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The Who is alright 
'60s icons can still whip up a frenzy 
By Vit Wagner
Pop Music Critic 

Yes, they are still the Who. But why?

Based on the last night's appearance by the Who at the
Air Canada Centre, the most compelling answer to that
question is that even reduced to half of its original
membership, the iconic '60s outfit can still whip an
audience of 13,000 Torontonians into a state of
sustained adoration and frenzy.

That and the fact that guitarist Pete Townshend, at
the not so tender age of 57 hasn't lost any of his
capacity for exclamatory punctuation. He might not
smash guitars with youthful abandon any more, but his
ability to drop one power chord after another remains
undiminished.

If anything, thanks to improved amplification, it's a
fair bet that Townshend's capacity for
windmill-powered electrification has seldom produced
greater voltage. After offering an early glimpse of
his trademark propeller approach on the night's
opening number, "I Can't Explain," Townshend generated
enough power to lend serious weight to "Bargain,"
"Baba O'Riley," "Won't Get Fooled Again" and several
other of the band's harder-hitting favourites.

Sadly, singer Roger Daltrey couldn't come close to
matching Townshend's wattage. Whether Daltrey's voice
is permanently shot  or whether his vocal chords were
showing signs of wear and tear at end of the tour 
the 58-year-old singer strained unsuccessfully to
reach notes that were once easily within his grasp.

Daltrey's attempt to make up the deficit with
showmanship had limited success. Mostly, he resorted
to twirling the microphone through the air, an effect
that seemed as likely to result in serious self-injury
as triumph. Fortunately, no mishaps occurred.

It was remarkable enough that the band made it this
far. The ACC show was the culminating gig in a
emotionally fraught tour that started in July, four
short days after the death of Who bassist John
Entwistle. The absence was frequently marked by
projections of Entwistle's bearded visage on the
screens that flanked the stage. Original drummer Keith
Moon, who died in 1978, also showed up in the slide
show of images designed to remind the assembled of the
band's storied youth.

"We could not have done this without you," said
Daltrey to the audience. "Thanks for the support."

It was not the first time that Toronto served as the
final stop on a Who tour. The band played Maple Leaf
Gardens in December, 1982, at the end of what was
meant to be its first farewell tour.

"It's taken such a long time to come back to this
city," Townshend said. "Tonight, in true tradition,
this is the last show we're doing on this tour."

Townshend and Daltrey did not stint in their praise of
Pino Palladino, charged with the unenviable task of
filling in for Entwistle at the last moment. The
audience also showed its appreciation for the efforts
of Palladino, who was joined in the background by
Townshend's brother, Simon, on backing guitar and
vocals, John Rabbit Bundrick on keys and Ringo Starr's
son, Zak Starkey, who was particularly effective on
the kit.

With Townshend carrying the load, the sextet was able
to suspend disbelief long enough to create the
impression that the adults  on stage and in the
audience  were alright.

I'm not sure, however, that it's an experience that
bears repeating. 


=====
-Brian in Atlanta
The Who This Month!
http://www.thewhothismonth.com
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