New Release: Look Out Live! by Johnny Marr

Johnny Marr is certainly making waves these days. It feels like he’s racing former Smiths frontman Morrissey to reach the next generation of fans. In many of those fans’ opinions, Marr is ahead in this competition. His solo work has been surprisingly impressive, showcasing a voice that many may not have realized he possessed, and it’s only improving with time. This 18-track live double LP Look Out Live! was released for Record Store Day 2025 on orange vinyl, no less. It features several tunes culled from his four solo recordings, his renditions of six classic Smiths’ songs, along with a couple tracks from his time with Electronic. Neil Tennant helps him out on “Getting Away With It,” as well as a splendiferous cover of David Bowie‘s “Rebel Rebel.” To make this release even more special, the concert was recorded exactly one year prior to Record Store Day, on April 12, 2024, at the Hammersmith Apollo in London.

Marr’s highly successful solo tour promoting his Spirit Power: The Best of Johnny Marr greatest hits album has silenced doubts about his status as a bandleader. Fellow musicians consist of Doviak on guitar, keyboards, and vocals; Iwan Gronow on bass and vocals; and Jack Mitchell on drums. Together, they have created a loud and tight sound, bringing exposure to Marr’s solo work and new life to those timeless Smiths tunes. Marr has truly established himself as an experienced and skilled singer-songwriter. His song “Walk Into The Sea” is a haunting example of his artistic depth. The line, “Hope breaks on me,” resonates like a wave washing over him. Performing “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” on acoustic guitar was pure magic, as not a single soul in the arena was quiet; everyone there could easily be credited in the liner notes as “backup singers.”

While Marr is becoming a household name, he has been well-known among Smiths fans for the past four decades. The staying power of the band is remarkable, considering they released only four studio albums between 1984 and 1987. In those early days of the band, Morrissey provided the lyrics, and Marr composed the music, sublimely complementing each other. Both singers continue to perform their solo material alongside songs from their time in the Smiths.

The final side of the album features the somewhat rare “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby” from 1987’s Louder Than Bombs, the American counterpart to the UK compilation The World Won’t Listen. Both releases feature singles, B-sides, and unreleased tracks. Before launching into the closer, Marr announced, “I’d like to dedicate this song to everybody here tonight…and nobody fucking else!” The band then lit into “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,” elevating the audience’s energy. This extended singalong provided the perfect avenue to end the evening.

The setlist listed below is likely accurate, generated by fans, even if it was slightly altered by Marr to improve the flow and sound of the record. Regardless, this album presents a fantastic collection of songs for both the next generation of listeners and longtime fans alike.

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