An old friend visits

Morrissey has parked himself in Hollywood for an extended stay at the venerable Palladium, which will close for a major refurbishing after the British pop star’s engagement ends on Saturday. He’s long held a special bond with Los Angeles fans, who welcomed him in the same ballroom when he led the Smiths in the mid-’80s and have remained fiercely loyal over the decades. In return, this ambassador of angst has provided a musical refuge for anyone who’s felt misunderstood or excluded, his melancholy croon telling them that they do belong.