Detroit 7/25

[A Park <apark@globalserve.net>]

Some quick thoughts on last night's show:

- - the crowd was great - packed, enthusiastic sell-out of knowledgeable
fans singing along to much of the show (including Quad, Subst. and ICE).

- - great radio support - wall-to-wall Who on one station before and after
the show 

- - no surprises on setlist

- - lousy sound, at least where I sat (far right near back) and poor
sightlines (suspended speakers blocked most of the screen and back right
of stage).  Sound was too quiet, and I couldn't hear much of Pete or Rog
for most of show (except acoustic and end of encore) due to muddy mix. 
Perhaps this was just in my location.  

- - Pete very animated - lot's of windmills, movement, arm-overhead poses. 

- - Rog seemed a bit restrained. Perhaps because of (what seemed to me) a
small stage.  Voice was sounding strained (as was Pete's) often.

- - IMHO the daylight of an open-air venue detracts from the theatricality
of the show. Because of this and the really lousy sound, I preferred
last November's Buffalo show, notwithstanding the more enthusiastic
performance here (from what I could see - not hear!).  Although I must
admit that Subst., ICE and WAY (by which point the sound engineer seemed
to wake up and do something, because I could finally hear Pete) was
fantastic!

- - I'm hoping for better sightlines and sound at next tuesday's Toronto
show, to prove me wrong with my misgivings.

Andrew P.

"sadly ecstatic that their heroes are news" PT