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Re: My Pepsi Center review (Denver)



I just wanted to clear up a small mistake here.  In the setlist as well as
the review, Jill has wgfa between My Wife and Bargin.  This should read
Baba O'Riley.  I'm too tired to review myself, but I agree, this was an
AMAZING show!

><> Justin D. Trout

On Fri, 25 Aug 2000, Jill Jackson wrote:

> 
> There was no prozac in evidence at the Denver concert tonight - just an
> enthusiastic mass of arm-waving, foot-stomping, hip-shaking,
> scream-until-you're-hoarse WHO fans.
> 
> Here's the setlist:
> 
> I Can't Explain
> Substitute
> AAA
> I Don't Know Myself
> My Wife
> WGFA
> Bargain
> Getting in Tune
> TKAA
> I'm One
> Pinball Wizard
> The Real Me
> Behind Blue Eyes
> You Better You Bet
> Who Are You
> 5:15
> WGFA
>     (encore)
> I Walk the Line/Ring of Fire
> Naked Eye
> Let's See Action
> My Generation
> 
> Pete wore black pants & jacket, white shirt.  John wore black shirt &
> pants, zebra-patterned jacket - looked damn good, too.  According to my
> kids (they're alright), he was not wearing the Boris pendant - but he
> had a skeleton hand on his guitar strap.  Roger wore blue jeans, white
> shirt (daughter says it was more light green - lighting?).  Zak had on a
> satiny dk. blue shirt.  Rabbit wore a black (navy-blue?) pullover shirt,
> with white stripes running down the sleeves.  A classy look for everyone
> in the band.
> 
> I noticed that the stage seemed small in this indoor venue, with the
> band members very close together.  Rabbit appeared to be sitting right
> next to Pete - perhaps an illusion because I was seeing everything at an
> angle (Pete's side)?  I didn't have floor seats.  
> 
> Great extended jam at end of AAA.  Pete said that Rog & him wrote this
> song when they were very young - "Too young to know we couldn't write
> songs together."  
> 
> I Don't Know Myself sounded a bit rough - but it was the only song I can
> say that about.  Roger was in fantastic form tonight - very energetic,
> and with an amazing and beautiful voice.  I was surprised that he was
> that good, actually.  He was...perfect.  Even my alright kids thought
> so..."He was better than those '80's videos you've got, Mom."  Yes, he
> was.  
> 
> Pete, of course, was wonderful slashing away at his guitars in a furious
> fashion, windmilling at the appropriate times, occasionally doing a
> little jump at the end of a song.  His voice has been better, but it
> still served him well.  My oldest kid felt the high point of the concert
> was Pete solo, on acoustic guitar, singing I'm One.  I still feel it was
> Roger's night.
> 
> The intro to My Wife consisted of Pete saying no one would be able to
> understand John's introduction, therefore he and Rog would translate.
> John then said he thought he was in Germany...then he asked how any of
> us could breathe in this city (pollution?  altitude?).  He then said he
> wrote this song for his first wife...then mentioned his second wife.
> Pete said "How Hollywood."  John said, "This song is called My First
> Wife."  He and Rog shared the vocals...and John did a decent bass solo.  
> 
> WGFA had the audience screaming...we were already standing since the WHO
> first walked on stage.  The lighting effects often brought the audience
> into the show, making us part of the spotlight, not just with this song,
> but many others.  (Roger unbuttons shirt during this number).  
> 
> During Bargain, huge white balloons suddenly appeared in the audience,
> eventually making their way on to the stage, where Roger had to duck and
> kick them aside.  Fun, but probably pissed him off.  
> 
> Getting in Tune was one of the more beautifully sung songs.  Afterwards,
> Roger came dancing on stage with his acoustic guitar and said he wanted
> to sing Johnny Cash songs.  Pete said they could do a half hour of Cash.
> Then they could do a half hour of The Jesus and Mary Chain, who owed a
> lot to Johnny Cash.  Pete also said the WHO was doing their greatest
> hits because it was the most comfortable for them at these venues, but
> that if they wanted to do a half hour of Johnny Cash, they would.  In
> fact, he said he was feeling so up, that he was up for doing Johnny
> Cash!  
> 
> This led into a heartfelt rendition of TKAA - "Because if I don't, I'll
> go out of my fucking mind...My kids are alright, your kids are
> alright...almost all of us made it here, and the ones who didn't make it
> here, weren't meant to be here..."  Another verse that Pete sang about
> creating you out of lust, I don't ever want you to leave...powerful
> stuff.  High point for me.  
> 
> Pinball Wizard noted for being...Pinball Wizard.  Always good.
> 
> The Real Me starts with a video of the scooter chase in Quadrophenia.
> Pete mentions how Quadrophenia got many kids through college...how he
> should be paid for therapy, or something like that.  How, when he was
> writing songs about teenagers, he was much older than that himself.  He
> has another angst now.  He also talked about how the WHO did cover songs
> when they first started...of Johnny Cash.  The Real Me - a great
> dramatic reading by Roger.
> 
> Behind Blue Eyes - Roger twirled his mic into a frenzy - I'm surprised
> he didn't lasso Pete with it - then caught it just in time for the next
> note to be sung - the crowd went crazy.  
> 
> YBYB - at this point I remembered I had brought my 10 yr. old - I looked
> down at her, and saw that she was dancing her little heart out, red hair
> a flying, all arms and legs.  It's all good...
> 
> Who Are You - no running in place by Roger, I noted.  But everyone else
> in the arena seemed to be doing it.  A lot of swaying to and fro.  A lot
> of people having trouble holding on to their beer.  
> 
> 5:15 - noted for John's extended jazzy bass solo, bringing the song to a
> different place.  Zak worked well with him...Zak is an excellent drummer
> - doesn't have Keith's humor, though.  And I'm just talking about the
> drumming.  Right before John's solo, Roger fell to his knees, sort of
> James Brown style, and the spotlight fell to John.  Afterward, Pete got
> on his knees and bowed down to John(we are not worthy?).  
> 
> WGFA - audience screamed louder than Roger.
> 
> ENCORE
> 
> Roger came out with acoustic guitar, with the WHO as back-up, and sang
> one verse of I Walk the Line...then quite a bit of Ring of Fire.  I
> would call this a MOMENT.  
> 
> Naked Eye...Pete pounding the guitar...this was not the trance-like
> soulful song I've seen on the videos.  This was a high-energy
> encore...Pete's moment.  
> 
> Let's See Action...Pete explaining a little about Lifehouse...it's here,
> the Grid, the Internet...this is what we should Do...(goes into song).  
> 
> Immediately then, into My Generation, Pete jamming, teasing us with the
> false endings.  Hugs...standing at all corners of the stage to wave to
> the audience...Thank you, they said.
> 
> I turned to my 10 yr. old - "You will never see a concert this good
> again."  "I know," she said.  "You've spoiled me."  :-)
> 
> 
> -Jill-
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