The Who in Melbourne

[finky]

hmmmm. I wont write a huge review, The Sydney people did a good job in their comments and I dont need to add too much more to the nice things they've said. . Had a great night and left feeling like Id really got my moneys worth. The only 'gripe' was 2hrs flew by I could've sat there for another 2 or 3 listening to them play. ;D I hope if they come out again in the next couple of years they will play smaller venues where more people can dance. Anyone who tried where we were sitting got told off by security

[JillKristen]

Finky said:

I hope if they come out again in the next couple of years they will play smaller venues where more people can dance. Anyone who tried where we were sitting got told off by security

Hmmm...sounds like like security was a little repressive to me! Glad you enjoyed the show.

JK

[finky]

hmmm yeah , give them a uniform and they think theyre Hitler

[theboot]

Yeah, the security was really tight at the second SYdney show. They wouldn't let enyone stay in the aisle and the only people allowed down the front where those with tickets in the front row.

That wasn't the case at the first show. There were people in the aisles, and they let them stay there, bopping away, so security must have had a change of mind overnight, which they took to Melbourne.

Glad you had a good time Finky. And you nearly got the double with the footy. If only Richo had kicked straighter, but then it is a team sport ,so I shouldn't lay it all on him.

[BillyBill]

Finky said:

The only 'gripe' was 2hrs flew by I could've sat there for another 2 or 3 listening to them play. ;D

It would be cool if they could add another hour or so. That is one thing that kinda worries me, the setlists seem to be getting shorter. Or maybe it's my imagination...

But, when most of the other bands of their era go out on tour they do three hour shows. It would be great if The Who did that, but it's understandable since most of those other bands don't have to keep that same energy level going for three hours which would probably be very tough.

Not complaining really. Just fantasizing...imagining the 2004 era band doing '89 era sets...

[theboot]

One reason I bought the expensive tickets was that I knew I wouldn't be able to stay seated and I've noted all the other times I've been to the Entertainment Centre that its only the people on the floor who get to stand up and not be hassled as its all one level. I also found that when you do stand up in the seated area, it's quite steep and there's not much space and I always feel that I'm about to lose my balance, that is when I wasn't being told to sit down by security or other punters around me.

[Lickster]

I enjoyed just sitting and taking it all in. Perhaps if I went to a second show it would've been good to stand up front.....

[finky]

seems they think Melbourne sucked a bit, Seeing only Sydney was mentioned in the Melbourne review! If Matts too jack to write a proper one, like he's written for every other destination on the tour, then so am I .... Maybe he's suffering from Sunstroke

[Lickster]

Here you go Finky - an ABC review of Melbourne...

Vodaphone Arena
Saturday July 31, 2004

I must admit that the nerves were on edge before The Who – or what’s left of them – took the stage in Melbourne for the first time in 36 years. Certainly there was more an air of anticipation than expectation in the near sell-out crowd as they waited quietly. Or was it that we were all waiting with bated breath?

Strangely lacking was the buzz of excitement that preceded recent tours by some of The Who’s contemporaries– like The Rolling Stones, Brian Wilson or even Arthur Lee & Love. Maybe it was the venue, maybe the intervening 36 years was more of a gulf than a gap. I’ll put it down to collective nerves.

The arena, scene of few concerts but many basketball games, was well attended but was certainly not a sell-out, with tickets still being advertised on the day. One of the great mysteries of life will be how The Eagles have managed to sell all four shows at the larger Rod Laver Arena while The Who, a band that I thought might have made a substantially bigger contribution to the history of popular music, could not manage to fill one show. As they say – go figure!

Back in 1968 Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon and John Entwistle were allegedly naughty boys, kicked off an airplane for (albeit someone else’s) misbehaviour and later, famed for wrecking hotel rooms or driving cars into swimming pools. Back then they played Festival Hall, a barn not far across town, with The Small Faces and Paul Jones. It seems a world away now and, as Townshend pointed out in one interlude, this is a vastly different place to the one the band experienced back then.

Certainly I don’t think I have been as nervous at any event since my father dragged me along to see Peter Hudson’s comeback to Hawthorn in the late 70’s. The legendary full forward had spent a few years’ sabbatical back in Tasmania and his return was greeted somewhat like that of a Messiah. (Actually, for many of us he was the Messiah). Would he be able to cut it again in the big league? Had the added pounds slowed him down? Were the consummate skills still there? Questions I also asked myself before The Who show.

