WITH all the savagery and brilliance usually associated with them, The Who put on a superb performance in the first of their two concerts at the New Bingley Hall, Stafford, last night.

This is the first time the hall has been used for a pop concert and it certainly made a very impressive backcloth for such a colourful group.

Scaffolding housing the mass of electrical equipment stretched to the ceiling, and an 8ft. high stage brought the group in view of most of the audience.

Good oldies

Instead of building the concert around their new album “The Who By Numbers” – which had been expected – Roger Daltrey told the large audience, totaling about 7,000, that they were going to sing their older songs and this they did.

After flashing spiritedly into “Substitute” and “Can't Explain,” they settled for the oldies but goodies.

One of the highlights of the evening was a sizeable chunk of music from their rock opera “Tommy,” now made into a film by Ken Russell.

It was obviously a very popular choice with the fans as they clapped and cheered their way through such numbers as “I’m Free,” “Uncle Ernie.”

The lighting and acoustics were excellent and so were the group.

Roger Daltrey was extremely energetic, jumping and bouncing his way around the stage, throwing and twisting the microphone in the air like a drum major.

Pete Townshend did his usual acrobatics and Keith Moon drummed furiously in his own invitable way.

It was just John Entwistle who remained something of a shadow.