Lizzie Rae

Morrissey and Smiths Tribute Band Ordinary Boys Moz Up the 954; Five Maudlin Pope of Mope Favorites

Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 2:11 p.m.

By Lizzie Rae

Morrissey and Smiths Tribute Band Ordinary Boys Moz Up the 954; Five Maudlin Pope of Mope Favorites

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If, in your life, you haven't wept, laughed, or danced mournfully to the Smiths or Morrissey, you might want to get your head checked. Since you're not likely that heartless a monster (spawned in November?), you'll enjoy local band Ordinary Boys, which covers all things Morrissey.

Ordinary Boys officially became (according to themselves) the "One and ONLY SoFla Smiths/Morrissey tribute act" in 2010. The "boys" were fueled by a unified love for the iconic '80s Brit band and their controversial and gorgeous (can we add that?) singer.

"We wanted to have a Valentine's Day show at Churchill's Pub in 2011," lead singer A.J. Navarette said. "The idea was also to make it a Smiths and Morrissey gig, to offset the fact that it's Valentine's Day and people can be miserable." Hence, the "Hated for Loving" show was born and was a success.

"We knew then that we had something going for us," Navarette says. "We are trying to capitalize in some sort of way." The band, composed of Navarrete (vocals, percussion), Ian Michaels (guitar, vocals), L.P. Luis (guitars), Monch (bass), and Illiah Tulloch (drums), does the Divine Mr. M justice. Navarette tells us, "I try to sound, not look, like the Moz." Although, let's be real, we wouldn't mind if he pomped it up.

We asked the not-so-Ordinary Boys to fill us in on their favorite Morrissey or Smiths moments, but they had a tough time coming up with a short list. Their full set includes 21 songs covering decades of Moz-fueled passion. "I personally prefer Moz himself, but Illiah and Ian are more Smiths fans," Navarette points out, but the quintet came to a few agreements for the purposes of this article.

5. "Big Mouth Strikes Again"

If you haven't thought about sending, or actually sent, the opening lyrics of this song to an ex, you were probably born in the mid- to late '90s and have no business listening to music, like, at all.

4. "How Soon Is Now"

Best song to sway sullenly to at any goth night. Good choice, dudes!

3. "London"

One of the more obscure Morrissey tracks, but perfectly Moz, and Moz is perfect. Have we emphasized that point enough yet?

2. "First of the Gang to Die"

From a new(er) Morrissey 2004 release, this track speaks volumes about his social and political awareness. We can't help but wish this song was played on a loop over and over on every radio station, always.

1. "Still Ill"

Arguably one of, if not the, best song in the history of songs. OK, maybe that's a stretch, but this Smiths song defines a huge era of their legacy. Still ill? The answer is yes, we're always ill over the Moz, and thankfully, so are Ordinary Boys.

Ordinary Boys will perform on Saturday, July 27, at Poorhouse, 110 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale. The show is 21 and over. More details here.