Yes, it's funny that The Who is going on another farewell tour. Though technically, it's only their second. The first was 1982. The band has toured plenty since then, including a 50th anniversary tour in 2015, but no one ever said "goodbye"...technically.
That said, whichever side of the fence you fall on--the jaded whiner who saw them with Keith Moon and insists they suck now even though you haven't actually seen the band live since the Nixon Administration, or the loyal fan who recognizes Zak Starkey's ability to simulate the great Mr. Moon, while both Rog and Pete still handle their particular duties with great energy---this could really be the last time.
I fall on the side of the latter. I've seen The Who on just about every tour since Kenney Jones' debut in 1979, and most of those tours have been fantastic. I am not here to debate, again, Kenney Jones as a drummer. The two records he appears on are lousy but that's on Pete for writing mediocre songs. There are plenty of very listenable live shows from 1979 and 1982 and I can tell you, Kenney Jones does not suck with The Who.
So, back to "The Song Is Over." There are 15 dates, I believe, in North America. I would love to attend one if finances allow. My hopes are low and I may have to settle for watching my DVD of "The Kids Are Alright" for the 90th time.
I was also thinking of a dream set list for the last go around. A two act concert, with the first act being "The Who Sell Out" in its entirety followed by "The Who By Numbers" in its entirety, with a four song "Who's Next" encore seems unlikely. So, I tried to be just a tad more reasonable, though no more realistic, and came up with this.
Pete, Rog, if you're reading, get to work!
Baba O'Riley
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
However Much I Booze
Cut My Hair
Magic Bus
Disguises
Eminence Front
Young Man Blues
Pictures Of Lily
Sunrise
I Can See For Miles
Sea & Sand
The Seeker
Behind Blue Eyes
Pure & Easy
The Song Is Over
Won't Get Fooled Again
Blue, Red & Grey
45 comments:
I actually saw them in the summer of '67, a few weeks after Monterey Pop, at some theater in the East Village in all their Victorian-glam finery. Believe it or not, they were still a teen scream band, i.e. yes, girls were going mental in a sort of Beatlemania way. That sort of stuff got very unfashionable very soon after, obviously.
"Blue Red and Gray" is an excellent closer.
Nice set. I'd throw in Call Me Lightning since it's also today's cover version.
- Paul in DK
Thanks for that other thing!
They also had P.A. problems at one point in the set, so they did their Entwistle instrumental showcase "The Ox" while waiting for Roger's mic to start working. It was awesome.
Excellent set. I think a rousing version of A Quick One, While He's Away would fit nicely also, and I love Blue, Red and Grey as a closer, and would also accept Long Live Rock.
Bryan
Who would have guessed a perfect Who set-list could be put together with nothing from Tommy. Well done.
With the exception of "Pinball Wizard," whose intro I could listen to ten times a day for the rest of my life, I don't ever want to hear anything off of "Tommy" again. Of all the OG Who records- "My Gen" to "Who Are You," "Tommy" is my least favorite. I don't hate it, by any means. I am just really over it.
Enjoy! I certainly am.
- Paul in DK
And may I just say I had never heard Joan J’s cover of Call Me Lightning? Fab, and thanks.
Sal….I understand Tommy-fatigue, but no love for I’m Free?
I don't think there will ever be a Who setlist without some "Tommy", and I would probably have to cry if there was, but honestly, I kinda like the setlist you came up with!
Oh I love "I'm Free!" And "Sparks." I like a lot of "Tommy." But it's still my least favorite of the original Keith albums. And they never let up with it in concert. There's always a "Tommy" set on every tour.
I like your original setlist idea best. I would buy 2 seats to see that show.
I’ve enjoyed every Who show I’ve ever seen, up to and including the 2 orchestra shows I caught on the last tour. Sure, the guys are a little long in the tooth, but they know their way around a stage.
I had a similar thought about ending the show with a Who By Numbers song, but I was leaning toward a more dramatic conclusion with How Many Friends.
Come to think of it, All This Music Must Fade might work at the end too.
Sal:
I totally love your set list! Works for me!
Simels description of the 1967 Who show is totally accurate. I've always wondered if there was ever another live version of "The Ox" ever performed by The Who?
Captain Al
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tour info
Long Live the Who!! I'm with you on the recent tours being great. I hope I get to see them one final time.
Apparently Roger has no love for Pinball Wizard. On his most recent solo tour he refused to play it and even told one very vocal fan to "fuck off" (although I think he was smiling when he said it)
I've seen The Who 3x since 2019 and each show was excellent. I'll try for MSG tickets if they are semi-affordable
I thought it was written in scripture that every Who set starts with "Substitute," kind of like Willie always launches with "Whiskey River." Does anybody else have a given starting song?
I’m pretty sure I saw Elvis Costello open with “Accidents Will Happen” 30 years in a row.
It's funny how hard this one is hitting me.
I think it's because The Who was the first band I loved - or made the first album I really loved. (Which is different but related)
Growing up here in Atlanta, in the 1970s my parents were still married and they'd drive me and my bro downtown to Peaches Record Store often.
They had a Chevy van shag-carpeted floor to ceiling, 360 degrees, and had taken out the seats in the back; I believe it was just two seats in the front, then an open space.
