I went to see The Who in concert last night at Verizon Center. I attended with some old friends from Brooklyn and my cousin and his girlfriend. The show and the company made me feel nostalgic for my younger long-haired days. 
The show was not very well attended with perhaps 12,000 people at the arena. In comparison, Coldplay had about 15,000 people attend their show last week.
Growing up, we all loved The Who. They stood for rebellion and defiance and they had a unique sound and a one of a kind on stage persona.
The band isn’t the same anymore. Losing John Entwistle and Keith Moon to drugs over the years is sad and The Who can never be as they once were: driven, pissed off, flamboyant and tight as a drum.
That being said, Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey have nothing to be ashamed of. They played their hearts out and even though they don’t seem to like one another very much, they are still rocking even though they are 63 and 64 years old. Daltrey’s voice got better as the night wore on and I thought he was fabulous during “Love, Reign o’er Me”.
Many of the songs and the banter on stage seemed appropriate and the fans really got into “Teenage Wasteland”; “My Generation”; ”Won’t Get Fooled Again”; and “Who Are You”.
This will probably be The Who’s last tour. I first saw them in the early 70′s. They are a seminal band with a very distinct sound and are on the pantheon of great and important bands. I am glad I went to see them to say goodbye. “Won’t Get Fooled Again” as Pete Townsend said. “Are you ready for regime change?”….
Roger and Pete never really got along did they? Just like Mick and Keith have had their squabbles. But the important thing about both the Who and the Stones is that they viewed the band and the music as bigger than the individuals. And rock fans are much the better for it. Which is why they are the two best bands in rock and roll history. The Beatles blew up in just a few years due to a clash of humongous egos, and for that reason really aren’t even in the discussion.
I thought I saw them on “their last tour” at RFK in 1988.
Ted,
You may have seen the last tour of The Who, this time around. How many times has The Who stated “this is the last time”?
Nonetheless I, a much younger I, saw The Who do the first last time back in Greenwich Village, whew that was many years ago. It was to be the last time they did the opera “Tommy”. Great performance back in the day.
Glad you enjoyed the concert always nice to reflect back .
I was at their show in Buffalo, NY in Fall, 1982 when they set (at that time) the record for loudest rock concert. An amazing show, even though Keith Moon had passed on by then and was replaced with Kenny Jones (no slouch on the drums either). They were outstanding. I also was at their RFK show in the late 1980s. Awesome stuff.
Now, the real issue here… where the photos of you during the “younger long-haired days”?
I was there as well, Ted. I liked the video they had for the opening number. They looked so young.
I think they did a better job at VirginFest three years ago, but that’s just me.
Nice review. The Who have always been one of my favorites. The new album is pretty good. Wish I could’ve been there last night. And yeah, I am ready for a Regime Change. See ya Thursday night. Go Caps!
The Who and Coldplay – even though I like them both – I’d see neither due to the cost of the tickets. It’s that way for most shows these days. You really gotta be a committed fan to take the plunge. I’m surprised a band like Coldplay couldn’t sell the arena out.
Pretty good article in this months british music mag ” Mojo”..the Clash opened for The Who on some of their 1982 usa tour dates, there was a blurb about how all the band members of the Who showed up in seperate Limos and how they dident seem to get along with each other, the manager of the clash, before that Shea Stadium gig spoke of how the Clash wouldnt ever allow that to happen to them…funny, the clash broke up not to long after that instead of taking the torch as they were ” supposed ” to do from the Who in ’82 ( the first of many ” farewell ” tours.lol)
Not surprised with the poor turnout given the fact they were up against a Redskins Monday night game.
Ted — the song isn’t called “Teenage Wasteland.” It’s called “Baba O’Riley.”