Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune on Xcel Energy Center

[Brian Cady <brianinatlanta2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

On line at:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/457/3324820.html

Review: The Who's main two show their intensity
Jon Bream 
Star Tribune 
  
Published Sep 25, 2002 WHO25 

Meet the new band, not the same as the old band -- but
still vital and rocking hard Tuesday night at St.
Paul's Xcel Energy Center.

The Who is down to two original members, Roger Daltrey
and Pete Townshend. Bassist John Entwistle died of a
cocaine-induced heart attack in June, two days before
the band was to start its first major tour in five
years. Original drummer Keith Moon died of an overdose
in 1978.

Daltrey is the Who's voice and Townshend's its soul;
Entwistle and Moon were the heart. It hasn't been the
same without Moon, and Entwistle was even more
integral to the Who's sound. So on Tuesday Townshend
had to be both the soul and the heart, and he,
bolstered by the eternally youthful Daltrey, carried
the crowd-pleasing, creditable show, featuring one of
the most treasured catalogs of classic-rock songs.

The concert could be described as maximum Townshend.
Not only did he write the songs that Daltrey sings,
but his guitar -- whether frenetic acoustic strum,
ear-splitting power chords or furious fast runs --
frames all the tunes. He came out with ferocious
energy, attacking his guitar on "I Can't Explain" and
"Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere," and driving the crowd wild
with his windmill wallops and flying leaps. He kept up
the intensity on his ax for two more hours.

Not bad for a 57-year-old who gave up rock 'n' roll
several years back because of a hearing problem.

At 58, Daltrey may be the hottest looking of the 1960s
rock stars. His energy and intensity matched
Townshend's. But, as he explained, he was having vocal
problems because he had performed in a smoky blues
club the night before. He sounded croaky at times
(especially during the "Quadrophenia" medley), but he
sang with palpable conviction.

While it's not surprising that Daltrey and Townshend
held their own, the question mark was the rest of the
band, especially the rhythm section. Drummer Zak
Starkey (Ringo Starr's son) toured with the Who in
1997; Pino Palladino, England's top session bassist --
he has worked with Townshend, Eric Clapton and others
-- had two days' rehearsal. The new rhythm section was
solid and efficient, but not defining, like its
predecessors.

Palladino didn't try to be Entwistle. His bass wasn't
as prominent in the sound mix, nor his playing as busy
as that of Entwistle, who was the most active and
inventive onstage bassist in rock history. Starkey
played a bit like Moon but was more precise and
consistent.

The Two, er, the Who, acknowledged Entwistle both in
conversation and with a series of photographs before
the encore of a medley from "Tommy." Townshend talked
about how Palladino was "fulfilling a very important
role emotionally, spiritually and in every other way."
Then he dedicated "Another Tricky Day" to Entwistle.
The performance was so emotional that Daltrey and
Townshend embraced afterward.

Other highlights included the crowd-pleasing "Baba
O'Riley," the passionate "Behind Blue Eyes," the
ebullient encore "Won't Get Fooled Again" and the 1965
Beatles-esque Brit-pop song "The Kids Are Alright,"
during which Townshend ad-libbed an extra verse and a
special ending.

All in all, the new band -- with the same old boss --
proved that the geezers are all right.



=====
-Brian in Atlanta
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