"It's nice to be back in one of the best places in the world," Johnny Marr tells the Barrowland crowd, to the obligatory cheer. "Usually I just pander to the audience but in this case it's actually true..."

The former Smiths guitarist is celebrating 10 years of his solo career with his Spirit Power tour, the album of the same name having gone top 10, and the sense is very much of his having gained the upper hand over his erstwhile bandmate - you know the one.

While Morrissey has spent the last couple of decades expressing support for the likes of Anne Marie Waters, Tommy Robinson and declaring "ultimately everyone prefers their own race", Marr's intricate, distinctive guitar has featured on albums by the likes of Blondie and Noel Gallagher and on the James Bond soundtrack.

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He certainly seems like a man on top of the world as he belies his 60 years with an exuberant entrance before launching into solo track 'Sensory Street'.

It's a pulsating opening but, of course, the majority of the crowd are here for some Smiths.

Marr obliges on track two, a stomping 'Panic' bringing an early chant-along for its famous "hang the DJ" coda, but solo efforts such as 'Generate! Generate!' don't seem out of place and are - almost - as well-received.

"Jack's just going to make a small technical adjustment," the crowd is told before 'This Charming Man' and when a small delay prompts a "f***'s sake, Jack!" from the crowd the former Smith responds with a well-timed "exactly".

The Herald: Johnny Marr performs at the Barrowlands in GlasgowJohnny Marr performs at the Barrowlands in Glasgow (Image: Newsquest/PD)

If there's a dip in proceedings it comes immediately after with a more reflective number from Marr's most recent album but, of course, he can simply reach for 'Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want' to ensure everyone is immediately back onside.

There's an airing for a number of songs from his other former band, Electronic, one of which 'Get The Message' could very well have sparked a moshpit if most of the audience wasn't a little past the age for such shenanigans.

Watching one of the nation's finest guitarists at work is never going to be anything other than a pleasure, and Marr and his band bring a beefed-up live sound to those ubiquitous Smiths songs.

That spirit is exemplified in the decision to throw in a cover of Iggy Pop's 'The Passenger' before the biggest cheer of the night for 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out'.

Perhaps the biggest compliment to Marr and co is that you wouldn't want to hear these songs played by anyone else - including you-know-who.