CONCERT REVIEW The Who Reigns Over Deer Creek Crowd

Staff Photo / Steve Healey

RETOOLED QUADROPHENIA: Roger Daltrey belts out the opening number of The Who’s concert Saturday at Deer Creek Music Center, as guitarist and principal songwriter Pete Townshend plays in the background.

The Who ★★★½ By Marc D. Allan STAFF WRITER

In the first half of the 1970s, when The Who was the world’s best rock band, its concerts were testosterone-filled wonders. The group conveyed an aggression that made you feel like you could run through walls.

On Saturday night, 20-plus years later, an older, glossier and more sentimental Who took the stage at Deer Creek Music Center without the muscle of old but with an almost comparable electricity and splendor. The show — an hour and 40 minutes of the album Quadrophenia in its entirety, plus another half-hour or so of hits (Won’t Get Fooled Again, Behind Blue Eyes, Substitute and others) — engulfed the 8,813 fans with the power of a rock band and the majesty of a fine orchestra.

In replaying Quadrophenia to mark the record’s 25th anniversary, The Who has retooled the story. In the movie version, the piece ends in the suicide of its main character, Jimmy, who feels his parents, friends, government and heroes have let him down.

Now, Who guitarist and principal songwriter Pete Townshend has decided there’s a better answer.

“I knew what I needed and I knew where to look for it,” Jimmy said before the band kicked into Love, Reign O’er Me. Earlier, during Drowned, Townshend had hinted that love is the answer by singing “I want to drown in your sweet, sweet love,” as opposed to the original lyric: “I want to drown in cold water.”

This version of Quadrophenia was presented in a linear, straightforward way using film clips and actors-singers (P.J. Proby as the Godfather and Ben Waters as the punk, Ace Face). The three remaining original members of The Who were joined by a band that included a five-piece horn section, two keyboardists, a percussionist/backup singer, a second guitarist (Simon Townshend, Pete’s brother, who played most of the leads) and drummer Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr’s son).

Starkey sat softly (as opposed to, say, maniacal Who drummer Keith Moon, who died in 1978) and wielded big sticks. His drumming was powerful and propulsive — exactly what the music required.

Each of the original members also dipped into his personal reservoir of strength and came out looking well. Roger Daltrey hit every note that mattered, from the line “I’ve had enough of trying to love” to his full-tilt singing throughout Doctor Jimmy and Love, Reign O’er Me.

Townshend had more vigor than he has in years, windmilling his arm furiously during Sea and Sand and singing Drowned passionately. Bassist John Entwistle was his usual understated, sensational self.

He promised in an interview last week that the band would rock, and he told the truth. Maybe it didn’t rock as hard as before, but it was hard enough.

The show — an hour and 40 minutes of the album Quadrophenia in its entirety, plus another half-hour or so of hits — engulfed the 8,813 fans with the power of a rock band.

Star ratings: 4 excellent, 3 good, 2 fair, 1 poor.