No Subject

The Who 
3 stars out of 5

Royal Albert Hall, London 

John Aizlewood 
Saturday February 9, 2002
The Guardian 

"God, this is boring," sighs Pete Townshend, before
embarking upon a version of 5.15 that ends in a
10-minute instrumental free-for-all of such dreariness
that The Who's leader is not the only one to feel
downhearted. Townshend's mean-spirited capriciousness
is all part of the Who's volatile marriage, but, like
a boorish uncle at a family christening, he can't help
but overdo it. The show is singer Roger Daltrey's
fundraiser for the Teenage Cancer Trust, whose banners
lurk guiltily stage left and right. Daltrey, all
oafish charm and hairless chest, does an impassioned
charity awareness speech before the encore. Townshend
returns to the stage muttering, "I don't know what he
said, but it's all lies. Who gives a shit?" The toes
of the Royal Albert Hall's crowd collectively curl. 
The Who's creative flame may be long extinguished but,
as proved by an impressively loud trawl through their
former glories, the band can still pack a punch.
Teenage Wasteland, propelled by John "Rabbit"
Bundrick's booming keyboards, retains its operatic
grace; Won't Get Fooled Again is as articulate as
protest song ever gets; I'm Free remains a beguiling
anti-authority manifesto. 

There's even an airing for some post-1977 material.
Who Are You? is as fine a song as Townshend ever
composed. On record, it was Keith Moon's last great
moment; live, Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey isn't
offered the chance to emulate him. You Better You
Better, however, is Daltrey's showcase, his hollering
("You bettahhh!") contrasting sublimely with
Townshend's harmonies. Beside the pair stands John
Entwistle, in blow-dried hair, zebra-print shirt and
leather waistcoat. He looks ridiculous and his vocal
turn on My Wife is disastrous . 

They end with a dreadful version of Mose Allison's
Young Man Blues, Eddie Cochran's Summertime Blues and
My Generation, during which, contrary old cuss that he
is, Townshend finally gets a twinkle in his eyes. A
nostalgia trip, then, but at least they omitted Magic
Bus and didn't smash their instruments. 


=====
-Brian in Atlanta
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http://www.thewhothismonth.com
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