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Boston Herald review of Tweeter



Available online at:
http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/who07042000.htm

Thanks to Curnhoolio at alt.music.who for pointing this out.

Who fans can be grateful for musical come back
by Dean Johnson
Tuesday, July 4, 2000
This is what the audience saw during ``I Can't Explain,'' the opening song
in last night's 2-hour marathon Who concert: singer Roger Daltrey swinging
his mike cord like a lariat and guitarist Pete Townshend windmilling big
chords from his guitar as he fell to one knee.
OK, everybody, you can all go home now. You've already got your money's
worth. But, of course, it was only the beginning of a striking 21-song set
that put to shame the Tweeter Center's previous two shows over the holiday
weekend featuring Sting and Jimmy Page with the Black Crowes.
Blues greats like Muddy Waters were once the standard used to measure the
way rock bands should age gracefully. Forget that.
Maturing rockers should look at what the Who and The Rolling Stones are
doing in their senior years, and based on last night's Who concert, they
should be afraid. Very afraid. With Zak Starkey on drums, Rabbit Bundrick on
keyboards, and John Entwistle on bass, the band just chewed up and devoured
classic Who tunes like ``My Wife,'' ``Bargain,'' and ``Won't Get Fooled
Again,'' as well as lesser-known songs such as ``Relay'' and ``Naked Eye.''
Daltrey's voice was a tad road-worn, but he still sports a washboard stomach
and a riveting stage presence. Townshend was a marvel. Still one of rock's
most physical guitarists, he abused his instruments all night - sometimes
even repeatedly pummeling them with a fist - to get them to create great
chopping riffs and torrid staccato washes.
But being a gentleman rocker sometimes has its drawbacks. Several times, in
the middle of scintillating breaks, Townshend had to stop in midstroke to
gently tuck the hem of his sportcoat behind his Fender.
The night was a primer in dynamics and chemistry and the delicate art of
tension-and-release set to riveting music. The band members were clearly
enjoying themselves, too.
Daltrey and Townshend kiddingly bickered with each other and the audience
for much of the night. When Entwistle blew the roaring bass lines that kick
off ``Pinball Wizard,'' he just made everyone start over.
``I'm proud of the re-emergence of this band,'' Townshend admitted from the
stage.
And rock fans everywhere should be grateful.

        -Brian in Atlanta
         The Who This Month!
        http://members.home.net/cadyb/who.htm