When last night's Morrissey show began on the Riverside stage, it seemed like we were in for a nostalgic Smiths' love fest. The massive James Dean photos for backdrops reminded me of Smiths' promo pieces from two decades ago, and the first few minutes of the show featured a computerized voice bleating a lengthy list of all things tragic and terrible -- including "disloyal lover," "cancer," "racist" and "tasteless a-hole yanker." Then, when Morrissey took the stage with his darling boy band and ripped into "The Queen is Dead" despite his eight solo records, I prepared for an evening of delicious Smiths-ness.

But this isn't what happened.

Sure, Morrissey tossed diehard Smiths' fans a few meaty bones (um, can I use that adjective to describe a song written by the militant vegan?) like "Panic," "Everyday is Like Sunday," "How Soon Is Now"  -- which was the dramatic closer before a slightly anticlimactic encore -- and "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side."

However, the iconic performer delivered a fresh show that drew heavily from his solo records, "Bona Drag," "You Are The Quarry" and his most recent release, 2006's "Ringleader of the Tormentors." The set list included "The First of The Gang to Die," "The Youngest was the Most Loved," "Disappointed" and "Irish Blood, English Heart."

Morrissey's voice sounds as if he recorded "Meat Is Murder" just yesterday, which is quite a fete for a man who is 10 days shy of his 48th birthday. That said, it was downright snicker-worthy when he ripped off his sweaty shirt and threw it into the audience, revealing an OK physique that was neither gross nor ripped. But most likely Morrissey was snickering right along with us because the beauty of the Irish-born performer is his ability to be tragic and funny at the same time, evident with song titles like "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others," "Vicar in a Tutu" and "Girlfriend In A Coma."

Although he said very few words to the audience, Morrissey made a few funny quips, including an apology for his hair -- which is thinning yet still sticks up in a boyish way. However, his love for his fans was evident: he reached down to shake hands numerous times and seemed unphased at the end of the show when numerous audience members bum-rushed the stage to give him a hearty hug.

Overall, it was an amazing, high-energy and dramtic show, but perhaps even more amazing was the fact I didn't drunk dial old high school boyfriends afterwards. Despite all of the new material performed by a Morrissey who looked way more mature than when I saw him 20 years ago at the then-called "Performing Arts' Center," it was still a trip down Tragically Tormented Teenage Lane.