The Who came to the Mid-South Coliseum last night and squeezed onto a stage that was so crowded with amplifiers and red, gold and blue lights that at times their performance seemed to be a three-ring circus.

However, their gyrations, reminiscent of the early rock groups of the mid-60s, pleased the 9,190 fans more than any animal act could have.

Lead guitarist Peter Townshend, dressed in white pants and a white jacket, and singer Roger Daltry, wearing blue jeans and a blue jacket,

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rocked through some of the group’s early songs like “Summertime Blues” as well as newer ones like “No One Knows What It’s Like to Be a Bad Guy.”

Townshend, a well-known name among rock fans, jumped up and down on stage while Daltry swung his hand microphone through the air ala Rolling Stones’ singer Mick Jagger.

Before they were through half of their numbers, workers backstage began loading any extra equipment they could to prepare for their early flight to New Orleans this morning.

Most of the stage hands seemed tired from their whirlwind trip, typical of touring groups. The four singers will stay on the road in the United States until Dec. 15 when they will return to England for Christmas.

To the officials at the Coliseum they were too loud, but to Marita Griffey, a 16-year-old Hill Crest High School student, they had a message. “Their music has something to say. It helps people open their eyes to life and how good it can be.”

It was the second appearance for the English rock group, which appeared in Memphis in May, 1970.