Pete Townshend, with his signature "windmill" arm movement circling his guitar, opens The Who concert at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Saturday night. More then 7,000 fans were in the audience.

Legendary British group proves they’ve hardly missed a beat

By BRUCE FESSIER

THE DESERT SUN

INDIAN WELLS — Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey answered the question, “Who are you?” Saturday evening.

They proved at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden they are still a vital force in pop culture as leaders of the legendary British rock band, The Who.

In the second major concert of the season at the Tennis Garden, the new, augmented Who mixed pieces and fragments of their latest concept album with classic Who hits such as “Who Are You” and “Behind Blue Eyes.”

THERE’S PLENTY MORE See more photos from the concert on B8

The new “Endless Wire” material sounded almost transitional from older works with Townshend’s favorite themes of finding spiritual redemption through music.

“Behind Blue Eyes,” with its line “keep me warm, let me wear your coat,” could have been a theme for the cold and windy evening in Indian Wells.

Townshend, wearing a coat and tie, told the crowd of 7,000-plus, “It’s (bleeping) cold!”

Looking over at Daltrey in short sleeves, he said, “Croak your way through it.”

But they had the multi-generational audience engaged from the first, “Can’t Explain,” featuring film footage from their past.

Joe Hagg of Desert Hot Springs brought his son, Joey, who said he was a big Who fan like his dad.

“I’ve followed The Who since I was young,” his dad said. “So I was expecting just what I’m getting: a phenomenal show.”