The Who

Tonight they are making history the first band ever to webcast their whole show with all proceeds going to charity. Plus it’s not just us and the net watching this but Hard Rock Café, the promoters are also broadcasting the live link at its cafés around the world. I have no idea if they’re packed but Hyde Park’s Arena is pretty full although unfortunately there’s an element of drunks who’ve had a bit too much sun.

The Who look a much more used to the stage than the last time I saw them at the Isle Of Wight festival, they looked a bit rusty then, however even though they appear to be in the same clothes, it’s a much slicker aging supergroup that take to the stage. Zac Starky, son to Ringo is still hammering the skins for Mod’s biggest act and it’s him that once again underpins tonight’s performance.

The huge screen still left from Waters’ performance the night before provides a great additional backdrop to the visuals, those huge red, white and blue targets and as they introduce themselves, in a relaxed candour with ‘I Can’t Explain’ as their logo towers over them the band have thousands singing along. And pictures of the band’s history flash above them with old Who members Keith, John and a snap of a blonde gurning Brian Jones (Rolling Stones) particularly poignant.

‘The Seeker’ is another sing along as the oldies are clearly relishing their idols return to London and by the time ‘Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere’ is presented to us by the old folks on stage, we’ve all got used to the fact neither of them has an excellent voice. But it doesn’t matter tonight it’s about being iconic as the giant screen overhead shows us with images from Mod-ville.

‘Who Are You’ has the crowd won over in the main with the “Who are you? Who, who, who, who?” chorus and much later on the tube stations are still echoing to the same question. However despite Zac’s great drumming, Pino Palladino seems a bit muted on the bass compared to the original basslines by Entwhistle. The huge high speed black and white footage of a train journey from the train’s perspective however is great to get your head on the rails!

‘Bargain’ is an unexpected surprise, incidentally the cover of ‘Who’s Next’ is perfectly replicated outside the arena not long after this show concludes. But again the bassline isn’t as noticeable as the drumming.

Roger, while Pete drinks from a mug, says it’s great to be at Hyde Park and that there’s a lot of old fans here, but they’re the oldest. The next song he says by way of explanation to the youngsters isn’t by Limp Bizkit it’s by “The Uw” and as fractals explode from inside a giant eye above them, the sing what’s for me their finest moment ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ reclaiming it from Fred Durst’s grubby clutches.

‘Real Good Looking Boy’ is a newish track from Here and Now or possibly Now And Then even the band seem unsure, but it doesn’t sounds out of place and Pete’s really letting loose on his guitar now, and Zac ferociously powers with the drums, even the bass sounds choppy and Daltry’s voice is starting to sound more melodic, that’s not to say he wasn’t hitting the notes and harmonies earlier but he sounds more relaxed and warmed up now.

Pete still all energy and oozing aggressive passivity of granite while his hands fly, dons some headphones. "It’s my Donovon spot, I’m going to sing some sea shanties, with ear muffs on!" he says before cranking up the emotion on acoustic for ‘Drowned’ it’s full of feeling and has the crowd hushed.

Another new track, whose name escapes me, happens to coincide with my visit to the bar to discover all the real ale had gone. Returning to the crowd, we return to 'Who’s Next’ with ‘Baba O'Riley’ and its teenage wasteland, with Pete appearing to really enjoy the guitar and even throwing in a windmill or two.

The screens show us rugged coastline and waves lapping it for ‘Love reign O'er me’ and still Zac’s a frenzy, going for it with every drum fill. Pete too is clearly a blitzkrieg now and even Pino, yes I guess I miss The Ox too much, puts in a blinding performance.

They don’t let up with the two old men of Mod Roger and Pete bringing us the best and their loudest songs crash upon us, ‘The Kids Are Alright’ and ‘My Generation’ there’s many windmills and even the trademark mic throwing. The climax is their best anthem the trump card accompanying ‘Won't Get Fooled Again' complete with Daltry yell, crazy drums, bass and Townshend windmills! And they leave the stage – searchlight white lights having burnt into my retinas and the crowd applauding wildly and appealing for more.

Surprise, surprise they return with a sing along of ‘Substitute’ before a medley of Tommy classics is order of the day, serving up Pinball Wizard to Amazing Journey, See Me Feel Me, then Sparks with a bit of Acid Queen/Not Gonna Take It guitar, and Listening To You to close an album done in 15 minutes, magic! I’d have like to have ‘I Can See For Miles and Miles’ added but it never comes. All in all it is a master class from guys who should know better. A history lesson for the kids and an iconic piece of the very fabric of people’s musical lives for many.

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