THE WHO AND The James Gang came to town Thursday night and gave away free contact highs to all who would listen.

It was in Music Hall in front of a near sell-out crowd, a fantastic number considering it was on a Thursday night. The James Gang, a three-piece group from Cleveland, opened the show.

Playing loud enough for the folks at home to hear them, the group came on of Cream, though not so heavy handed. With a guitar, bass and drums, they play bluesy music, heavily dominated by electronics and built on pure energy.

A LOT OF people found it hard to believe that those three tiny instruments could make all that beautiful sound. They went away convinced they could. The group was so together that the audience demanded an encore. And that's almost unprecedented in rock circles except for the headline group.

They did a beautiful job of priming up an already excited audience.

THE WHO FOLLOWED them and what was excitement turned to delirium— if there was a stronger word I'd use it. Accompanied by a wall of amplifiers more than I've ever seen one group use—the four of them opened with selections from their “Live at Leeds” album and another new album, to be released in November.

The group laid out a mixture of rock music and rock theater which resulted in instant madness for the over 3000 fans assembled.

While Keith Moon's drumsticks flew through the air or were twirled like batons, while Roger Daltrey's hand mike flew and spun through space, while Pete Townshend put on a spectacular display of aerial ballet, the music went on. And it never sounded better. That is exactly as it should be.

THE MUSIC WAS hard, from their gut to yours, and it left you very churned up. Their huge sound was heavy and together, pure rock and roll. It was the kind that used all the electronic gimmickry not for effect or to be cute, but to enhance the music. And it did.

You might say the music was the eldest child of what we all heard in the 50's, raunchy and raucous, but mixed with the sophistication of the 60's.

The first part of the show was mainly new Who and old Who. Middle Who— “Tommy” — Came later. When he arrived, there were tumultuous cheers.

THE TWO-HOUR rock opera, far and away the group's best known work, opened with the “Overture.” Even with the cheers, shouts, stomping feet, whistles and mad applause, you could hear every note. It sounded somewhat less polished than the record, at times almost spontaneous, but no one cared. Ecstasy was the name of the game.

Selections from their magnum opus followed. Each song was greeted like a long lost loved one. The crowd knew the songs, knew what they wanted and showed their appreciation in a thousand different ways—most of them nearly brought the roof down.

Throughout the entire concert, the stage continued to look like an electric parade ground. Daltrey marched about, pranced and primped. Townshend leaped, waltzed to the music, spun his arm, crouched and stiffened. He looked at times like part of a guerrilla training film.

Through it all, Moon flung his drumsticks and John Entwistle stood by, his usual sane self—a paragon of composure.

THE SHOW WENT on into the night, seeming like five minutes but lasting more like two hours. A lot of people went away smiling.

The groups repeat their performances tonight at 8:30, same location. If they get on it half as much as they did Thursday, the show is a guaranteed winner.

It's what getting stoned on happiness is all about.