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Raleigh



It's going to be hard to put this into words and keep from gushing.
Because having seen the same show in MSG a year ago, it's quite clear
that this is an improved performance in almost all aspects.
Let me begin with the trip up...driving through heavy rain, thinking
that I hadn't beaten the odds this time by getting lawn seats.
Fortunately we were through it long before getting to Raleigh. It turned
out to be a beautiful, clear, and unseasonably cool night. Perfect in
all regards, although I wouldn't have minded a little drizzle during
Love Reign O'er Me...just for the effect.
Then the pre-show. It was great to see so many well-known members there.
It's very nice to be in a room with 20+ Who fans, all hyped up about
being hours away from a Who concert...sparkling conversation and all of
that. My regret was that I had to leave long before I was ready...that's
what happens when you bring non-list people along! My apologies to you
all; I didn't get to do more than nod and smile to some!
I was told that the night before's performance was the best of the
tour...I can't wait to see how Raleigh rates, because I can't imagine a
show being much better.
The concert itself...performancewise, this incarnation of The Who is
utterly fantastic. After MSG, I wrote that the band was better than the
`89 version...this is true in triplicate now! We were treated to
diamond-sharp perfection, with one small timing mistake (quickly and
professionally corrected) in I've Had Enough and the usual and expected
lyric flubs by Daltrey (endearing, that).
At the MSG show, things didn't really start rolling until 5:15. Not so
last night! From the opening video sequence, the crowd was completely
focused and held captive by the performance. The air was replete with
breath taken away.
What can I say about Simon Townshend except that he's picked up
Whitehorn's place and made it his own. In his segments, he stole the
show.
And then Pete...I've always maintained that he has gotten better on lead
since the breakup. Well, there's no doubt about it now! Having heard Who
music for 28 years now, and countless bootlegs, I was still amazed at
his performance. I feel like I'm way understating it, but I don't know
how else to put it. On acoustic he's brilliant; on electric (about half
of the songs), he far exceeds what you would expect...even knowing what
to expect! Drowned and I'm One, both mainly just Pete on acoustic
guitar, stand as proof of how powerful this man is as a performer.
Roger's voice was as strong as it has been in the last ten years or
so...better than you expect, and as good as MSG last year (better than
the broadcast, which was the next night).
John's 5:15 solo is about three times longer than MSG, and even more
breathtaking. No one can touch this guy on bass...face it.
The players...I must say that vocally they were superior to Billy Idol
and Gary Glitter, but performance-wise they weren't quite as good. Idol
had a bit more attitude, and Glitter's mikestand whirling was a nice
counterpoint to Daltrey's mike swinging. Phil Daniels was also a better
Jimmy, but mainly (I think) because of having been in the movie. All
three current performers were definitely good enough and not a
liability.
All of QUAD was captivating, and there wasn't a weak second. Magic
moments abounded, from Pete's windmilling (quite a bit of this) to
Roger's mike-twirling to the Bell Boy sequence.
But the pay-off was the encore. At MSG, we got 4 songs (my night). At
Raleigh, we got seven! An electric Magic Bus (Pete & Rog alone), an
acoustic WGFA in which John joined in about half-way through, Behind
Blue Eyes with the entire band coming in at the expected moment,
Substitute with the entire band, an electric I Can't Explain that rocked
the amphitheater (Pete sure as Hell doesn't need Page now!!!), Roger
performing The Kids Are Alright on an acoustic, primarily (he's no
slouch guitar-wise, either), and then to top it all of...Who Are You,
lead in from acoustic to an all-out full band performance. Capped with a
finishing jam by Pete that once again amazed, and was a powerful end for
the show.
Pete seemed quite pleased to be there, and had lots of praise for Zak
and Simon. He said he hoped we got what we wanted (WE DID!!!), because
he had. You could tell he enjoyed every minute of the show...I can't
help but imagine this could lead to more Who in the future. Damn, I hope
so!
I'm sure I could say more if I wasn't half asleep right now, but for the
moment I believe I've captured the essence.

- -- 

            Cheers                ML

 "It's more than a looking back...it's a bringing up to date.
  Quadrophenia is about where we're all at today...maybe you too,
  I don't know..."
            Pete Townshend