The Who was at its best last night – unpredictable, energenic and, at times, violent.

Wednesday night’s show was the Who’s second performance in Portland’s Memorial Coliseum in less than seven months.

In its previous appearance last March, the Who arrived in Portland flu-stricken and tired.

All four members of the band were in seemingly good health and spirits for Wednesday night’s show, although one cannot be sure about bassist John Entwistle, who has always displayed a rather quiet stage disposition.

Most of the night he stood stoically in one spot by his microphone.

To Entwistle’s left is pretty boy, lead vocalist, and movie star Roger Daltrey.

The blond, curly haired vocalist sings with a wide ranging voice.

When not singing into his microphone, many times he would wildly swing it through the air by its cord, usually over his head.

Daltrey also played harmonica during a couple of numbers.

Also up front is guitarist, vocalist and resident genius Peter Townshend.

Over the years Townshend has written most of the group’s material, including the majority of the rock opera “Tommy.”

Townshend is a skilled guitarist who accents his fretboard work with his unpredictable stage acrobatics.

Throughout the evening Townshend made high twisting leaps, Cossack-like power kicks, jig like dances and his famous arm sweeping guitar playing.

On the drums is one of rock music’s most unstylishly effective drummers, Keith Moon.

The temperamental madman of a drummed dedicated one song to a couple for their twentieth wedding anniversary, while another time he said it wasn’t fair he couldn’t sing on one particular song.

Throughout the Who’s 1¾-hour stage presentation, Daltrey periodically kicked over monitor speakers on the stage.

At the end of the “Tommy” set when he kicked over a speaker, he spilled some cups filled with a beverage over Keith Moon.

Moon ran right through his drum kit and threw Daltrey to the ground.

Then they got up and hugged each other.

Microphone stands were also subject to attack during the night.

The Who brought one of the most elaborate stages ever to be used in Portland.

There were four spotlight platforms on stage, the expansive metal framework above the stage included over 100 stage lights, and the setup included four laser banks.

Most of the speakers were on six platforms that hung from the ceiling.

The show had three distinct sections.

The first group of songs started with “Can’t Explain” and included “Substitute,” “Squeeze Box,” “Behind Blue Eyes” and “Magic Bus.”

During the “Tommy” section of the show, such favorites as “I’m Free,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Acid Queen” and “Fiddle About” were performed.

The final part of the show included “My Generation” and “Summertime Blues,” and ended with “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

Song for song the show was essentially the same as last March.

As is normal policy, the Who did not return for an encore.