Re: reviews of detroit

[SHAGGYKIT@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 8/25/2002 8:00:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
TheWho-Digest-Owner@igtc.com writes:

<< The first time I saw The Who was 1967 in a high school gym.  I have seen 
them 
 numerous times since and I saw them again last night.  12th row left center.
 
 Based on my own experiences I don't ever recall seeing Pete a happy camper 
on 
 stage.  Yes, every now and again he will crack a smile, but outright happy 
 nope.  The music and the show come first.  He treats it like a profession.  
 One that he happens to be very good at doing.  Last night was no exception.  
 This is not a guy who expresses happiness as a rule.  He is one serious dude 
 that would probably be closer to depressive than downright giddy.  I am no 
 expert and I am no shrink, it's just my worthless opinion.
 
 During the Quad tour I remember him scolding Gary Glitter for getting too 
 chummy with the audience and throwing the show behind schedule.  Pete held 
 out his watch and started banging on the face.  This is a business and we 
are 
 on a schedule.  That's the same attitude I think he takes into most shows.
 
 I do not want to sound like I am contradicting the other reviewer who 
thought 
 Pete looked bored.  I can understand his point of view, however, I interpret 
 Pete's mood differently.  
 
 There is no better showman with a guitar in hand.  Last night he proved it 
 again.  During WAY, he attacked the guitar, it turned into a lethal weapon.  
 You folks all know the songs that were written with windmills in mind.  Last 
 night he hit everyone of them.  No not flawlessly but good enough.  At one 
 point he even did 7 or 8 in a row then looked at Roger and yelled out the 
 exact number to him.  Looked rather proud of it if you ask me.  I thought I 
 saw a smile.  
 
 I know I saw a smile at the end of a number of songs that brought the house 
 down and the crowd was as loud as I have ever heard one.  Arrogance, 
 definitely, does he act like a man that goes sailing on his yacht in the 
 South of France, definitely.  But as far as I am concerned he has earned his 
 arrogance and his yacht. 
 
 In my own small opinion nobody has written more meaningful songs in rock and 
 roll.  Nobody puts more into their music than this man has over a career.  
As 
 much maybe, but not more.
 
 Has anybody written more emotional or thoughtful rock and roll music than 
 Tommy or Quad?  How about bash your brains out music that actually sounds 
 good?  I don't think it's possible to play the beginning of WGFA too loudly. 
 
 I'm more afraid of the speakers blowing than having ever thought it sounded 
 too loud.  I'd be arrogant too if I had written PT's catalog.        
 
 The old Who were combustible at any given moment.  They were actually 
 dangerous.  You never knew when someone or something could explode.  This 
 version is much more toned down, the combustibility is gone but they still 
 put their hearts and souls into the music.  Peter may look bored but I don't 
 think there is anything he would rather be doing then performing in front of 
 20,000 screaming Who fans like he did last night.  
 
 Pete's stage persona was always one of being "on the muscle".  It's his 
 stage. Just ask Abbie Hoffman.  Now it's one of being in total control to 
the 
 point of almost automatic pilot.  It can at times appear as boredom, but in 
 my mind he looks like a guy that has the world by the balls and doesn't care 
 who knows it.  The guy has been doing the same thing for over 35 years what 
 can you expect. I wish I was that bored.
  >>

I agree with you 100% - I am only 24 years old and I am just so grateful that 
I have gotten to see them 5 times in the past 7 years. And I was fortunate 
enough to meet John and see him solo. I hope there will be at least a couple 
more times because they are indeed the best band in the world. Especially 
LIVE!!!!!
Good insight to Pete and the boys :)

Gloria in Detroit