Roger Daltrey (left) and Pete Townshend: rock 'n' roll wizards.

The Who: Still Shakin’ All Over

THE WHO Continued from Page 69

Loudness that really was quite miraculous given the difficulties of mixing a 15-piece band.

Before the show, guitarist Pete Townshend said some fans felt it was a "cop-out" for the Who to bring such a large ensemble, but he shouldn't worry. The reinforcements have proved invaluable, and they enhanced every song last night with the possible exception of "I Can See for Miles," which was muddled.

Otherwise, the band's improvement was dramatic from the opening night this writer witnessed three weeks ago at the Glens Falls Civic Center in upstate New York. The new members were deferring to the three Who originals at that time, but have since asserted themselves. Drummer Simon Phillips is playing with more muscle. Percussionist Jody Linscott (a Braintree native) is playing her heart out. So is backup guitarist Steve Bolton, who uncorked a few brain-frying solos. The five-man horn section and three backup singers also sound more confident.

The past three weeks also have enabled singer Roger Daltrey's voice to acquire its famous road grit. His version of Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man," had a gravelly rasp that evoked memories of Muddy Waters' drop-dead blues treatment of the song.

Emotions ran high right from the band's 7:30 p.m. start. Following the "Tommy" excerpts, which climaxed with the pulverizing "We're Not Gonna Take It," Townshend told the crowd almost prayerfully, "I never thought I'd be here again." He had been the last charter member to agree to the reunion tour, but looked to be the one enjoying himself the most last night. He again played more electric guitar than expected (he did admit, before the show, to wearing ear plugs) and showed no mercy with some up-strum windmill slashes that cut with razor swiftness.

Several numbers had been excised since the Glens Falls date ("Summertime Blues," "Hey Joe" and "Love Hurts"), but the show was still roughly three hours of musical bliss. From the early hits ("My Generation" and "Substitute") to the later standards "Who Are You" and "Sister Disco"), they did everything you'd want to hear and more.

The visual touches stood out as well. A six-foot silver ball was tossed into the crowd of 54,000 on "Pinball Wizard." Mirrors were hoisted down to create a mock-disco effect on "Sister Disco." And colorful Union Jacks, naturally enough, were visible on scrims to either side of the stage.

The Who are rehearsing in a hideaway Boston studio today to prepare more songs for tomorrow's Sullivan Stadium reprise. The entire tour is being called "The Kids Are Alright 1989," and so far that may be the understatement of the year.