Technical Problems Push Townshend Over the Top

By Kevin O'Hare

MANSFIELD – Whether trashing hotel rooms or destroying guitars on stage, Pete Townshend's never been known as one of the most stable guys on the planet.

Then again, that's always been one of his most endearing traits.

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But push him too far and the Who's fabled guitarist might go right over the edge.

That's essentially what happened Monday, when technical difficulties during his show at Great Woods so infuriated Townshend that he drastically re-structured his planned set. And while heads undoubtedly rolled after Townshend left the stage, the crowd got the benefit of the wildman's creative fury.

On this, his first full-scale solo tour, Townshend was primarily supposed to be plugging his latest concept album, "Psychoderelict." He even brought actors to play the parts of characters in the production, along with an elaborate stage set, video and lighting complement.

After opening the night with a nine-song trip through some of his solo gems and Who classics, Townshend went into "English Boy," the first of four straight "Psychoderelict" tracks. But the guitarist, who'd already been having quite obvious disputes with his stage crew over the monitor mix, flipped out when technical difficulties obliterated images planned for the projection screen.

"I'm gonna stop it now 'cause it's not working," he said angrily. He stormed offstage briefly, and for a few moments it looked like the entire concert might be in jeopardy. But instead of walking, the veteran rocker returned and channeled his frustration into the music. And in an era where large concerts are often so pre-programmed they're stale, Townshend took things in totally the opposite direction. He led his band into a raucous and revelatory version of the Who's "Magic Bus," singing with rage, leaping across the stage and blasting away at his guitar with the sweeping "windmill" motions that so exemplified his work in the '60s and '70s.

Indeed, this Pete Townshend was a far cry from the relatively reserved senior statesman who primarily played acoustic guitar on the Who's farewell tour a few years ago. He seemed positively inspired on Monday – ticked off, too – piloting his five-piece band and three backing vocalists through nearly three hours of searing rock and roll.

After "Magic Bus," Townshend stormed ahead, through "You Better You Bet," and a spirited "Little is Enough." But he still seethed, once again leaving the stage, shouting at his crew and returning. He then went back into some of the "Psychoderelict" material, but without the actors who had been on stage earlier and without the dialogue that links the songs.

The six tracks that followed, all from the album, represent some of Townshend's best solo work since his brilliant 1980 solo debut, "Empty Glass." Whether ripping through the raw and rowdy "I Want That Thing," the Sting-like confessional "I Am Afraid," or the enthralling beauty of "Now and Then," he gained confidence as the set moved along. He was even able to take some mild amusement in the technical glitches. "We've got all sorts of unbelievably expensive technology that won't work," he said before inviting the crowd to stick around after the show to see him throw "an artistic tantrum." "I'm gonna kill people," he said, and judging by his mood, that seemed a distinct possibility.

More hits followed, ranging from "Save It For Later," "Who Are You," and "Face the Face," to an outrageous version of "Won't Get Fooled Again." He encored with acoustic takes of Bob Dylan's "Girl From the North Country," and the Who's anthem "My Generation" (to which he added a verse of "Big Boss Man"), closing with a full-band blowout on "Eminence Front."

The first segment of the concert featured everything from "Empty Glass" tunes like the set-opener "Rough Boys" and "Let My Love Open the Door" to minor obscurities like "Heart to Hang Onto," off the "Rough Mix" album he recorded with Ronnie Lane. He also played a raspy "Behind Blues Eyes," "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere," a stripped-down version of "The Kids Are Alright," and "Tommy" selections "Pinball Wizard," and "See Me, Feel Me."

The power of the show was almost exclusively due to the man center stage. For despite the all-star nature of a band that included Andy Fairweather-Low on guitar, Simon Phillips on drums and Katie Kissoon on background vocals, the group rarely yelled, and occasionally seemed a bit too controlled for some of the rowdier material.

But Townshend ruled the night and though he totally flew off the handle early on, he salvaged a masterful performance. Besides, if you're going to see this rock and roll hall-of-famer, you might as well catch him on a night like this one, when he's truly maniacal. It fits with the legend.

[Associated Press photo]

SOLO TOUR – Pete Townshend unleashed his creative fury Monday night in concert at Great Woods in Mansfield.