CONCERT REVIEW

Time Has Done No More Than Season The Who

After 30 years, the veterans still rocked with more than 2 solid hours of music.

By Carol Simmons

DAYTON DAILY NEWS

It was "just like yesterday," when three original members of The Who picked up their guitars and played Monday night at the Ervin J. Nutter Center at Wright State University.

Roger Daltrey, lead vocalist; Pete Townshend, guitar; and John Entwistle, bass, are in the midst of a limited reunion tour during which they are performing their 1973 rock opera Quadrophenia, along with a few classic hits thrown in as an encore. All told, the legendary band played more than two solid hours of solid rock and roll to a rightfully appreciative audience.

Veterans of rock, The Who formed more than 30 years ago, but time has done no more than season its members. Daltrey looked healthy and in shape and he seemed energized by the performance. Entwistle was as laconic in his demeanor as ever, but his playing was nothing short of scathing, making good on his reputation for playing the bass guitar like it was lead.

Townshend, performing most of the show on an acoustic guitar, showed why he is considered not only one of the elder statesmen of rock, but one of its geniuses. It's said that his use of an acoustic guitar is a concession to hearing loss from years of playing at high amplifications. But his performance sounded more like an artistic statement than a physical concession.

Joining The Who's three original band members were Townshend's brother, Simon, on lead guitar and Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son) on drums.

Fellow British rockers Gary Glitter and Billy Idol showed up in Quadrophenia, the story of the lad with "a multi-faceted personality." Idol strutted and preened like a bantam-weight boxer, and the crowd roared.

Geezers rock.