Las Vegas Sun review

[Brian Cady <brianinatlanta2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

On line at:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/leisure/2002/sep/16/513993495.html


Review: The Who heats up The Joint with classic hits
By Spencer Patterson 
<spencer@lasvegassun.com>
LAS VEGAS SUN

It's not often a 38-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame rock band suddenly finds itself with something
left to prove.

Like throwing gasoline on a raging fire, when it
happens the results are highly combustible.

Saturday night at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel,
The Who erased any doubts about whether it remains a
viable live act post-John Entwistle, serving up a
blistering two-hour set to an enthusiastic sold-out
crowd.

Strange as it may have seemed to see replacement
bassist Pino Palladino manning Entwistle's post at
stage left, the truth is the new unit may actually
rock harder than The Who has in years.

Palladino sounded quite comfortable working his way
through the band's considerable catalog of classics.
And while his bass lines may not have vibrated quite
as long in your ribcage as Entwistle's once did, in
the intimate, 1,600-person hall, that didn't seem like
such a bad thing.

Drummer Zak Starkey, whose father, Ringo Starr, also
knows a little about drumming in a rock band, has also
had a lot to do with the group's smooth transition
since Entwistle's death in Las Vegas in June.
Considered by many as The Who's best skins man since
Keith Moon died in 1978, the hard-driving Starkey
supplied familiar music with newfound passion.

Of course, the audience didn't pay $155 to $355 per
ticket to see the band's rhythm section. As always,
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend were the featured
attraction, and the duo didn't disappoint.

Although decked out in all black (apart from
Townshend's faded blue jeans), The Who's two remaining
founders provided anything but a somber set,
thundering from the start with the triple-hit shot of
"I Can't Explain," "Substitute" and "Anyway, Anyhow,
Anywhere."

Daltrey's vocals sound as powerful today as they did
on 1970's beloved concert document "Live at Leeds."
The 58-year-old singer lived up to his macho image,
swinging and tossing his microphone as if it were a
weapon and baring more of his still-muscular chest as
the show wore on.

The 57-year-old Townshend appeared equally determined
to prove his own youthfulness. Hiding his emotions
behind a pair of black sunglasses for most of the
show, the virtuoso who spawned a generation of air
guitarists windmilled his way through solo after solo,
displaying the fast fingers and sense of timing that
have earned him a spot in rock 'n' roll's pantheon of
legends.

Townshend's voice, a crapshoot in recent years because
of widely reported damage to his hearing, also
sparkled on this night. Requiring the highest end of
his register, even his part in "Baba O'Riley" --
"Don't cry, don't raise your eye, it's only teenage
wasteland" -- managed to sound anguished without
seeming strained.

Rather than simply a best-of run through, the set list
was well-thought out, keeping the audience on its feet
and singing in unison throughout the night. Along with
FM-radio hits such as "You Better You Bet," "Behind
Blue Eyes" and "Bargain," the band also went a bit
deeper into its catalog with 1972's "Relay" and 1981's
"Another Tricky Day."

Keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick helped layer "Who
Are You?" with its trademark funky groove, while
Townshend's younger brother, Simon, lent backing
vocals and additional guitar work to the evening's
proceedings.

The show also featured a pair of montages from The
Who's two rock operas, first a four-song run from
1973's "Quadrophenia" and then an encore composed of a
medley from 1969's "Tommy."

The "Quadrophenia" segment, in particular,
encapsulated the group's tremendous range, beginning
with Townshend's solo acoustic rendition of "I Am
One," moving on to a roaring version of "5:15"
featuring some of the guitar hero's best work of the
night and then concluding with Roger's vocal showcase,
the howling "Love Reign O'er Me."

Notably silent between songs for much of the night,
Townshend and Daltrey finally paid tribute to their
fallen comrade late in the show during an extended
take on "The Kids Are Alright."

While the band played softly behind them and the crowd
hushed to listen, both men took a turn at the mike,
telling stories about the days when they too were
kids.

"I met this guy. He had a horn. It became a bass. He
gave me his hand. I joined his band," Townshend said,
referring to Entwistle's first instrument, the French
horn, and the early years of their longtime
friendship.

Then, as "My Generation" melded into "Won't Get Fooled
Again" to close the main set, Townshend once again
spoke of the quiet man known fondly as "The Ox."

"We used to share that red wine. It wasn't worth a
dime. We'll have to share it some other time. See ya,
John."

Someday, perhaps. But for now, Townshend, Daltrey &
Co. will continue on, proving that two of the original
Who are still far better than none.


=====
-Brian in Atlanta
The Who This Month!
http://www.thewhothismonth.com
Yahoo! News - Today's headlines
http://news.yahoo.com