Monday, Sept. 16, 2002 | 8:23 a.m.
It's not often a 38-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rock band suddenly finds itself with something left to prove.
Like throwing gasoline on a raging fire, when it happens the results are highly combustible.
Saturday night at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, The Who erased any doubts about whether it remains a viable live act post-John Entwistle, serving up a blistering two-hour set to an enthusiastic sold-out crowd.
Strange as it may have seemed to see replacement bassist Pino Palladino manning Entwistle's post at stage left, the truth is the new unit may actually rock harder than The Who has in years.
Palladino sounded quite comfortable working his way through the band's considerable catalog of classics. And while his bass lines may not have vibrated quite as long in your ribcage as Entwistle's once did, in the intimate, 1,600-person hall, that didn't seem like such a bad thing.
Drummer Zak Starkey, whose father, Ringo Starr, also knows a little about drumming in a rock band, has also had a lot to do with the group's smooth transition since Entwistle's death in Las Vegas in June. Considered by many as The Who's best skins man since Keith Moon died in 1978, the hard-driving Starkey supplied familiar music with newfound passion.
Of course, the audience didn't pay $155 to $355 per ticket to see the band's rhythm section. As always, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend were the featured attraction, and the duo didn't disappoint.
Although decked out in all black (apart from Townshend's faded blue jeans), The Who's two remaining founders provided anything but a somber set, thundering from the start with the triple-hit shot of "I Can't Explain," "Substitute" and "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere."
Daltrey's vocals sound as powerful today as they did on 1970's beloved concert document "Live at Leeds." The 58-year-old singer lived up to his macho image, swinging and tossing his microphone as if it were a weapon and baring more of his still-muscular chest as the show wore on.
The 57-year-old Townshend appeared equally determined to prove his own youthfulness. Hiding his emotions behind a pair of black sunglasses for most of the show, the virtuoso who spawned a generation of air guitarists windmilled his way through solo after solo, displaying the fast fingers and sense of timing that have earned him a spot in rock 'n' roll's pantheon of legends.
Townshend's voice, a crapshoot in recent years because of widely reported damage to his hearing, also sparkled on this night. Requiring the highest end of his register, even his part in "Baba O'Riley" -- "Don't cry, don't raise your eye, it's only teenage wasteland" -- managed to sound anguished without seeming strained.
Rather than simply a best-of run through, the set list was well-thought out, keeping the audience on its feet and singing in unison throughout the night. Along with FM-radio hits such as "You Better You Bet," "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Bargain," the band also went a bit deeper into its catalog with 1972's "Relay" and 1981's "Another Tricky Day."
Keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick helped layer "Who Are You?" with its trademark funky groove, while Townshend's younger brother, Simon, lent backing vocals and additional guitar work to the evening's proceedings.
The show also featured a pair of montages from The Who's two rock operas, first a four-song run from 1973's "Quadrophenia" and then an encore composed of a medley from 1969's "Tommy."
The "Quadrophenia" segment, in particular, encapsulated the group's tremendous range, beginning with Townshend's solo acoustic rendition of "I Am One," moving on to a roaring version of "5:15" featuring some of the guitar hero's best work of the night and then concluding with Roger's vocal showcase, the howling "Love Reign O'er Me."
Notably silent between songs for much of the night, Townshend and Daltrey finally paid tribute to their fallen comrade late in the show during an extended take on "The Kids Are Alright."
While the band played softly behind them and the crowd hushed to listen, both men took a turn at the mike, telling stories about the days when they too were kids.
"I met this guy. He had a horn. It became a bass. He gave me his hand. I joined his band," Townshend said, referring to Entwistle's first instrument, the French horn, and the early years of their longtime friendship.
Then, as "My Generation" melded into "Won't Get Fooled Again" to close the main set, Townshend once again spoke of the quiet man known fondly as "The Ox."
"We used to share that red wine. It wasn't worth a dime. We'll have to share it some other time. See ya, John."
Someday, perhaps. But for now, Townshend, Daltrey & Co. will continue on, proving that two of the original Who are still far better than none.
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