PETE TOWNSHEND at the Supper Club: striking figure, striking music.

CONCERT REVIEW

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COREY SIPKIN

Townshend Triumphant

Never before has the Inner Child sounded so good

By JIM FARBER
Daily News Staff Writer
E MAY HAVE REACH-
ed the ripe old age of 51,
but Pete Townshend still
sings in the voice of a school—
boy. For more than two hours
Friday. Townshend sang in a
high. clear and aching voice
about longing to belong. in a
set that often found him
sounding as hurt. lost and
yearning as a teenager.

The starkness of his accom-
paniment only intensified the
image. At the intimate Supper
Club. Townshend appeared
with just a lone acoustic guitar
and a guest pianist (John Kar-
in). helping him hone his view
to its essence. Never before
had Townshend done so full a
show in this spare a style in
New York.

What a privilege to behold!

Shorn of The Who's amplifi-
cation. Townshend's vulnera-
bility came fully to the fore.
The gangly singer-songwritei‘

who drove one of rock's most
macho bands crept from the
shadows. and the result con-
centrated his message.

The force of it came through
with particular strength in
four numbers from The Who‘s
youth culture epic. "Quadro-
phenia.” Songs like
“Drowned." ”I‘m One." and
“Cut My Hair." which address
the gnawing pain of adoles-
cence. seemed all the more
moving sung by a lone figure.

Townshend also offered ob-
scure material — like a weird
country take on his 1966 ditty
“A Legal Matter." and lovely
versions of “Pavardigar” and
"Sheraton Gibson" (from his
1972 solo debut). The 23-song
set also included the old fave
"I‘m A Boy" and a newly
fleshed out version of his song
"Shout" (which only appeared
on the "Another Scoop" demo
collection).

Instrumentally. Town-
shend‘s most commanding mo-

ments aI‘I‘iw-Fl in "Rouah
Boys” and "Mane Bus” where
he used an ell «:tric guitar to
whip up a riff-test ot'Who-like
proportions.

Townshend elso did quite a
bit ot'talking tins night. In his
trademark prickly style. he
mocked audience members'
requests for songs and offered
jabs at Howard Stern. Bruce
Willis and apyiirently whom-
ever else came IO mind.

In contrast t-I such wry and
rambling stmech. Town-
shend‘s lllllSlt' couldn’t have
seemed more mrnest. No mat-
ter how young ‘iie perspective
in his songs. Tl ~.mshend made
them seem contemporary to a
middle-aged ll'dn — not only
because of Meir timeless
beauty and n-ll-obsen'ed lyr-
ics but bET'dUSt' ofhis delivery.
By singing in w open and un-
scarred 3 st. 1e. Townshend
demonstrated now the thrills
and fears ot‘yi with can enlight-
en a whole life