I Can't Explain, but I Kinda Can...

Hello loyal readers, thank you yet again for tuning to my little piece of the Internet. This entry will obviously be about the life changing experience that was Monday night that occurred at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.

When I bought tickets to see The Who back in July or so, whenever they went on sale, I felt they were overpriced for an old band, but was a band important for me to see and hear as I continue to explore the roots of rock. So of course I was excited, and since I had no takers from friends to reimburse me for the $80 ticket, I gifted it to my mother. She hadn't been a headliner concert since seeing and meeting James Brown in the mid 1960's. Her friend's husband owned a strip club James Brown frequented in Charleston, South Carolina. Anyways, back on topic.

My mother didn't quite understand the importance of seeing The Who. I tried to explain to her that they were the innovators of modern rock. Before them everything was blues based. The Who invented the power chord. The Who invented the rock opera with "A Quick One While he's Away" from the album "A Quick One". They were one of the first bands to include synthesizers in their music. The Who even changed equipment practices. They were the first to use stacks of Marshall amps, John Entwistle helped develop the Rotosound guitar string, and even a new type of amp using higher wattage had to be invented for them. The list of things are countless. They were the cutting edge of rock. They were the definition of rock. They ripped the future of rock right out of the hands of Elvis Presley. Personally, I feel they are more influential than The Beatles.

With that said, I still did not expect much from the show. I knew they were aging, I knew Roger Daltrey's voice was fading, and I knew Keith Moon and John Entwistle were no longer with us. Pete's brother*, Simon, playing rhythm guitar, Ringo Starr's son, Zack Starkey playing drums, Pino Palladino on bass, and John Bundrick tickling the ivories. How good can this concert be?

Let me tell you. The Who were the second loudest band I experienced. They were louder than Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell, Ozzy, and Airbourne. The first power chord slammed into our bodies with them opening with "I Can't Explain". They then proceeded to play "The Seeker", "Relay", "Fragments", "Who Are You", "Behind Blue Eyes", "Real Good Looking Boy", "Sister Disco", "Baba O'Riley", "Getting in Tune", "Eminence Front", "5:15", "Love Reign O'er Me", "My Generation", and closed with "Won't Get Fooled Again". I remembered this set list pretty well this time. But if one looks at that list, you'll notice a disturbing absence. Not a single song from the iconic album by The Who. "Tommy". Where was it? Why? How? What?

After a solid five minutes of screaming and cheering, Pete Townshend sneaks out on stage and they play "Naked Eye". The crowd still not satisfied, still no "Tommy". They were chanting just to hear anything from the album. Never have I been to a concert where people chant for an album, not a certain song. The band stumbles around the stage a bit and look at each other, then the lights drop and and single spotlight illuminates Pete, and he hits that first minor seventh chord of "Pinball Wizard" then stops. Half the crowd realized what was about to happen, and of course, due to owning that album in 2 different formats, I know the chord. Pete then proceeds to play through the opening progression slowly, then whips into tempo with his brother* hammering the loud distortion entrance. The crowd explodes! Finally, something from "Tommy". They play through "Pinball Wizard" but they don't stop. They do a medley of the album, featuring full performances of "Amazing Journey", "Sparks", and "See Me Feel Me". After the crowd cheers itself hoarse, the backing band leaves stage and Pete and Roger close the show with a lovely duet they wrote, "Tea and Theatre". They then wished us good night and received a rousing cheer as a small chant was traveling for Pete to come out and bust his guitar. He did not of course.

So here I am 48 hours after the close of the concert. I reflect on it. Its changed how I listen. In the music of The Who, especially live, you can hear the birth of so many musical sub genres. The synth work from songs like "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" inspired progressive rock, the hammering down strum of power chords and melodic drumming was the birth of metal, the fast strumming of power chords and screaming fast and rebellious lyrics birthed punk. The long solo sections wandering their way back to the head influenced jam bands and psychedelic bands. I won't be able to listen to Pink Floyd in the same light, nor AC/DC. I listened to "Who Made Who" by AC/DC and all I could hear were the walking power chord progressions, pioneered by The Who. I can't explain the change in my life this concert presented, but I now understand those before me, and I understand the draw, and just how awesome and powerful this music can be. I understand their ability to move people. I am going to be honest and three times during this show I got chills to the point I shed a few tears. This was the first band I've seen that completely left it all on the stage. They left exhausted, they left us exhausted. There's not many more words I can use to explain this. My mom even understood after the concert now what I was talking about.

I must discuss the opening act though, Inward Eye. This band has a great potential, just if they learned control on stage. Their guitarist just jumps around too much to where it affects his playing I feel. I enjoyed the vocals and the drumming quite a bit. They had a real punk feel to them without being just obnoxious, except for the jumping. His jumping even knocked over a mic on the drumset. They were victims though of the sound guy making sure they didn't sound too good. I listened to their stuff on myspace (http://www.myspace.com/inwardeye) and I enjoyed it quite a bit more. I do believe they have a release soon on iTunes and I do intend to purchase.

In honor of the topic and for my friend Stefanie, h-h-here's the f-f-f-famous clip of The Who on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Watch the end where Peter Townshend nearly dies.


Good night my friends, I leave you with the lyrics The Who left me with in honor of this being the 40th blog entry:
"All of us sad - lean on my shoulder now
The story is done - 's getting colder now
A thousand songs - still smoulder now
We played them as one - we're older now

All of us sad
All of us free
Before we walk from the stage
Two of us
Will you have some tea?
Will you have some tea
At the theatre with me?"

*Thanks Anonymous for catching my error! (11/6/08)