CONCERT REVIEW

The Who prove they still have that ’60s stamina

LYNN SAXBERG

“It’s been such a long time,” guitarist Pete Townshend told the audience at Scotiabank Place last night as an updated version of his legendary band, The Who, launched into their first concert in Ottawa since 1969.

The band has changed dramatically since those heady days, which are not well remembered by either Townshend, who’s now sporting a grey beard and receding hairline, or singer Roger Daltrey, his long blond hair now closely cropped and greying. The only two remaining original members of the influential British band appeared fit and healthy last night, the third date of a major North American tour.

Let’s backtrack for a moment. Rock legend has it that The Who was ejected from the Ottawa hotel they stayed at in the ’60s, but when the topic came up last night, memories were sketchy. While Townshend didn’t recall being thrown out — he blamed the incident on a “strange moon” (code for the late drummer, Keith Moon) — Daltrey begged to differ. He was pretty sure they were asked to leave.

Leaving the argument unsettled, the two sexagenarians agreed it had been far too long and resumed the job of proving they can still rock. With Pete’s brother, Simon Townshend, on guitar, Ringo Starr’s son, Zak Starkey, on drums, Pino Palladino replacing the late John Entwistle on bass, and John “Rabbit” Bundrick on keyboards, the band was able to achieve a satisfactory level of rock ’n’ roll power — minus the element of chaos that used to define their heyday. At press time, no guitars had been smashed, no drum kits had exploded and no band members had fallen on their faces.

Happily, it was still a great show. The crowd of 12,500 fans expected nothing less than an earth-shattering experience and for the most part, they got what they wanted.

See WHO on PAGE F6

[Photo caption] JOHN MAJOR, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Roger Daltrey pleased the crowd of 12,000 fans last night every time he swung his non-cordless microphone around his head.

[Photo caption] JOHN MAJOR, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Pete Townshend of The Who executes his trademark windmill during last night’s concert at Scotiabank Place. Townshend, one of only two remaining original members of the influential British band, including Roger Daltrey, appeared fit and healthy on the third date of a major North American tour.