Who's Still a Knockout

By Joel Selvin

Led Zeppelin may sell more records. The Rolling Stones may be better known. But the Who is the greatest performing rock band in the history of the music.

Once again, the Who substantiated such extravagant claims with three electrifying, ear-shattering two-hour concerts last weekend before capacity crowds at the Oakland Coliseum, in the band's first Bay Area appearances in four years.

With his famed wavy golden locks gone, vocalist Roger Daltrey now sports a close-cropped haircut that matches his trim, lean figure. He put on an incredible display of pure physical stamina at the show Friday, running in place throughout much of the concert while singing.

Guitarist Pete Townshend was nothing short of spectacular, with his slashing leads and muscular rhythm work. Stolid John Entwistle, as usual, supplied powerful support on bass.

The band's two new members each made important contributions. Drummer Kenny Jones, original member of the Small Faces, who was picked last year to replace the late Keith Moon, gave the band's rhythm section a flexibility it never had with Moon. He anchored the sound with a broad and colorful array of beats.

Keyboardist John (Rabbit) Bundrick, once a member of British rock band Free, filled the sound out with swirls and clouds of synthesizers.

The 20 songs the Who performed covered the entire span of the band's distinguished 17-year career. The repertoire mixed familiar Who concert selections — like "Substitute," "I Can't Explain," "Pinball Wizard," "Won't Get Fooled Again" — with songs from more recent albums — "Who Are You," "Goodbye Sister Disco," "Music Must Change" — and some surprises like the Motown oldie, "Dancin' in the Streets," performed as part of the encore.

Who fans could savor the power of "Baba O'Riley" or rediscover "Drowned" from the band's overlooked rock opera, "Quadrophenia." Two trumpets and a trombone spiced up several selections.

Throughout the entire concert, Townshend fired up the sound with his extraordinary guitar playing. He handled his instrument with uncommon familiarity — letting it swing free when he was not playing, alternately cradling it gently and thrashing it madly when he was playing.

He crashed around the stage with his customary ebullience, bounding back and forth wildly, leaping madly with both feet, striking his guitar with his renowned windmill arm swings.

The awesome majesty of sound the band produces with a small, tight musical unit always has been a trademark of the Who. At the Coliseum Friday, the quintet went through its paces at a decibel level comparable to a jet engine, driving the crowd crazy with the building momentum of the show, which reached no less than three separate climaxes.

At the close of "See Me, Feel Me" from "Tommy," the house lights came on full and six giant spotlights at the back of the stage blared directly into the audience. Most performers play into darkness, but the Who want to see the faces watching them.

The show built back up again, leading to a tremendous flashpot explosion on the opening of "Won't Get Fooled Again," the set closer, and a rocking encore that blended "Summertime Blues," a staple in the Who's concert repertoire for years, and "Dancin' in the Streets," the old Martha and the Vandellas hit, with which the band has never previously been associated.

It has been 13 years since the Who first played the Fillmore Auditorium (the Santana Blues Band was also on the bill), and they've given Bay Area fans many concerts to remember since — the epic "Tommy" performances at Fillmore West, an extraordinary show at the S.F. Civic; a disastrous Cow Palace concert, where Keith Moon passed out twice onstage and the band finished the show with a substitute drummer who climbed out of the audience.

With Moon gone and the decline of Townshend's masterful songwriting skills, many could have reasonably wondered prior to last weekend if the Who were not just another bunch of over-the-hill rockers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

At times Friday, the Who reminded us all of the power and beauty of rock. In a day and age when many young rock bands climb to success with sounds based frankly on the paths cut by Townshend and company, it is reassuring to be reminded that the originals are still the greatest.

An incredible display of physical stamina from lead singer Roger Daltrey (left) and guitar-playing nothing short of spectacular from Peter Townshend

Photos by John Storey