremolo guitar kicked in and How Soon Is Now rang out, the 3,000 strong crowd were all in. This was no greatest hits, victory lap set, as Morrissey could have easily turned out.
Instead, it was a show for the purists, a level of fan clearly in the majority within the Apollo. Solo hit singles First Of The Gang To Die and Irish Blood, English Heart sounded as fresh as they ever have, while a reworked version of B-side The Loop and recent album track Knockabout World provided nuggets for the hardcore.
The more casual fan hoping for a Smiths heavy set may have been left disappointed, but Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want and a rare solo outing of Frankly Mr Shankly had even those in the upper circle on their feet.
Also featured were cuts from Morrissey's forthcoming 14th solo album, which he promised will be released soon. One such new track likely to cause further controversy was 'Bonfire of Teenagers', Morrissey's apparent response to the Manchester Arena attack.
"This is a song of our city, regrettably," he said, before a haunting piano riff began, played in front of a stark red backdrop. "All the silly people sing, don't look back in anger," he crooned. "All the morons line up and sway, don't look back in anger."
"I can assure you I will look back in anger till the day I die," he continued. Among the devoted, the track was well received, but its reception among the wider public upon the album's release remains to be seen.
The set cranked up a notch with the Morrissey classic Everyday is Like Sunday, and Smiths standards Never Had No One Ever and Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want. Emerging for the encore wearing T-shirt bearing the face of Coronation Street legend Ena Sharples, despite his years in Los Angeles and travel across the world, clearly Manchester is still a place he holds dear.
In a nod to tonight's anniversary, Morrissey ended with the raucous Smiths single Sweet and Tender Hooligan, ripping his T-shirt in two before vanishing into the October night. A Morrissey show in Manchester is a rare event, and at the age of 63, there may not be many more.
But when there is, the hardcore will be there, armed with camping chairs, sleeping bags and a deep devotion for all things Morrissey. And if he and his band are just as on form as they were tonight, it will be well worth enduring the rain.
Setlist :
How Soon Is Now
We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful
Our Frank
Knockabout World
First Of The Gang To Die
Irish Blood, English Heart
Sure Enough, The Telephone Rings
Rebels Without Applause
The Loop
Frankly, Mr. Shankly
I Am Veronica
My Hurling Days Are Done
Half A Person
Bonfire Of Teenagers
Everyday Is Like Sunday
Never Had No One Ever
Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
Jack The Ripper
Sweet And Tender Hooligan
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