Liverpool Echo on Liverpool Night 1

[Brian Cady]

http://tinyurl.com/oslxg

The Who, Summer Pops, LiverpoolJul 6 2006
By Joe Riley, Liverpool Echo
 
TO a now broad-beamed generation, the choice was
between The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who.

With the first now defunct, the second decrepit, thank
goodness half the third combo is in vintage working
order.

With Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey doing a
two-night stint in the big top, the loco is front end
loaded: still a band for all generations.

Seeing these guys footling around backstage - Daltrey
playing chess with his grandchildren, Townshend
sharing jokes with Ricky Tomlinson - they look like
they could be queuing for the charabanc to Blackpool.

But once on stage they are resurrected to their true
status as rock gods. The chemistry between the duo is
immediate and still an incredible reminder of the days
of chaotic angst.

They don't bother to dress up any more. They are bods
more than mods.

But Townshend's genius guitar playing, which can
combine lead and rhythm, as in Let's See Action,
together with Daltrey's ability to still produce a
scorching vocal line in either rock 'n' roll or power
ballad format, ensures that these occasional and
privileged collisions with pop history are savoured to
the full by fans who have themselves absorbed the
entire repertoire.

That is until now, of course. After 24 years, The Who,
are about to release a new album and experiment once
more with the rock opera format which Townshend
pioneered.

One of the fresher tracks, Real Good Looking Boy,
retraces '50s youthful mirrored reflections of being a
disciple of Elvis. Townshend being philosophical in
older age.

But as one of the true grandees of songwriting, he
could perhaps be forgiven for proclaiming Quadrophenia
a work of genius, prior to Daltrey polishing off the
final soaring coda, Love Reign O'er Me.

To this point things had been carefully cast into a
crescendo of effect (after all they hold the record as
the loudest band).

But it was still a spine-tingling thrill when My
Generation burst forth, seemingly from nowhere, to be
followed by their magnum opus, Won't Get Fooled Again,
and an encore set which included Substitute and songs
from Tommy.

To be at a live performance of The Who singing Pinball
Wizard is, albeit for a fleeting moment, to be back on
the starting line of youth.


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

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com