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Concert reviews Music

The Who

THE WHO at Air Canada Centre, Friday, November 23. Rating: NNNN


At first blush, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend continuing to play as the Who seems cynical drummer Keith Moon died in 1978 and bassist John Entwistle in 2002. But the current tour, Quadrophenia and More, proves that a bare-chested, gold-chained Daltrey outsings his peers, and, even in a baggy sweater and trousers, Townshend is the coolest man alive.

The band, including drummer Zak Starkey and guitar player Simon Townshend, played note-for-note renditions of “Love Reign O’er Me” and the rest of the soundtrack to the first mod revival. In the background, projected footage added cultural and historical context. But the way that the two original members continue to play with precision and passion was reason enough to love this concert.

The Quadrophenia set was played without any, in Townshend’s words, “nonesensical, over-thought crap,” while the encore (without the conceit of pretending to leave) included sweet and sincere banter. It would’ve been better only if they’d played for another hour.

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