THE WHO, from B1

struts and prowls like the ringmaster he is. He excels at belting out strident proclamations to the farthest seats in ringing bell tones. Mr. Townshend circles his arm windmill fashion and comes down hard on crashing, reverberating chords. The statuesque John Entwhistle booms out dive-bomber bass lines. Kenny Jones does not push the band nearly as hard as the late Keith Moon did, but Mr. Jones does keep things better organized.

The Who's weaknesses have not been solved, only circumvented. The Who is still the only major rock band with no feel for American rhythm & blues. So they kept those elements largely out of the show. Mr. Daltrey's voice seems incapable of the subtlety or irony of personal confession. So the band asked Mr. Daltrey to carry the universal elements and the musicality, while Mr. Townshend sang a lot more to provide a more personal perspective. Mr. Townshend has always carried too heavy a load instrumentally. Last night he got help, when Mr. Daltrey played rhythm guitar and harmonica on a few songs, and guest keyboardist Tim Borman played Mr. Townshend's own synthesizer programs.

The band's flair for high opera was most evident on the "Tommy" medley, which has never sounded better. They ignored the fine points and highlighted the musical climaxes. Mr. Entwhistle sounded surprisingly good when he sang his autobiographical "The Quiet One." Mr. Daltrey's best vocal came on "Behind Blue Eyes," where he nailed the big romantic notes with clear perfect pitch. Mr. Townshend's most impassioned guitar solo (out of many great ones) came on his new "Cry If You Want," a powerful admonition for men to open up emotionally.

Perhaps the evening's best number was the vintage "Baba O'Riley." Mr. Borman played a long, scintillating synthesizer introduction. Then Mr. Townshend's erupting guitar chords broke open the song. Mr. Daltrey sang of great adolescent hopes but then cried out "It's only a teenage wasteland." When Mr. Townshend – rock's elder statesman wearing a leather jacket and rolled-up jeans – echoed these lyrics for the young audience, it seemed one alienated generation was passing on its wariness to the next.

Singer David Johansen opened the show with a short but likable set. A fine rock and soul club singer, Mr. Johansen has not quite adapted to the demands of an arena yet. The Who and Mr. Johansen return to the Capital Centre tonight.