The Who – 3 Arena – Gig Review by Killian Laher

So much for hoping they’d die before they got old! This tour is billed as The Who Hits 50, and on the night old and young mods from Dublin and beyond weren’t disappointed. The band hit the ground running with classics such as I Can’t Explain and Who Are You. Pete Townshend’s lean guitar riffs were very much intact but singer Roger Daltrey was more growling focal point than actual singer. I suppose that’s what 71 years does to you. That’s not to say Daltrey jarred as such but he spent much of the night fiddling with his shirt buttons – might be time to put the chest away Rog?? Anyway how many 71 year olds can shout like that?

Enough complaining. The band did decent versions of Behind Blue Eyes, Bargain and I’m One. In an arena scenario, subtleties are best left at home and that was how The Who played it, bashing out the songs. A soaring version of Love Reign O’er Me benefited from the lack of brass and violin to become possibly the night’s highlight. Unfortunately after that they played 80s-era Eminence Front before a fifteen minute A Quick One medley, which kind of misjudged the mood and lost a bit of momentum.

With the home strait looming, Pinball Wizard and Baba O’Riley rescued the night before the closing Won’t Get Fooled Again, where Daltrey’s impassioned howl still impressed. Who’s last? Maybe. This sort of gig is more a nostalgia-fest than anything else, but as this sort of thing goes, they delivered the crowd-pleaders with minimal bullshit, which is as good as you can hope for really.

Set List –

I Can’t Explain
The Seeker
Who Are You
The Kids Are Alright
I Can See for Miles
My Generation
Behind Blue Eyes
Bargain
Join Together
You Better You Bet
Water
I’m One
Love, Reign O’er Me
Eminence Front
A Quick One (While He’s Away)
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Pinball Wizard
See Me, Feel Me
Baba O’Riley
Won’t Get Fooled Again