CONCERT REVIEW BY KIRA L. SCHLECHTER Of The Patriot-News

It’s always odd to see a band perform live after it has lost one of its members. There’s a sense that something is off when you look to that person’s spot on the stage and he or she is not there. It’s even more weird when that person has been replaced by someone else. It’s not the same, and it never will be.

Session bassist Pino Palladino has been thrust into that role for the groundbreaking British band The Who following the June 27 death of founding bassist John Entwistle from a cocaine-induced heart attack.

Palladino acquitted himself well Monday night at Hersheypark Stadium, where The Who played a 2-hour-plus set densely packed with its most memorable songs.

It was another band member, however, who seemed to be missing in action for at least part of the show.

Guitarist Pete Townshend was his usual ornery self, clearly the ringmaster of the evening. He was full of spit and vinegar, attacking his guitar and doing his trademark windmill with youthful vigor, and making witty and sometimes off-color remarks (and apologizing each time he cursed). The rest of the band – particularly keyboardist John “Rabbit” Bundrick; Townshend’s brother, Simon, on guitar and backing vocals; and drummer Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr’s son) – was also stellar, especially Starkey, whose playing was aggressive but never obtrusive.

Singer Roger Daltrey, though, seemed oddly disconnected at first; he appeared to be almost uncomfortable. He looked fit, especially when he unbuttoned his dark work shirt to catch any bit of a fitful hot breeze, and he worked hard. But his voice has lost a bit of its suppleness, dimension, and elasticity – so many of the songs sparked, but some never really caught fire.

The Who’s set contained several mini-sets grouped around an album or theme. Opening with early songs (“I Can’t Explain,” the appropriate “Substitute” and “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere”) on a black stage crowned with a huge lighting rig that spelled out “WHO” in red, white and blue lights, the band then roared through a suitably trippy “Who Are You” and a snide “Another Tricky Day.”

It was here that Townshend finally mentioned Entwistle. He said he’s stopped paying tribute to the bassist because, saying with a laugh, “He hasn’t come back.” It was flippant – granted, no one wanted a maudlin, wordy homage, but maybe something a little more dignified might have been in order.

After a pair of tracks from

JEFFREY LOWE, The Patriot-News Pete Townshend, above, and Roger Daltrey, below, of The Who, perform Monday at Hersheypark Stadium.

“Who’s Next,” “Bargain” and “Baba O’Riley,” both of which sounded great and generated major sing-alongs from the packed house, Daltrey started to get into the show more. By the next mini-set, a trio of songs from “Quadrophenia” that ended with the always-gorgeous “Love, Reign O’er Me,” he was fully engaged, topping off the final song’s emotional wallop with a lovely falsetto on the last note. He continued to acquit himself with a stately “Behind Blue Eyes,” done with sensitivity and controlled grace.

The Who ended the show with another mini-set centered around the theme of youthful naivete and innocence: “The Kids Are Alright” (which ended with terrific lyrical ad-libbing from Townshend and Daltrey), “My Generation” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

It was a passionate segment, with Townshend windmilling madly and Daltrey whipping his mike around on its cord like a lasso.

Palladino was tested when it came to the bass solo in “My Generation.” He played it well, but he doesn’t pick with Entwistle’s signature high-flying fingers; so he wasn’t so visually exciting. And that song’s immortal line, “Hope I die before I get old,” was way beyond prophetic.

Original Who drummer Keith Moon died of a drug overdose in 1978.

When Daltrey and Townshend stood with arms wrapped around each other at set’s end, it was an eerily poignant moment – they’re the last survivors of one great rock ’n’ roll band.

They came back out to encore with a last mini-set, a collection of songs from “Tommy” (“Pinball Wizard,” the rarely heard “Amazing Journey,” the instrumental “Sparks” and the soaring “See Me, Feel Me”).

What will be the next chapter in the band’s legacy? The tour ends in September, and they had planned to hit the studio in October to record a studio album. But even if those plans come to naught, they’d do just fine playing powerful live shows such as this one.

The question of maintaining a legacy is not an issue for opener Robert Plant. (And how weird is it to call the former frontman for Led Zeppelin an “opener”?) He’s never been willing to be pigeonholed or limited. After years as a successful solo artist and a few collaborations with Zep guitarist Jimmy Page, Plant is back from a 4-year hiatus with his new album, “Dreamland,” a collection of covers of early rock and blues standards.

His set was a blend of those tracks (opening with the blues collage “Win My Train Fare Home (If I Ever Get Lucky)”) Zeppelin classics (including “Celebration Song,” a dead-on “Going to California,” a thundering “Four Sticks,” and a dignified “Baby, I’m Gonna Leave You”), and two solo songs (“Calling To You” and “Tall Cool One”). Needless to say, the Zep songs drew the biggest response from the large crowd that showed up early to see the blond-maned singer.

The 53-year-old Plant had everything vocally that Daltrey lacked – range, depth and flexibility. His voice has lost absolutely nothing over the years. When he encored with Zep’s “Whole Lotta Love,” done with ease and panache with hair-raising high notes and long, shuddering wails perfectly intact, the place blew apart.

KIRA L. SCHLECTER: 257-4763 or kschlechter@patriot-news.com