Portland, Oregon remembers The Who

[Brian Cady]

>From The Oregonian (and heaven bless you Jim Brunberg!)
http://tinyurl.com/jrjn7

I know Who 
Friday, October 06, 2006

Rock legends such as the Who -- of whom there are few -- inspire reverence, jog memory, incite controversy. Perhaps most of all, they resonate not only in the culture at large, but in the lives of individual fans.

A handful of folks in the world of Portland music offer their reflections and feelings on the Who, as the band heads to town for a long-awaited show Tuesday night.

"I hitchhiked to see the Who at the Cow Palace (in San Francisco) on the original 'Quadrophenia' tour. It was LOUD. That was the show where Keith Moon passed out -- twice -- and a kid from the audience got up and played drums for the encores. I met Townshend this summer at Leeds, when we were on the same festival bill. He was into it and so was Daltrey. And it's not the same, but they were still really good." 
-- Scott McCaughey of the Minus 5 and R.E.M.

"Answering the question that's bound to be asked: Yes, it's still the Who! Just as you're still the guy reading the newspaper. You're bald now, you don't do drugs anymore (not the kind you used to), you got a straight job, and the small flock you run with is no longer made up of stargazing geniuses who push your every button and inspire you to new artistic heights. By contrast, the Who still exist and will still punch you in the face with moments of genius spanning over 40 years. And the new stuff? I'm buying it. I LIKE it. It's the Who!" 
-- Jim Brunberg singer-songwriter, proprietor of Mississippi Studios

"When I was in high school I was obsessed with being a writer, and I chose the Who's lyrics for inspiration. I think this was my first way of breaking free of a conservative upbringing. Plus, it was the first time, as a young teen, that I learned to both 'think' and 'feel' the physicality of rock. "Although I never was able to see the Who live, I felt strangely nostalgic for the '60s. I was attracted to the Mod scene, 'Quadrophenia' and all that. I still love that mod sound and the groups that emulated it: the Jam, etc." 
-- Kathy Fors KBOO disc jockey, accordionist with Padam Padam

"I saw the Who in 1972 in Frankfurt, Germany. Aside from permanent ear damage (I'm not kidding), what I got from the concert was a memory of Pete Townshend in a white jumpsuit, in mid-air, with thousands of flashbulbs exploding each time he jumped, giving the impression of lightning striking. Because I'm old enough and fortunate enough to have seen the original band, I can't visualize anyone else on bass. (John) Entwistle's presence and inspiration were revolutionary -- the Rickenbacker bass, the staring pageboy, the flying fingers. "But if I were to close my eyes at their current tour, I'm sure I'd appreciate the upgrade in sound quality, and that guitar, that voice and those songs would convey what for me were the highlights of the band." 
-- Denny Bixby bass player

"To this day I end a particular guitar riff with Pete Townshend's trademark right arm windmill. It gets a laugh and a cheer every time." 
-- Jo Haemer classical/pop acoustic guitarist

"When the Who was on all four cylinders, no one could top them, not in the mid-'60s, not in the '70s, till Keith Moon died. Why go see the Who today when half the band is dead? Because they have a repertoire of great songs that still hold up, Pete Townshend can still play, Roger Daltrey still has the pipes. Even without Entwistle and Moon, they still put on a better show than most bands out there today. If you are looking to eclipse that Who show you saw in the '70s when Moon was alive, then you'll be disappointed. However, if you are looking to see a great night of rock and roll, you just can't pass this show up." 
-- Terry Currier of Music Millennium 

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