When the Rolling Stones played Heinz Field in June of 2015, it felt like a visit from rock 'n' roll royalty. Contrast that with The Who's appearance at the Consol Energy Center on Wednesday night. It was akin to your two favorite uncles, good-natured fellows who don't come around nearly enough, stopping by to share some anecdotes and good times.
But chances are you don't have uncles like Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend gifting you with some the best rock songs of the last half century.
Billed as The Who Hits 50 Tour — postponed last year after Daltrey came down with viral meningitis — the concert featured most of The Who's best material. Opening with a stirring version of “Who Are You,” the first segment of the concert was uneven. Notably Daltrey, who was fine on the opener and “The Seeker,” occasionally strained to hit high notes, especially on “The Real Me” and “Pictures of Lily.”
But then came a run of sheer brilliance, starting with “Bargain” and extending through splendid versions of “Join Together” and “You Better You Bet.” Daltrey channeled his younger self on these songs, his voice muscular and forceful and commanding.
Townshend, meanwhile, was exceptional all evening. A fierce guitarist, he delivered magnificent, ragged solos throughout, especially on “My Generation” (none the less for wear despite the lyric “hope I die before I get old”). “The Rock,” an instrumental from “Quadrophenia,” was stunning, living up to Daltrey's praise as “one of the best pieces Pete ever wrote.”
Townshend addressed the audience a few times, saying he wasn't quite sure why, but he liked Pittsburgh. He also told a story about seeing a Willem de Kooning exhibition with a young lady here in 1979, which inspired him to start writing “You Better You Bet.”
While Daltrey and Townshend rightly commanded the spotlight, they were bolstered by an excellent cast of players. Drummer Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son) was exceptional, no easy feat given that Keith Moon, nearly four decades after his death, still sets a near impossible standard. Bassist Pino Palladino, in John Entwistle's old spot, was more than solid, and Simon Townshend, Pete's brother, was very good as the second guitarist and backing vocalist.
The band seemed to get stronger as the evening progressed. “Eminence Front” hit a mesmerizing groove and “Pinball Wizard” was similarly spectacular.
Of course, they trotted out the sturdy war horses “Baba O'Riley” and “Won't Get Fooled Again” to end the evening, and one couldn't help feel a bit melancholic as the final notes faded.
Daltrey is 72, Townshend 70, and there are more miles behind them than ahead. If this was their last appearance in Pittsburgh, they left us with a night to remember, and songs to always cherish.
