ROYAL ALBERT HALL - UNCENSORED REVIEW

[Bjørn Ciggaar <ciggaar@warande.net>]

Holy shit...

This was the best concert I have ever seen. The stage was about as big as 
my dorm room. The front row counted about 20 seats, and I was in seat 13 
(actually ended up in seat 12), so I was almost dead center front row, a 
bit off to John's side. Unbelievable.

RAH is a great venue. I don't really care about the sound of it, because I 
didn't really hear any of the acoustics that well (you never get a great 
sound when you're front row).
What surprised me was one thing that nobody else had mentioned in any 
reviews; the jams and solo's! They where different! And I don't mean 
different different, I mean totally different!
And John was just onto it. Sometimes it seems like he's playing on his own, 
but right now, he was with the band. Especially during WGFA, he went on for 
just a bit longer into the synth solo. He played excellent. The night was 
surprising; all the stuff they did; AND the special guests where just cool! 
It was nice to see Pete play with other people then The Who. It was a sort 
of tribute to The Who. Brian Adams was great! Some might not know what the 
heck his connection with The Who is, but he wrote some songs for Roger on 
"Under A Raging Moon".

A surprising night. I was going out of my brain...

And they came onstage, and I was going mad, jumping up and dancing along 
untill someone from security told me to sit down... Oh well, so I sat down. 
The stage was very low, so I didn't mind that much (when I was standing I 
actually was the same height as Roger). I was spinning on my chair with my 
fists in the air.

Roger saw me, pointed at me, walked in my direction and said: "Welcome!".
Pete was wearing a blue checked shirt, sunglasses and a black coat.
* I Can't Explain
* Anyway Anyhow Anywhere
With an extended solo-bit; this one rocked!!! The solo was so in tune; 
amazing...
* Pinball Wizard
I don't know what it is, but this song keeps getting better. And ofcourse 
everybody knew this one!
* Relay
Pete's introduction "this is our first song this evening from Lifehouse" 
(and a bit of an explanation)
* My Wife
I don't know if I'm correct on this, because according Kim + Lester John 
said something different... I dunno... But I was standing in front of him, 
and what I though he said was: "It feels like I anounced this song a 
thousand times - actually I have though haven't I?"
This was a great My Wife. Pete was jumping a lot (and so was I); during 
this song (during the fast chord changes; DANG-DANG-DANG-DANG) I was 
punching in the air and going crazy, Pete just looked at me and smiled.
* The Kids Are Alright
The usual TKAA.
* Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand
Pete anounced this as a silly (sorta) song.
* Bargain
Pete explaining the meaning of this in Lifehouse; about something great 
happening at a concert.
* Magic Bus
Pete was saying this was a small step "up" in the set list.
Pete: "Sometimes this song is absolutely great... Sometimes... And 
sometimes it's just great."
Roger: "But that's because sometimes the audience doesn't sing along!"
And the audience did sing along! The jam was amazing; Roger was totally 
wearing the harmonica out. It sure was building up to a climax. I got in my 
seizure (happens at times); this was unbelievable. At the end Pete said 
that Roger must've been breathless!
* Baba O'Riley
With Nigel Kennedy. Very cool.

Intermission (Roger: "we'll be back in a shake of a donkey's tail")
I was just standing in the corridor with Paul (Majortom) with our jaws on 
the floor... This was unbelievable...

Phill Jupitus came on... I thought he was pretty cool actually. Some dumb 
fuckers where interrupting him. I heard they actually gotten a comedian in 
there on purpose, so it wouldn't be labeled as a concert, so that the 
balcony boxes wouldn't be for the season ticket holders but could be sold 
for the good cause.
But Phill got back to them. I was feeling sorry for this guy, he was right 
in front of me, and he was trembling and almost got tears in his eyes when 
those buggers up there kept yelling and chanting.
He introduced Roger as; "And here is; BTW a big Arsenal fan - but don't 
hold this against him; ROGER DALTREY" (followed by a lot of booing)
Roger came up saying; "And I'm not giving you any more WHO if you don't 
show any more respect for Arsenal" (there was a half boo, half cheer) "No, 
that's not it" (a bit more cheer) "Alright, and now a big hand of applause 
for Phill." (and he got it)
Roger handed a 1m pound cheque to the doctor that started all this. It was 
touching; the doctor had brought along 2 gold medal athletes who suffered 
from cancer as well. The crowd was still a bit rowdy, but I was glad they 
settled down for this.
Roger anounced that Paul weller was coming up, but he wasn't. Roger told 
Pete: "Oh Pete, I fucked up!". Pete: "Oh? Did you Roger? Geeee...". :-)

Pete had changed his shirt, he was wearing a yellow shirt.

* Drowned (PT)
Did a restart after saying "I forgot the words...". Very, very good version.
* Heart To Hang Onto
Dedicated to Ronnie Lane. Amazing how good Pete pulleed this one of on his 
own. I loved it. It had a full sound and Pete's voice was great!
* So Sad About Us
Accompanied by Paul Weller. Nice harmonies. Halfway Rabbit joined in too...

Zak and John came up. Zak was all dressed in WHITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* I'm One
They introduced Eddie Vedder. It was pretty good. It just struck me that 
Eddie had his eyes closed the entire song and didn't look into the audience.
* Getting' In Tune
Eddie, Roger and Pete shared vocals. This was a great version; really great.
* Behind Blue Eyes
Roger was about to introduce the next guest, but Pete told him it was a 
surprise. I was yelling "SANTA! SANTA!", and Pete said; "Yeah, a surprise 
guest; Father Christmas!". :-)
Bryan Adams was very, very good. But he didn't really interact with the 
audience the way Roger and Pete do.
* You Better You Bet
Usual... It rocked...
* The Real Me
John's bass playing was incredible on this one...
* 5:15
John got a buzzard with a camera on the end of his neck. His solo was 
amazing, and got lots of cheers. At the end I was hailing him, and he just 
posed in a way saying "I know I am the greatest!". :-) I was shouting out 
"THUNDERFINGERS!". And Roger said "John Thunderfingers Entwistle".
Roger: "And he was playing several notes at once! John; how many did you 
actually intend to play?"
John: "Just one." :-)
* Won't Get Fooled Again
Noel Gallagher played along. Very nice version. Sounds great with 2 guitars...
* Substitute
With a guy from the Stereo-Phonics. Roger commented on the guy being 
smaller then him. Nice version (with 2 guitars). It just gives such a 
different sound... And addition to The Who's sound...
* Let's See Action
Together with Eddie Vedder; who again closed his eyes for most of it.
* My Generation
BAM! BAM! BAM!!! This one just BANGED! Straight into the jam and, then it 
got quiet... And Roger sang:
* See Me Feel Me
Bryan and Eddie came on up during "Listening to you" and later a bunch of 
kids came up too. There went to stand in front of John. So they totally 
blocked John. John was looking for a way to get through, but he couldn't 
make it. He was totally lost. So he walked around and appeared at the far 
left end and kinda popped out of the crowd and waved like "yooooohoooo! I'm 
here!". :-)

And thus ends it all... NOT!!! (more later)
Cheers,
Bjørn Ciggaar
http://www.warande.net/~ciggaar

"Is that your natural hair colour???"
- John Entwistle after seeing my hair (7th of October)