(Continued from Page A2) stay away from his scissor-kicking solos because of a hearing loss were all for nought — he windmilled his arm onto the electric guitar as if it were 1970. Guitarist Steve Bolton took some of the solo load from Townshend, but the 44-year-old Who original could not stay away from some intros and solos that he had made famous.

Vocalist Roger Daltrey twirled his mike like days of old, and belted out the group’s hits with passion. Bass player John Entwistle was characteristically understated, but drummer Simon Phillips assaulted the drums without hesitation, much like the late Keith Moon.

Delighted crowd members remained on their feet through the entire show, and many watched the concert as it was projected on big-screens near the stage. “I just wanted to be here to see them in action for myself,” said Margaret Machara, 17, of Norfolk, Va.. “I have a brother that’s 11 years older and so I grew up listening to it whether I liked it or not. Fortunately, I liked it.”

Rick Melton, 33 of Greensboro, saw The Who in 1977 in Greensboro, but said the group “sounds better now.”

Melton and his brothers, Phil, 35, and Tim, 29, said the five-piece horn section, backup vocalists and prerecorded sound tracks improved the group’s performance from 1977. “After Keith Moon died it just wasn’t the same,” said Phil. “But now they’re healthy, fit, Pete (Townshend) dried out, it sounds great.”

“I think the younger kids came just because it’s a concert,” Phil said. “The Who were the forerunners of power rock. If kids like Guns N’ Roses, they’ve got to like the Who.”

Tracy Wagner, 21, of Concord agreed, saying he likes groups like Bon Jovi and REO Speedwagon, but The Who is the original. “I just came because I love concerts and I thought I’d enjoy it. I guess I hear them most now on classic rock stations.”

The crowd began arriving at 3 p.m. and the parking area was close to full by 5:30 p.m., though the show did not start until after 7:30 p.m. Traffic slowed to a near stop on eastbound Interstate 40 at the N.C. Hwy. 55 Apex exit and crawled at 5 miles per hour to Raleigh.

Brief thunderstorms before the show did not seem to subdue fans — many were seen gleefully sliding down the muddy embankment at the rear of Carter-Finley Stadium.

Fans drank sodas from $2 Who cups and several were seen smoking marijuana after the sun had set. One girl in a tie-dyed shirt offered passersby hits of acid.

About 35 driving while impaired arrests were made by the state Highway Patrol, said Capt. Tony Spainhour. No serious accidents were reported, police said. About 65 state troopers were called in for the concert .