Re: Townshend at the Fillmore

["Paul Stevens" <stevens@motmot.engr.sgi.com>]

On May 1,  3:20am, Gord1@aol.com wrote:
> THE TOWNSHEND CONCERT WAS TOTALLY MIND BLOWING!
>

Amen.  The whole event was just magical.  Thanks to this forum and the
help of some very kind-hearted lister members I was able to get a ticket
at the last minute.  The gathering of so many fanatical Who/Pete lovers
and the comraderie it generated really added to the special feel of
this event.

> #1.  If you are anywhere near New York and don't have tickets yet, you had
> better call a scalper that has some left because this was
> absolutelyfuckingamazing!  Pay ANY price.  (BTW, there were no tickets being
> scalped tonight -- I was asked if I had extra tickets numerous times -- and I
> don't even have a good tan!)
>

I absolutely agree.  However, I bet in NYC there *will* be scalped tickets
on the street, but one never knows.  The Fillmore and Bill Graham Presents
did their usual outstanding job on this event.  From keeping an orderly
line to decorating the hall with fantastic photos of the Who from various
BGP events (Winterland '76, Day-on-the-Green with the Dead '76,
a Tommy performance at the Fillmore East, etc. etc.).  The standard
chilled, crispy apples for the fans were in a barrel at the entrance
and after the show they gave out a beautiful poster for the event.
BGP is one class act, and Pete gave the late Bill G. a nod of appreciation
during the show.

> #2  Think of the song Drowned from the Secret Policeman's Ball.  Now, imagine
> that version 10 times better.  Now think about the best sex you've ever had.
>  Now think about something better.  Drowned was even better than that.
>

Yes, Yes, YES!

> #3  Pete mentioned that the show was being "recorded".  Someone at the show
> told me that it was being taped for MTV to be shown sometime this summer.  I
> did not see TV cameras.
>

No video, just the audio taping van outside.  My guess is that some songs
won't make it though, because of things like stopping briefly to re-tune or
audience noise.

> #5  In all my "Who Life", I've never seen Pete in such a good mood.  He was
> in a great mood at the Jones Beach Psychoderelict concert, but this evening,
> he was in an even better mood.  He spent a lot of time talking to the
> audience.  He mentioned things like the Fillmore was the first really big
> place The Who played -- the concert before the Monterey Festival.  He
> jokingly said before the encore that he was "now taking requests".  He ended
> up playing a great version of Magic Bus.
>

Chalk it up to the magical vibe I am trying to describe.  It's part
SF, part BGP, part the comraderie of the fans.  In general, people
were not too disruptive of the music.  Yeah, I had the one woman
behind me who needed to sing along a bit too much.  But I think
the relaxed mood of the crowd helped Pete to relax himself.
It really did have a feel like being in Pete's studio and
hanging around listening to him play and talk.

> #6.  Rough Boys, Drowned, and Heart To Hang On To were so awesome that any
> Pete fan could die at that moment feeling totally satisfied.

I'd have to add I'm One, Now and Then, and I Am An Animal to the
the list of "most awesome" songs.

The rest of you go have a ball in NYC.  Meet up with your fellow
listers and make the night something special!

re: similarities to other set lists
Quite similar to the first HoB show. Move Magic Bus to the last song
and slip in Eyesight to the Blind while dropping Eminace Front and
Embraceable You.  Hopefully, someone else will post a list in
the correct order.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   Paul Stevens                               Silicon Graphics
   stevens@engr.sgi.com                       Mountain View, CA