The Who kicked off their Summer Tour 2013 with a spectacular production of Quadrophenia followed by a blistering set of Who classics from the post Mod albums Tommy, Who’s Next & Who Are You.
The Who Family Gathering in Dublin ensured a full house across the generations with a whole new generation of Mods tapping into the live experience of The Who all dressed up in their finest threads.The glorious summer sunshine beaming down on Dublin all weekend also added colour and fun as we all converged on Dublin’s Docklands to celebrate living legends Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend and to pay homage to heroes gone to the great beyond Keith Moon and John Entwistle.
Vintage Trouble played a scorcher opening up the live action on stage with their blend of rock n soul music which has been gathering fans and rave reviews from the first leg of The Who’s American Tour in late 2012 early 2013. Front man Ty Taylor sprinted up the aisles of the vast O2 venue whipping the arriving audience into a sing a long party vibe. Acknowledging their appreciation of The Who’s support and playing a high energy set it created the perfect atmosphere for the main event. The Who have always used the support slot on their tours over the years to open the door for us to an amazing variety of bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, James Gang, Alex Harvey Band, AC/DC, Kilburn & The High Roads, Q Tips, The Stranglers, The Clash, Little Feat, Counting Crows and many many more over the years.
As the final few filed into their seats the atmosphere of expectation was electric a full house of joyful spirits giving a rousing reception as the skipper Pete Townshend in shades and sailing top and Roger Daltrey led the crew on stage and the massive screens reflected waves lapping on to a sea shore to the opening of Quadrophenia.This was a carefully synchronised production which The Who are no strangers to in presenting Quadrophenia but nowadays the advances in technology has resulted in an amazing interactive experience.
Close ups of the action on stage on a triangle of port hole video screens above the band with three huge screens back and flanking the stage ensured that every detail was visible from any angle of location in the O2.
As The Who proceeded to play the complete Quadrophenia album from start to finish in sequence clips of iconic Who images from the good old days flashed all around us.
– I Am The Sea
– The Real Me
– Quadrophenia
– Cut My Hair
– The Punk and the Godfather
– I’m One
– The Dirty Jobs
– Helpless Dancer
– Is It In My Head
– I’ve Had Enough
– 5.15
– Sea And The Sand
– Drowned
– Bell Boy
– Doctor Jimmy
– The Rock
– Love Reign O’er Me
Pete on Electric and Acoustic Guitars and Vocals, Roger swinging the mike reeling in every catchy number with supreme vocal authority and Simon on an array of brilliant guitars also on vocals and harmonizing with confidence and authority with the every reliable head shaking Pino Palladino on Bass, Scott Devours on Drums and a back line of keyboards and horns from Loren Gold, Frank Simes musical director, John Corey.
During 5.15 there was a wonderful tribute embroidered in the performance for John Entwistle watching thunder fingers playing an explosive bass solo as only John could with Scott Devours playing live in tandem before Roger and Pete and the rest of the band came back in for the finish.Bell Boy featured a similar tribute to Keith Moon which was so much appreciated by the crowd.Self evidently the Mod culture is alive and well in Dublin with Modern Fans in particularly loving every detail beaming up on the massive screens. Quadrophenia ignited a revival of interest in the music fashion and attitudes of the 60’s Mods and The Who and Quadrophenia since it first documented it all have become the gate keepers the Godfathers of the Mod scene.
I connected with The Who around their Woodstock, Live at Leeds, Who’s Next period expanding my appreciation backwards and forwards without the slightest hesitation ever since.The arrival of the original Quadrophenia double LP in 1973 tied in nicely with my exploration of The Who’s early to mid 60’s studio and live performances. That journey has been a continuous journey ever since with Quadrophenia forming a crossroads of sorts with infinite possibilities for fans young and old.
Tonight on stage in Dublin Pete Townshend who channelled the Quadrophenia concept of four personalities pulling in opposite directions inadvertently becoming a vibrant community greater than the sum of its pretty cool part is reflected as Pete the tough uncompromising sea captain and veteran of many voyages sails his proud masterpiece up the River Liffey in Dublin to dock for our edification and delight. Roger Daltrey’s role could be best described as the navigator of this big old ship called The Who as it voyages nowadays as Rogers preventive maintenance and quality control planning ensures a match fit crew on the boards with seamless production values creating an atmosphere of spectacular sound and vision.
There is a proud Who legacy to be maintained after 50 years and Roger and Pete are acutely in tune with that responsibility.The Who is our team and as long as Roger and Pete want our support we will gladly rally The Who Family together as so dedicated fans all around the globe and it’s a bargain the best we’ve ever had.For desert we got a selection of hits from the post Mod era starting with Who Are You the title track of Keith’s last stand with the band back in 1978.
– Who Are You
– Behind Blue Eyes
– Pinball Wizard
– Baba O Riley
– Won’t Get Fooled Again
– Tea and Theatre
Music never retires and this is rock music growing old gracefully as a robust art form that is guided by its elders and interpreted and shaped by new converts and mature students into a contemporary purpose because we have learnt from those gone much too soon that we all have to live and these great pioneers of music in our generations for over 5 decades also deserve to live with much respect.
The songs that have connected with new fans from their association with popular TV Shows enjoyed and immediate and rousing reception from the packed O2 Dublin audience because they have become household themes bringing these vintage classics well deserved recognition and acclaim.
Being the first gig there were a few minor technical issues with Rogers wireless mike set up and Pete’s angry outburst towards his sound effects technical support at the side of the stage lashing out with his boot at the incompetent unit behind him reminded us all of the Pete we all love but reticent about getting to close at times.Pete has been walking on stages for over fifty years and is steeped in a music family tradition that demands well practiced attention to detail with a predetermined expectation of what he wants to create on stage and when that expectation falls short over the years he is merciless taking it out on whatever caused the gap guitars, amps, long suffering but devoted aides and the audience occasionally.
That is why Who Gigs are legendary and this one goes from impressive to stunning as the relationship between The Who on stage and the audience in Dublin becomes a dual carriageway.There are so many anthems in The Who’s that they could have played all night long but Roger still possessing one of the most recognisably voices in rock and Pete captaining the ship with explosive authority left us zapped and satisfied exceeding all expectations.
This was a Who gig that ticked all the boxes for me but I will put my hands up as a member of The Who Family I will always reflect my heroes in the best possible light because that is what families do.
Long Live The Who
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