When Johnny Marr first played Nashville, back in 2013, we covered it extensively (this writer is a self-proclaimed Smiths superfan), including a week of articles leading up to the show, where we examined the legacy of Marr’s iconic former band, his fraught relationship with former bandmate Morrissey, his various post-Smiths projects, a profile on his tour opener at the time, and, of course, a look at his debut album as a solo artist, that same year’s The Messenger. The reason then that we spending so much time discussing Marr in proximity to The Smiths and other projects rather than strictly on his own merits, is that that first LP had only come out months before, and after spending decades as a collaborator (with everyone from Talking Heads to Hans Zimmer), in bands like The Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse, and The Cribs, as a session musician, and flirting with being a frontman for the first time a decade prior with supergroup Johnny Marr + the Healers, Marr had still only really begun to define himself as a proper solo artist.
Twelve years later, and Marr’s solo career has been undeniably cemented, having released another impressive three full-lengths- 2014’s Playland, 2018’s Call the Comet, and 2022’s Fever Dreams Pts 1–4 (initially released as a series of EPs)- and spending even more time on the road than that other former Smith, notching hundreds of concerts since that first Nashville outing (he’s notably been back to Music City a couple times since, headlining Cannery Ballroom in 2018, and most recently supporting The Killers at Bridgestone Arena in 2022). Renowned not only for his songwriting and production work, or even for the influence of his various bands, Marr is also celebrated as one of the best and most important guitar players of his generation, something he certainly still showcases today, in addition to impressive solo songwriting chops, forging an indie, alternative, pop accessible sound of his own, which feels both familiar to fans of his decades of work with other groups, but also distinctly and singularly Marr.
For his latest Nashville outing- his first Music City headliner in seven years- Johnny is set to play Brooklyn Bowl Nashville tonight, Sept. 21, along with psych-punk duo His Lordship. While there’s no new original album announced just yet, the show comes just days after the release of an impressive new live record, Look Out Live!, which was recorded in London and perfectly captures the passion and magic Johnny Marr brings to the stage (the record also includes some Smiths songs, which Johnny has been consistently performing live over the years; a real treat for fans). Tickets are still available for tonight’s show here, and whether you’re a fan of Marr, The Smiths, or fantastic and timeless alt and indie rock in general, you seriously don’t want to miss it!
Johnny Marr and His Lordship perform tonight, Sept. 21 at Brooklyn Bowl Nashville. The show is 18+, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), and tickets are available for $53.70.
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