André Paine
Roger Daltrey must have enjoyed reviving The Who's 1969 album Tommy for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Albert Hall in March because he's made it the basis of his first full solo UK tour.
"There's nothing else like it," Daltrey told an Indig02 audience dominated by middle-aged men with beer bellies, recalling that "we had the audacity to call it a rock opera".
Pete Townshend wrote this baffling work about a deaf, dumb and blind pinball wizard who becomes a messianic cult leader but the guitarist is not involved this time and his hearing problems cast doubt on any future touring.
Townshend has given Daltrey's shows his blessing, though, as well as a sibling: Simon Townshend, who shares his elder brother's musical talent. He was joined by fellow guitarist Frank Simes, who looked as if he could be Jack White's dad.
Daltrey was playfully cantankerous from the start, complaining about the microphone being too high and describing the venue as a "funny little place".
However, it suited this band, who toughened up Sparks with crashing guitars, and delivered the sinister rhythms of Cousin Kevin and Pinball Wizard's thrilling power chords.
Daltrey was on splendid form, bashing tambourines and spinning his microphone back and forth. His voice didn't always seem to be co-operating, although he provided a knockout vocal when it mattered on Tommy's finale of Listening to You.
At 67, Daltrey is touring in order to maintain his famous rock voice and sang tirelessly for two-and-a-half hours.
He described the second part as "****ing about and having a good time," which included crooning a Johnny Cash medley. It also took in a galloping I Can See for Miles, a triumphant Baba O'Riley, and Who Are You's vocal tour de force.
Only a slower, bluesy My Generation suggested Daltrey was easing up. Otherwise, Townshend's signature windmill guitar and his creative tension with the frontman were the only elements missing from this tremendous performance of Who classics.
