Overall review of all four shows

[Sroundtable@xxxxxxx]

I think I was one of the few listers to be at all four shows, and I've posted 
several reviews, but have been away from my computer since the gorge.  Here 
is how I would rank them:

1. Shoreline, july 3: As great as show could be, IMHO, without John.  Pino 
more comfortable and finding the groove.  Pete's performance searing, with 
extra improvs, jams, and jumps.  Pete also improvs about "coming too soon" 
during TKAA. At the end of WGFA he tore off 4 successive jumps w/4 strong 
powers chords.  Roger was the hero this night, though.  Voice was on, 
emotional performnace to the nth degree (whatever that means).  LROM brought 
tears to my eyes, and I NEVER cry.  His falsetto "loooooooove" at the end was 
beautiful.  Zak and rabbit were great as always.  I hope no one takes them 
for granted, because they really add a special dimension to the Who.

2. The Gorge, july 6:  Decent by Who standards up to the Quad medley, then 
they took off.  Roger's voice was a bit strained, but it loosened up by 5.15 
and sounded awesome just in time for LROM.  From there it was no holes 
barred.  Pete and roger continuing to one-up the other.  Pete implies an 
erection with his guitar at one point.  Roger busts another tamborine (as he 
did at shoreline and autowest) and pete punctuates the main part of the 
concert by mutilating his guitar.  He swung it at the mikestand, missing it, 
then comes back and gets it, then smashed the shit out of it.  I was jumping 
and screaming like a lunatic as I thought I would never get to see this live. 
 What a great surprise.  Tommy encore topped that, even.  GOD I LOVE 
SPARKS!!!!!!!!

3. Hollywood Bowl, July 1:  Emotional show, everyone cranking on all 
cylinders.  I think my rating of this 3rd is due to average seats, about 1/2 
way up the bowl.  Acoustics there aren't too good once one gets up that high. 
 Pete's guitar sounded muddled because of this.  Pete was damn good, tho, at 
one point doing the birdman pose with the guitar growling and at another 
point standing with one foot on one monitor and the other on the adjacent 
monitor (could have easily fallen into the pool seats.  Great show.  I feel 
blessed to have been there.

4. Sacramento Valley, July 4:  Pete comes out before the opening and says, 
"So you're free, are you?" then flips off the crowd with both hands and says, 
"Well, we want you back."  I was 12th row center, best seats of the trip.  
Overall great show, but was immediately following a show with unsurpassed 
energy so it was understandable that they were a bit more subdued, by Who 
standards.  Roger's voice was in and out, and he even said as much during the 
show: "My voice is a bit tired tonite.  It won't disappear, but it my go out 
and come back in a few times."  A vocally demanding setlist such as this must 
have been tough for roger on back to back nights.  He still sounded good.  
Nice moment at the end of the main set as Pete and roger called the whole 
band to the front and the six posed with arms around shoulders to great 
applause.  Would make a great picture.  Pete also commented on the venue, 
saying, "Someone said, let's make a pile of dirt and bring rock and roll to 
the dirt to play."  Literally, from the road autowest looks like a big pile 
of dirt rising out of a vast cow pasture.  Terrible place to put a 
amphitheatre.

All in all, this was an unforgettable experience.  My love for this band has 
grown 10-fold.  They play for the fans.  If any band is worth high ticket 
prices, it is the Who.  Fuck the stones!  Mick generates great energy by 
prancing around, but wood and richards just stand there and look "cool," and 
they have the back up singers and the rest of the backing band.  There is no 
way they can compare to the Who.  For those of you who are on the the fence 
about attending, GO!!!  You will be SO glad you did.  This IS the Who.  It's 
different, but it's the Who.  

As for the rest of the band:
ZAK- essential to their great show and sound.  Everyone I have talked to 
raves about him.  He is part of the Who.

Rabbit- adds a nice extra dimension to the Who's sound, especially with such 
complicated music in much of the setlist.  I like when he gets going on the 
organ.  Rabbit helps fill the void left in the sound by John's passing.

Pino- solid bass work improving w/each show.  Adds a nice bit of his own 
flair on the 4th bass solo in MG.  He has sort of a cool head bob as he keeps 
the beat, which is accentuated by his long ass neck.  His look also seems to 
fit in with band pretty well.  Someone said his nickname is "the buzzard."  
He sure looks like one, with pete the birdman on one side and the buzzard on 
the other.

Simon- his best contribution is on backing vocals.  This is a welcomed 
addition, IMO, and has been lacking in recent years as John was unable to 
sing the high harmony parts.  The acoustic guitar work isn't really 
noticeable, but I'm not a musician so maybe i just don't have an ear for it.  
How old is he, anyway?  He looks a good bit younger than pete.  At the gorge 
he was really getting into it, moving around a lot on his little platform 
next to Zak.

THANK YOU WHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kevin Mc