After 5 years on the sidelines, outside of the occasional charity show or Super Bowl, The Who will be invading Honda Center on January 28. Yes, they're old and yes, they can't quite rock like they have in years past, and yes, there's only two original members left (Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey) but hey, when you're pushing 70, let's see how well you do!
The British legends will be playing Quadrophenia, perhaps their most overlooked album, in it's entirety, in addition to a few other select songs from their career. The band will be performing on a sleek, stripped-down stage with a sophisticated lighting rig and multiple screens that provide footage of world events from World War II to the present day, concentrating on popular culture and the history of the band, including live footage from throughout their storied career.
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While the first show in Florida was problematic, for those of you who don't know, Townshend walked off in the middle of the encore unhappy with the venue's sound, most of the reviews have been pretty stellar. Daltrey and Townshend are backed by six others, including long time players like drummer Zak Starkey (Ringo's son), bassist Pino Palladino and Pete's brother Simon on guitar and backing vocals.
If you're expecting The Who to smash their instruments like in their heyday or jump around like wild lunatics, the best you're likely to get is a few mic twirls from Daltrey and a few windmills from Townshend. No matter how you cut it, this could be the last time that The Who embark on such an extensive tour, so you better catch 'em while you can.
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Daniel Kohn is a writer based in Southern California. With bylines in an assortment of outlets, Kohn primarily specializes in music with other interests ranging from sports to food. As a transplant, Kohn loves the beautiful weather and is glad he no longer has to deal with brutal winters. If you see him, say hi and of course, he’s always willing to down a beer or two…if you’re paying.