The last time The Who came to America bearing new songs, it was 1982.

Some fans would argue that band was hardly The Who anymore, since drummer Keith Moon had died four years earlier. Even more fans would say the 2006 version — christened The Two — bares no resemblance to the legendary rock band.

Bassist John Entwistle, who died in 2002, is gone, and so is the four-headed rock ’n’ roll beast that was The Who in its prime. The four divergent personalities who sound like they’re pulling apart and coming together at the same time on “Live at Leeds” have been replaced by a steady sextet led by the last surviving band members — singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend.

Chicago area fans, so excited to hear and see these aging rock titans, packed a sold-out United Center Monday to watch half of a great band relive its glory years and even play songs from a forthcoming album, “Endless Wire,” the first Who album in 24 years, to be released Oct. 31.

To the band’s credit, it played five new songs in the course of the set, including a six-part “mini-opera” called “Wire & Glass.” But the multi-part song was more of a parody of a Who track than a full-bodied new work. Transitions between the short songs were awkward and — upon first listen — the different parts didn’t seem to have much to do with each other.

Maybe “Wire & Glass” will reveal some grand tale on record, but in concert it sounded like the second half of “Abbey Road” gone wrong.

Other new songs weren’t as high concept, but managed the same blandness. “Fragments” found Daltrey wondering, “Are we breathing out, or breathing in?” over plodding beats, and “Man in a Purple Dress” sounded as bad as its title suggests.

Thank goodness for the hits.

Yes, the promise of hearing “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Pinball Wizard” is what lured most fans to the show, and it was The Who’s robust performances of those classic rock chestnuts that made the evening worthwhile.

Townshend, who looked genuinely excited every moment he was on stage, was into full-throttle windmilling halfway through opener “I Can’t Explain.”

Shouldering a cherry-red Fender guitar, the man led his band through a thrilling jam in the middle of “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere,” took over vocal responsibilities for a slightly muddled “Eminence Front” and pumped out power chords in front of keyboardist John “Rabbit” Bundrick for “Baba O’Riley.”

When Daltrey had a breathing problem during “You Better You Bet” and ran off stage after song’s end (he later blamed the issue on an allergic reaction), Townshend took the spotlight. He charged, fists first, into “My Generation,” practically screaming the lyrics, then ambling through a blues workout that included parts of “Bargain” and “Cry if You Want.” It was the night’s most unpredictable, and exciting, moment.

Daltrey soon returned to Townshend’s jeers. “I won’t quit,” Daltrey said.

“Yeah, he won’t quit because if he does, he knows I won’t,” Townshend laughed/sneered. It was good to see there’s still some healthy hate between bandmates. From then on, the concert was a total thrill.

Daltrey, who has sounded a little weak prior to his problem, yelped the rawthroated "Yeeaaaaahhhhh!” in "Won’t Get Fooled Again” and belted his way through a “Tommy” -themed encore. Drummer Zak Starkey — the best Keith Moon-esque drummer in the world — beat his way through “Amazing Journey,” then guided “Sparks” with his lumbering rumble.

If Ringo’s son is the perfect match for the band (“The Seeker” wouldn’t have rocked without him), bassist Pino Palladino and guitarist Simon Townshend seem out of place. Palladino’s bass is too vanilla and often too perfect to duel with the rest of the band. Simon’s perfunctory playing takes some of the bite out of his older brother’s raw riffing.

That said, there are few rockers as old as the still-manic Townshend who can lead their bands through such electrifying, and occasionally volatile, performances.

If The Who is dead, long live The Two.

• Bryan Wawzenek can be reached at bwawzenek@nwnewsgroup.com.