REVIEW

‘Who’ Offer Rock History

By Steve Eddy

Bulletin Staff Writer

ANAHEIM — The Who’s stage show offers 10 years of rock and roll history, served up with a blazing intensity that never lags.

And the band made it known immediately at Anaheim Stadium just how long The Who — and its fans — have been around, with versions of “Can’t Explain” and “Substitute” from the Dark Ages of 1965.

It’s almost incongruous, but the group’s live performances continue to get better and better. The Rolling Stones, for instance, have almost become parodies of themselves, but The Who has lost none of dynamism.

Pete Townshend doesn’t wear the white jump suit any more, and long ago gave up destroying his guitar at the end of the set. But his still jams kilovolts into the licks and cavorts on stage as if he were as young as most of us used to be.

Roger Daltrey has always been your prototypical lead singer, and still ranks among the best. Daltrey, chanting the “See me, feel me, touch me, heal me” refrain from “Tommy” — to the accompaniment of laser beams, kleig lights and 55,000 mesmerized people — has got to be one of rock’s most stunning moments.

Bassist John Entwistle, recently emerged as a tunesmith in his own right, plays with his well known poker face while spitting out brilliantly articulated lines. A listen to The Who within 10 feet of a towering speaker bank makes one realize how vital Entwistle is to the band’s virile sound.

Little needs to be said about Keith Moon. No rock drummer has ever approached him for sheer power and fury. He suffered bouts with illness during the past couple of years, but was in excellent form Sunday.

There was no doubt as to what the crowd was waiting for all day. The backup acts — Rufus, Little Feat and the Steve Gibbons Band — played creditable sets but stirred little excitement The concert had nearly sold out before any warmup bands were announced.

As dusk fell, The Who pounced on stage and proceeded with a non-stop set that lasted nearly two hours. And absolutely nothing was left out.

From the “Who’s Next” album, the band chose “Baba O’Riley,” “Behind Blue Eyes”, Entwistle’s “My Wife” and the classic “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” which climaxed the show.

“The Who By Numbers” album was featured with “Dreaming From The Waist,” by far the strongest cut, and “Squeeze Box,” the band’s current single.

No one can run through straight rock and roll numbers like this group. “Summertime Blues” and “Magic Bus” sounded as good as ever, and the “My Generation Join Together” medley was superb.

The Who really doesn’t need special effects to succeed on stage, but the elaborate laser light show — fireworks display seemed to intelligently augment the show.

Effects were particularly noteworthy as the group performed a series of numbers from the rock opera “Tommy.” The band chose such tunes as “Acid Queen,” “Pinball Wizard” and “Welcome to the Camp.” It seems as if “Tommy” will never wear thin.

Also on hand Sunday was the Sun God, who surprised concertgoers with summer-like weather and a temperature near 90.

But it’s the evening coolness, and the partying with friends, and raising matches to the sky, that makes it.

It’s a multitude of people saying “We’re Here” at the same moment. That feeling, and that moment, and The Who. Such is rock and roll.