In that open space, my bro and I would lie down (seat belts? wha?) on the shag carpet, and almost every trip, Dad would crank "Tommy" on 8-track.
Every time I hear that first thud of "Overture," it's like Proust's madeleine - takes me right back to lying in the shag-carpeted van, 8 years old, beginning to understand music.
Thank you, Pete, Rog, Keith, John. (And Kenney, Zak, Simon and others.)
You made some of my favorite music.
Nice story, Noel.
I'm sorry I don't like "Tommy."
Can't win 'em all! BTW, there are parts of "Tommy" I loathe, like See Me Feel Me and Fiddle About. But the good parts are so good for me.
No one asked, but while I'm here:
The Who Sell Out
Who's Next
Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy
The Who By Numbers
My Generation
Quadrophenia
Live At Leeds
A Quick One
Odds & Sods
Who Are You
Tommy
WHO
Face Dances
It's Hard
Endless Wire
Did I miss anything?
I saw them on several occasions beginning in 82 and they were best in 2000, so I agree with you about latter day live Who.
No use for Tommy either. Have every Who release, deluxe editions, archival, bootlegs etc. and can die never hearing it again.
Thank you for not including “Magic Bus” - The Who on Tour”.
Captain Al
"Tommy" performed live is where its' greatness emerged!
Captain Al
I knew this dreaded day would come, still tough processing the final farewell.
Sad as tho it may be, I understand it from their point of view. The traveling alone wears you down.
Great setlist choices Sal; you know me...I love it all (Tommy included 😅).
MSG 1976 started it all for me;
MSG 2025 will close it out for me.
#the note is eternal
#pureandeasy
#imone
#aquickone
#thecrowdwentcrazy
#lovereignoerme
#listeningtoyou
#longliverock
#longlivethewho
#thebestieverhad
#thesongisover
My ranking of the albums would be pretty close to yours, Sal (except that I'd put My Generation ahead of Who By Numbers). A Quick One has one of my all-time faves - So Sad About Us - but not everything on the album is great. And I agree with you about Tommy. --Marc
I’m assuming that’s the original LP version of Live at Leeds that avoids the Tommy set that is part of the deluxe edition. The LP is my favorite of theirs.
- Paul in DK
Live At Leeds
Quadrophenia
The Who Sell Out
Who's Next
The Who By Numbers
Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy (best title of a Who album)
Odds & Sods
My Generation
A Quick One
Tommy
WHO
Face Dances
It's Hard
Endless Wire
Randy
I saw that clip. She wouldn't let up. I would have said "fuck off," too.
Yes, the single LP "Leeds!"
I used to be cynical….but I’m too old and not enough time left on this earth for that noise….what I used to think was mercenary I now file under “hey you’re the Who for chrissakes, do what thou whilst”…a chance for someone anyone to experience something heretofore not experienced….saw them in 79….the memories will suffice….but I say play it again boys!
Al
Had the good fortune of seeing them in every decade since 1967, my first concert, at the famed Murray the K shows. I’d probably pick the 70s shows as my favorites (quadrophenia!), but they never disappointed. I’m glad the last time I saw them was with you at the garden , I think in 2016, and Roger still had the pipes. And I guess that will be the last time for me. Definitely one of my all-time top five bands on any given day. Good show boys, thanks for the music and memories.
What a great night. Who is this??
I hadn’t listened to Tommy before in years, maybe decades, because I find the story both painful and silly, not a good combo. Have it listen today. Found the first half pretty uneven, more treading water instrumentals than I remembered, and some pretentious pseudo-operatic flourishes. But the second half, starting with Pinball Wizard, is pretty impeccable to my ears (minus Tommy's Holiday Camp).
Bruce H
Great setlist, Sal! I still have your slightly different previous Fantasy Setlist on a portable hard drive. I'd personally want more songs from Quadrophenia since it's my favorite album by anyone ever.
This posting has been stewing in the back of my mind for days so Sal most likely only you & I will see it I just had to throw in my two cents with my expanded Best of The Who albums list! :-) That's fine with me.
Albums
Who Sell Out
Who's Next
Live at Leeds (2 CD version)
Quadrophenia
Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy
Odds & Sods
A Quick One
Tommy
Who By Numbers
My Generation
The Kids Are Alright Soundtrack
Who Are You?
Face Dances
WHO
It's Hard
Endless Wire
Magic Bus: Who on Tour
Finally four great live outliers:
Fillmore East 1968
Live at Hull 1970
Isle of Wight 1970
Thirty Years of Maximum R&B 1994
I was with Simels & The Weasels at the 1967 Who show at The Village Theater. My first big time Rock & Roll show.
Also saw the Who at:
SUNY New Paltz 1969
MSG 1974
MSG 1979
As I state a few days ago I Think Tommy blossomed when it was taken on the road and performed live!
Great post Sal!
Nice list.
What about Magic Bus makes you despise it? Aside from “Bucket T” and “Doctor Doctor,” I think it plays really well.
My dislike of "Magic Bus" is it was A) such a mess in song selection B) It was such a disappointment as a follow up to one of my all time favorite albums "Sell Out".
Captain Al
Sigh....a pair of tickets at MSG in the lower bowl towards the back is almost $700. Ridiculous
It stings now, but once you see the setlist after the first show, and you see a "Tommy" set and a "Quadrophenia" set, it'll sting less. It'll be a relief.
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