Date: Saturday, March 26, 2016
City: St. Louis, MO
Venue: Scottrade Center
Opening act(s): Tal Wilkenfeld
Headlining act: The Who
The Who Setlist:
Who Are You
The Seeker
The Kids Are Alright
I Can See For Miles
My Generation
The Real Me
Pictures Of Lily
Behind Blue Eyes
Bargain
Join Together
You Better You Bet
I’m One
The Rock
Love, Reign O’er Me
Eminence Front
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Pinball Wizard
See Me, Feel Me
Baba O’Riley
Won’t Get Fooled Again
Notes:
- First time seeing The Who.
- Show #7 at this venue; first since February 20, 2016.
Videos:
Review:
Tonight was another checkmark for me on my ‘Bucket List’ of bands I need to see before they call it a day. This one comes a little over a month after I checked AC/DC off the list, and I did that one in the knick of time since apparently frontman Brian Johnson has been expelled from the band.
The Who have two remaining original members: singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend. Original drummer Keith moon famously died in 1978 and bassist John Entwistle passed away in 2002. They’ve since filled in the band with several other musicians and have been touring regularly since the late 80’s when they “reunited” after their 1982 “farewell” tour.
The only reason I was able to see this show was because it had been postponed… Twice! It was supposed to take place about a year ago, but had to be postponed until late 2015 due to Daltrey’s health… Only to be postponed again to today.
Not surprisingly, an unknown opener was snuck onto the bill. Tal Wilkenfeld was both the name of the group and the singer herself. An Adele-sounding gal who also played bass. Her group was rounded out by a guitarist, keyboardist, and a drummer. The group wasn’t terrible, but I hated the vocals because of their similarity to Adele and the songs were almost as dreary and boring.
The Who hit the state around 8:40, opening with the classic “Who Are You.” It’s a great song, but now I can’t help but think of Louis C.K. rocking out to it on his show whenever I hear it.
The band kept the hits coming with “The Seeker,” “The Kids Are Alright,” “I Can See For Miles,” and “My Generation.” The rest did Daltrey a lot of good, as he sounded great. Especially for a singer his age, having been doing this for more than 50 years.
The crowd went crazy, especially for the hits, despite being the oldest crowd I’ve ever been a part of. Which wasn’t unexpected. My dad was really enjoying the show, and the attention he got from fans pointing out his Rush shirt (and hat).
Of course I knew all the classic rock radio staples, but I was also educted to some songs I didn’t know. Such as Quadrophenia cut “The Real Me” and the old pop track “Pictures Of Lily.”
More hits followed: “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Bargain,” “Join Together,” and “You Better You Bet.”
The crowd really erupted after a great performance of “Love, Reign O’Er Me,” though I couldn’t help but think of Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott singing the track to perfection.
Townshend had been suffering from the flu recently, which had caused the next track to be dropped at the show that preceded this one… But thankfully, he was feeling good enough to put the song back in, so “Eminence Front” was played.
“Amazing Journey” and “Sparks” lost me a bit, but “Pinball Wizard” brought me right back into the show.
There was no real encore, as they just continued through tracks. Of course, they saved the biggest songs for last, closing out the show with the one-two punch of “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” The latter always reminds me of Def Leppard circa 2012-2014.
It was a really enjoyable show and the band sounded great. I’m glad I got the chance to catch these guys and have them performing so well at that.
Media Review:
After two postponements, The Who brings their generation to Scottrade Center
Surviving members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey could not have imagined how hard 50 would hit back when their iconic rock band hit the road on its “The Who Hits 50!” tour two years ago.
The celebration of a half century of studio work and concert performances has been plagued with postponements due to ill health – mostly Daltrey’s – including his being felled by swollen vocal cords and, much more seriously, viral meningitis.
Two 2015 St. Louis dates – May 7 and December 6 – were scheduled, only to be scuttled.
But when the pair, backed by a sextet of support musicians, hit the Scottrade Center stage at long last Saturday night, it was Townshend who had taken ill with the flu.
The illness was most evident in a singing voice which, the musician jokingly acknowledged, mimicked that of “Kermit the Frog.”
Townshend nonetheless soldiered on, giving a bravado performance on guitar, featuring numerous displays of his signature windmill move – one of rock’s most perfect and powerful gestures.
It was Daltrey who truly astonished, though, singing with an abandon that belied not only his health struggles, but his 72 years on the planet.
A long note held during the set-opening “Who Are You” indicated that the singer might have a little extra to give, a notion that was confirmed time and again throughout the concert.
“Who Are You” also served as a tribute to the two Who members who have passed away. Photos of drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle were shown repeatedly on the video screens as the song played out.
From there, the band (with Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr on the drums) bounced back and forth through its extensive catalog, calling up early hits including “The Kids Are Alright,” “My Generation,” and “Pictures of Lily.”
Daltrey noted that group at the outset was focused primarily on the release of hit 45 r.p.m. singles.
“We were a boy band,” he quipped. “A very ugly boy band” – a reputation dispelled by the releases of “Tommy,” “Who’s Next” and “Quadrophenia.”
The group tore through mid-period classics such as “Behind Blue Eyes, “Bargain” and “Join Together,” the latter song becoming a sing-along that so satisfied Daltrey that he applauded the audience.
“Yourselves!” he cried.
The show’s high watermark, though, was the one-two punch of “Love, Reign O’er Me,” the dramatic ballad from “Quadrophenia,” and “Eminence Front,” a stretched-out guitar showcase for Townshend.
On the former, Daltrey loosed a high, wrenching scream that by all rights should no longer be in the arsenal of a 72-year-old.
Incredibly, it is.
“Now you gotta hear me croak again,” Townshend lamented before “Eminence.” But he mostly let his guitar do the talking.
As the set roared to its conclusion, the band spotlighted songs from its “Tommy” rock opera, including “Pinball Wizard” and “See Me, Feel Me,” and “Who’s Next” classics “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
Earlier, Townshend thanked the band’s fans for hanging on to their tickets through the multiple date changes.
The many empty seats in the upper reaches of the arena however indicated that many ticket-holders chose not to stick with the band through sickness and health.
A few audience members may have bailed due to the switch in opening acts. Freshly minted Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Joan Jett & the Blackhearts dropped off the bill, in favor of little-known Australian bassist and bandleader Tal Wilkenfeld.
A noted side musician for artists such as Jeff Beck, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, Wilkenfeld is testing the waters as a solo act. Her set featured sounds ranging from fusion jazz to hard rock to her ethereal new single, “Corner Painter.”
Though some subtleties of her dexterous bass playing were swallowed up by the arena setting, Wilkenfeld demonstrated she is an artist with promise.
by Daniel Durchholz @ St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2016
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