Dean Johnson
This is what the audience saw during "I Can't Explain," the opening song in last night's 2-hour marathon Who concert: singer Roger Daltrey swinging his mike cord like a lariat and guitarist Pete Townshend windmilling big chords from his guitar as he fell to one knee.
OK, everybody, you can all go home now. You've already got your money's worth. But, of course, it was only the beginning of a striking 21-song set that put to shame the Tweeter Center's previous two shows over the holiday weekend featuring Sting and Jimmy Page with the Black Crowes.
Blues greats like Muddy Waters were once the standard used to measure the way rock bands should age gracefully. Forget that.
Maturing rockers should look at what the Who and The Rolling Stones are doing in their senior years, and based on last night's Who concert, they should be afraid. Very afraid. With Zak Starkey on drums, Rabbit Bundrick on keyboards, and John Entwistle on bass, the band just chewed up and devoured classic Who tunes like "My Wife," "Bargain," and "Won't Get Fooled Again," as well as lesser-known songs such as "Relay" and "Naked Eye."
Daltrey's voice was a tad road-worn, but he still sports a washboard stomach and a riveting stage presence. Townshend was a marvel. Still one of rock's most physical guitarists, he abused his instruments all night - sometimes even repeatedly pummeling them with a fist - to get them to create great chopping riffs and torrid staccato washes.
But being a gentleman rocker sometimes has its drawbacks. Several times, in the middle of scintillating breaks, Townshend had to stop in midstroke to gently tuck the hem of his sportcoat behind his Fender.
The night was a primer in dynamics and chemistry and the delicate art of tension-and-release set to riveting music. The band members were clearly enjoying themselves, too.
Daltrey and Townshend kiddingly bickered with each other and the audience for much of the night. When Entwistle blew the roaring bass lines that kick off "Pinball Wizard," he just made everyone start over.
"I'm proud of the re-emergence of this band," Townshend admitted from the stage.
And rock fans everywhere should be grateful.
