Townshend at Harborlights - Review

[Thomas G Farrell Jr <kingpin@tiac.net>]

	Pete's already played at Woodstock and he's playing in Chicago tonight, so
this "review" is passe, but it isn't going to hurt anybody to read or
delete it, so what the heck?  I mean, this post certainly isn't going to
interrupt the Who content on OddsandSods (O&S) because, well, there isn't
any Who content on O&S from what I've seen during the few days I've been on
the list.


	Perhaps ya'll should rename "O&S" to "The Donner Party," which more
accurately reflects the way people treat each other on that list.



	Glad to see the good folks on the Who Digest are maintaining a modicum of
civility and good manners.  Best wishes to you all.



	Ok, enough of that crap.  I confess, a vague sense of loyalty compelled me
pay perfectly good money for tickets to see Pete at Harborlights Friday
night.  After a couple (very hectic) days, the following are my reflections
on the show:


	(1)  The two Canned Heat songs were nice, albeit rather quiet.  As my
friend from the Zeppelin list correctly pointed out, the songs suited
Pete's voice quite well.  Good choices, both songs.


	(2)  Pete's voice is still very good.  He also looked very fit, as Pete
graciously pointed out to everyone.


	(3)  Rhetorical question:  What the Hell is Pete doing hanging around with
Broadway choreographers?   I guess I should just count my blessings that it
wasn't Tommy Tune on stage with him.  Either way, he's never going to get
another solo done hanging out with that crowd!


	(4)  To me, the finale of "See Me" seemed designed to pay homage to the
Who's 1969 Woodstock show, when they played "See Me" as the morning sun was
rising.  I remember Pete describing the 1969 "See Me" in transcendant
terms, saying he felt they didn't deserve to be playing that song as the
sun rose.  As such, it didn't surprise me that they tried something
dramatic for that song in preparation for Woodstock 1998, as the 1969 See
Me was apparently one of the few positive moments he remembers from the
original Woodstock.  Good try on Friday, just didn't quite execute it
correctly.  I hope it comes off a bit better Saturday and Sunday (if they
play it).


	(5)  "The Kids Are Alright" (which featured more Pete on electric guitar)
sounded like an up-tempo version of "The Shout" with the lyrics from TKAR.
Very good.


	(6)  I generally liked the blonde gal who sang with (and in some cases,
for) Pete.  She added a great deal to the show.  Great ass, too.  . .
<blustering, ruslting of paper> . . . I meant, "great presence."   Sadly,
when Pete announced she would be singing lead on "Diamond in the Rough," it
started a stampede to the restrooms of Cincinnati '79 proportions.


	(7)  North Country Girl worked very well, especially at Harborlights, with
the ocean breeze and nice setting. 


	(8)  Factual quibble:  don't know if anyone caught this, but Abby Hoffman
didn't interrupt Acid Queen at 1969 Woodstock, as Pete claimed Friday
night.  Hoffman interrupted immediately after Pinball Wizard.


	(9)  I must give Pete credit: he did play electric guitar with some vigor
on a couple of occasions.  Much better than when I saw Quad in 1996, when
Pete was basically an inert mass of flesh shuffling around the stage in
Birkenstock sandals, and the instrumental highlight of the evening was a
friggin' bass solo.


	(10)  As for the quality of Pete's electric guitar playing, well, I give
him gets high marks for enthusiasm when he chose to play electric.  That
was good to see and hear.  However, to be blunt, it's pretty obvious he's
out of practice.  Well, ok, he had a couple good moments, I suppose, but I
don't know, I wasn't too impressed.   He did ok.  With the exception of the
two Canned Heat songs, it seems to me that the electric guitar was used
primarily to "rev up" the sound mix.   I'll be diplomatic and say he
sacrified the ass-kicking lead guitar solos for the greater good of the
show (this statement is "diplomatic" in the sense that it assumes he can
still play ass-kicking lead solos).


	(11)  When Pete said the final song was a "prayer," I thought he was going
to play "Pravardigar."


	(12)  The two thirds of the show was upbeat and energetic.  "Anyway,
Anyhow, Anywhere" and "A Little is Enough" were nice treats.  


	(13)  Pete's electric guitar failing during WGFA was a debacle, made all
the more unfortunate because Pete wasn't too demanding on the equipment
during the show.  Pete did come out and play a good "Magic Bus," but the
show -- which had been very good up to that point -- lost steam after Pete
left the stage due to his equipment problems.  Peter Hope-Evans also seemed
to experience some trouble at various points in the concert.  I hope they
ironed out these problems for the Saturday and Sunday shows.


	(14)  Mason Weinrich rocks.


	(15)  SUMMARY:  Nice show, kinda ragged at times, some very good moments.
Worth the price of the ticket, certainly.  Glad I went.




	And with that, I bid both Who lists a fond ado.  We live in an age of
unprecedented technological advancement, wealth, and prosperity:  be good
to each other, count your blessings, and be happy. 



Every good wish--Tom Farrell
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		"I Drank What?"
     		      ---Socrates

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