The Who opened its sold-out concert at Freedom Hall last night with its 1965 youth anthem, "My Generation," lead singer Roger Daltry stuttering out Pete Townshend's lyrics, telling the establishment to just "f-f-f-fade away," and screaming rebelliously, "I hope I die before I get old!"

The mainstays of the original Who, Daltry, Townshend and bassist John Entwistle, are now 37, 37 and 38, respectively — certainly not old, but no longer spectacularly young, either.

But Townshend reaffirmed his 17-year old lyrics in a recent interview, saying: "I still believe it. I'd rather be dead than allow status to rule my life. People sit around wallowing in futility and you feel like kicking them."

Last night the Who kicked, sang, and played with the energy of teenagers, but with the proficiency of the seasoned veterans that they are. They often have been called the best live performers in rock 'n' roll history, and that claim still holds true. Last night they demonstrated that age hasn't dimmed their enthusiasm a bit.

After "My Generation," the band launched into a couple of other early hits — "Substitute," and "I Can't Explain."

Daltry, dressed in a blue suit and striped T-shirt, began his patented swinging of the microphone cord, twirling it through the air like a lariat while Townshend whipped his guitar with a similar motion. Then Daltry would catch the mike on the downbeat, and wail Townshend's 1960s plaints about teenage frustration.

After the band performed John Entwistle's "Dangerous" from its recent album, the arena became a wonderland of spinning spotlights as the group launched the rowdy "Sister Disco."

Daltry and Townshend shed their jackets for T-shirts. Entwistle, however, was the picture of composure in his three-piece suit as he concentrated on putting down an invigorating bass line for "It's Hard," the new album's title tune, and "Eminence Front," also from that album. Those songs are part of Townshend's most recent venture, an assault on society's complacency in the face of apocalypse.

The time was right for music from "Who's Next" — possibly its finest and most popular album. Rock 'n' roll cannot be taken any further than the beautifully sublime vengeance of "Behind Blue Eyes," or the spiritual "Baba O'Riley." Last night's live versions were spectacular.

The band was in full swing when it tackled Townshend's elongated version of "Drowned" from "Quadrophenia." Kenny Jones pounded out a vicious rhythm, as he had throughout the show; Daltry played a soulful blues harp; and Townshend bared his soul, carefully enunciating every desperate word, sweat pouring from his brow.

T-Bone Burnett opened last night's show with a 30-minute set of topnotch Texas rock 'n' roll and rhythm 'n' and blues.

Roger Daltry, left, and Pete Townshend performed "Teenage Wasteland."

Staff Photo by Todd Buchanan

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