Of course, I need not have worried. Hudson, though slower and rather more portly than we remembered, was wilier and able to expend far less energy to achieve the same effect. In fact, given the club’s current abysmal plight I daresay the now 58 year-old could pull on his boots and still get a place at full forward! Then again, I think Daltrey and Townshend could too!

These days Hudson might also be able to jump marginally higher than Pete Townshend who has similarly adjusted his style to transform the high scissor kicks and flourishes into much more economical and sensible moves for someone approaching senior citizen status. Townshend and Daltrey have also retained their skills and have been able make a comeback long after their use-by-date for radio airplay may have seemed to have expired.

While a few old Who ‘hits’ might be consigned to the dreaded ‘gold’ radio format The Who’s main men proved that they are not quite ready for early retirement (even if Daltrey’s denim shirt is). The former’s voice is still in fine form - though he might struggle with some of the high notes - and Townshend’s guitar playing is as powerful as one imagines it was in the band’s heyday (though the windmills, along with the leaps, are a little more restrained). The only concessions to age were that Daltrey now wears his glasses on stage and a balding Townshend dons a rather sharp suit and black t-shirt covering a few extra pounds around the waist, although he still looks remarkably fit.

While Daltrey and Townshend are undoubtedly the stars of this Who incarnation they are augmented by Pino Palladino on bass, Pete’s brother Simon Townshend on rhythm guitar, Robert ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick on keyboards and Zac Starkey on drums. Yes, that’s Ringo’s son alright. It is eerie to think that The Who have the son of one of the Beatles drumming for them.

The opening bracket of ‘I Can't Explain’, ‘Substitute’ and ‘Anyway, Anyhow Anywhere’ set the scene and suddenly one was reminded of how many great songs were lurking in the catalogue.

When Daltrey launched into ‘Baba O’Riley’ and ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ (not the Limp Bizkit version!) there was a sense that the recent loss of John Entwistle and the long-time absence of Keith Moon had been transcended. Even the two new songs ‘Real Good Looking Boy’ and ‘Old Red Wine’ (a tribute to Entwistle) fitted neatly into the set without being too clunky.

Surprisingly, one of the highlights arrived not with a bang but with an acoustic guitar when Townshend was left alone for an impressive version of ‘Drowned’ from Quadrophenia . It was a brief respite before they launched into powerhouse versions of ‘Love Reign O’er Me’, ‘Eminence Front’, ‘You Better You Bet’ and ‘The Kids Are Alright’. Only ‘My Generation’ with its now outdated challenge - ‘Hope I die before I get old’ - seemed slightly odd.

When the first notes of ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ echoed around the arena it was as if the years of waiting had finally been erased. The song rings as true now as it did when it was first released - when we first nearly deafened ourselves with it back in 1971. It was an appropriate end to the show proper and hardly overshadowed by encores of ‘Pinball Wizard’ from Tommy and a sensational version of ‘See Me, Feel Me’.

After two hours, the nervous anticipation had been replaced by unfettered admiration, if not adoration. Townshend and Daltrey had shown that rock ‘n’ rollers can grow old gracefully while still having something valuable to say. Let’s hope they make it back here soon so that we can all relax and revel in the show from the very start. The old blokes are alright.

[finky]

thanks Lickster.....I only got to see the Age and The Herald sun reviews and a small blurb on channel 7 news

[finky]

hey Whos Robert Bundrick? is that his middle name? ;D

[Papillon]

Lickster said:

Yes, that’s Ringo’s son alright. It is eerie to think that The Who have the son of one of the B**tles drumming for them.

Good to see the Aussie press also regard the evil Scouse ones as foul and abusive language! ;D

[finky]

I think the 'cussin cutting' is work of Mr Bojangles

[Papillon]

Yes. I know.

[Ineedanewname]

Finky said:

I think the 'cussin cutting' is work of Mr Bojangles

If I find out he's been moonlighting I may have to dispense with his services and re-hire Dave!

[Papillon]

The said:

If I find out he's been moonlighting I may have to dispense with his services and re-hire Dave!

I don't think you need worry. I understand it is franchised out to Bob the Wallaby. He undertakes all antipodean cuss monitoring.

[finky]

The Wallaby that takes care of the English Cussin is Lote Tuqiri

[Papillon]

Finky said:

The Wallaby that takes care of the English Cussin is Lote Tuqiri

Does that mean Jason Robinson returns the favour?

[finky]

Nay Pappy....Tiqiri's gony crrrraack thaaat Rrrrobinsons heed. The mans arrrgggh beeg, deed delicate jessie like yeself.. ;D