Glasgow has always been a popular place to kick-off a tour and this was the second tour opening night of the month I attended following the terrific Kasabian gig earlier a week or so back. Having last caught The Who back in 2000 at the SECC I wondered if this night would live up to my previous experience. I am delighted to confirm it exceeded all expectations.
On this crisp clear November night, I could feel the buzz as I approached the Hydro from over the river and making the effort to arrive early at the gig with my cousin was rewarded with the bluesy rock of excellent support band The Standard Lamps. The three-piece informed the crowd that tonight was the biggest gig of their lives and previously their biggest crowd had been 60 people at the pub. The crowd appeared to enjoy the set immensely and whoever is responsible for giving the guys the opportunity of opening on the tour earns my full respect. Who say’s we need reality TV shows? Hopefully by the end of the tour The Standard Lamps will have built up a bit of a following and it will not be the last time the guys come north.
So onto the main event. What can I write that has not already be said about The Who? 50 years in the business or ‘in service’ as the tour program refers to it and still going. My first thought on entering the Hydro and taking my seat was that this was not going to be like my previous Who experience back in 2000 when I pushed my way to the front of the standing area and watched Joe Strummer And The Mescaleros open before Daltrey, Townshend, Starkey and Entwistle took to the stage. Back on that night I stood between Daltrey and Entwistle and was captivated by Daltrey’s vocal and microphone tricks and also Entwistle’s immaculate bass-playing and coolness personified stage presence as the crowd repeatedly chanted “Who, Who, Who” at the top of their lungs. So fast-forward 14 years and tonight there is no (official) standing area and unfortunately John Entwistle is no longer with us and the question entering my head is how is Daltrey going to sound live as a 70 year old rocker.
Opening number ‘I Can’t Explain’ instantly confirms Daltrey has still got it as the crowd respond from the off singing along for all their worth. ‘Substitute’ follows and whilst Daltrey sounded great as a huge Stereophonics fan I still long for the day when I hear Kelly Jones perform the song live (Teenage Cancer Trust style). Having just finished reading the Pete Townshend autobiography ‘Who Am I’, I am well in the mood for tonight’s show which continues with ‘The Kids Are Alright’ and ‘I Can See For Miles’. For many Townshend is The Who and although often debated amongst fans, there is no debating the creative genius of the man and all he has brought in the last 50 years. Arguably, only now is technology catching up to what Townshend envisaged many years ago. ‘Long Live Rock’ highlights the strength of Roger’s voice which I discover the next day was warmed-up when he gate-crashed a wedding party and took to the stage of the Mar Hall hotel where the band were staying prior to the show.
To the delight of the crowd Pete performs the odd trademark windmill and despite the Stussy joggers is still looking great for a 69 year old. For me the show was a constant high from start to finish with ‘Join Together’, ‘Behind Blue Eyes’, ‘Squeeze Box’ and ‘The Seeker’ sounding great. Tommy and Quadrophenia were both dipped into with ‘Pinball Wizard’ sounding timeless. ‘Magic Bus’, ‘Baba O’Riley’ and ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ ensures everyone went home (or back to a bar) with a smile on their face and whilst the band returned for a one track encore of ‘Naked Eye’, I personally would have loved to have heard ‘My Generation’.
Granted Daltrey, Townshend and Zak Starkey are supported on stage by bassist Pino Palladino and Pete’s brother Simon on guitar (as well as a few other musicians) but The Who still sound great and accompanied by the lighting, visuals and film footage this was night I will not forget in a hurry.
“Who, Who, Who!”
Bazza Mills
@bazzamills
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