The Who @ MSG
NYCPJ
Posts: 764
Saw The Who tonight at MSG. It was a great show. Pete caught fire a few times and Roger sounded good. He even hit a couple of screams that i didn't think he could do any more. In all honesty, its really more of a nostalgia show at this point (i've seen them 12x or so since '79 and this would probably rank towards the bottom, but one of the better non-Entwistle shows). In the end, it was great to see them on stage - happy, healthy and still capable of kicking ass.
Here are some photos i took:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jlbnyc/albums/72157665270787971/with/25193593190/
Here is the setlist:
The Who
March 3, 2016
Madison Square Garden
SETLIST
Who Are You
The Seeker
The Kids Are Alright
I Can See for Miles
My Generation
The Real Me
Pictures of Lily
Behind Blue Eyes
Bargain
Join Together
You Better You Bet
I'm One
The Rock
Love, Reign O'er Me
Eminence Front
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Pinball Wizard
See Me, Feel Me
Baba O'Riley
Won't Get Fooled Again
Here are some photos i took:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jlbnyc/albums/72157665270787971/with/25193593190/
Here is the setlist:
The Who
March 3, 2016
Madison Square Garden
SETLIST
Who Are You
The Seeker
The Kids Are Alright
I Can See for Miles
My Generation
The Real Me
Pictures of Lily
Behind Blue Eyes
Bargain
Join Together
You Better You Bet
I'm One
The Rock
Love, Reign O'er Me
Eminence Front
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Pinball Wizard
See Me, Feel Me
Baba O'Riley
Won't Get Fooled Again
6/3/06 (East Rutherford 2)
6/24/08 (MSG1)
6/25/08 (MSG2)
7/1/08 (Beacon Theater -NYC)
10/30/09 (Philly3)
5/18/10 (Newark, NJ)
5/20/10 (MSG1)
5/21/10 (MSG2)
10/18/13 (Brooklyn 1)
10/19/13 (Brooklyn 2)
5/1/16 (MSG 1)
5/2/16 (MSG 2)
3/30/20 (MSG)
9/3/24 I(MSG1)
9/4/24 (MSG 2)
6/24/08 (MSG1)
6/25/08 (MSG2)
7/1/08 (Beacon Theater -NYC)
10/30/09 (Philly3)
5/18/10 (Newark, NJ)
5/20/10 (MSG1)
5/21/10 (MSG2)
10/18/13 (Brooklyn 1)
10/19/13 (Brooklyn 2)
5/1/16 (MSG 1)
5/2/16 (MSG 2)
3/30/20 (MSG)
9/3/24 I(MSG1)
9/4/24 (MSG 2)
Post edited by NYCPJ on
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Gotta admit though, they look a bit older than the one time I saw them... in 1968,
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7 2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4 2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18
2022: MSG 9/11 2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
Edit: Hmm, maybe I should start a thread?
6/24/08 (MSG1)
6/25/08 (MSG2)
7/1/08 (Beacon Theater -NYC)
10/30/09 (Philly3)
5/18/10 (Newark, NJ)
5/20/10 (MSG1)
5/21/10 (MSG2)
10/18/13 (Brooklyn 1)
10/19/13 (Brooklyn 2)
5/1/16 (MSG 1)
5/2/16 (MSG 2)
3/30/20 (MSG)
9/3/24 I(MSG1)
9/4/24 (MSG 2)
"Again an all-star lineup, with Roger Waters, The Stones, McCartney, Billy Joel and more doing their best, and almost everyone put on a great show (except Kanye West...)"
Ha ha ha. That is all Pete. Love The Who.
Roger sounded in great form last night, probably helps it was just the 3rd show of leg. Pictures of Lily was a nice treat as was The Rock.
Met Simon before the show.
Yeah, those histories are fun, telling all about the times they've played in whatever city. Seems like the one for NYC would take forever!
Are they still doing the quiz about "how well do you know The Who? "
There's a place in Pete's memoir where he talks about playing at the Concert for NYC and how moving it was to step out on the stage where there'd been so many Who shows, only this time seeing the faces of the first responders.
And I agree, OP, great pics. Love seeing the Birdman!
I also liked the "Its a Boy" tag during Sparks
I've been a huge Who fan for a long time and it was just good to see them onstage again.
Thanks to everyone who liked the photos!
6/24/08 (MSG1)
6/25/08 (MSG2)
7/1/08 (Beacon Theater -NYC)
10/30/09 (Philly3)
5/18/10 (Newark, NJ)
5/20/10 (MSG1)
5/21/10 (MSG2)
10/18/13 (Brooklyn 1)
10/19/13 (Brooklyn 2)
5/1/16 (MSG 1)
5/2/16 (MSG 2)
3/30/20 (MSG)
9/3/24 I(MSG1)
9/4/24 (MSG 2)
SUMMERFEST MILWAUKEE 1995
ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 1998
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO1998
THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA KNOXVILLE 1998
ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 2000
ALLSTATE ARENA ROSEMONT 2000
ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 2003
HERSHEYPARK STADIUM 2003
TOLEDO SPORTS ARENA 2004
AIR CANADA CENTRE TORONTO 2005
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2006
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2006
VERIZON CENTER DC 2008
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2009
NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS 2010
PJ20 NIGHT 1 Alpine Valley Music Theatre 2011
PJ20 NIGHT 2 Alpine Valley Music Theatre 2011
1ST MARINER ARENA BALTIMORE 2013
IWIRELESS CENTER MOLINE 2014
XCEL ENERGY CENTER ST. PAUL 2014
CHICAGO 1 Wrigley Field 2016
CHICAGO 2 Wrigley Field 2016
CHICAGO 1 Wrigley Field 2018
CHICAGO 2 Wrigley Field 2018
BOSTON 2 Fenway Park 2018
ENTERPRISE CENTER SAINT LOUIS 2022
Eddie Vedder Auditorium Theatre CHICAGO 2008
SUMMERFEST MILWAUKEE 1995
ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 1998
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO1998
THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA KNOXVILLE 1998
ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 2000
ALLSTATE ARENA ROSEMONT 2000
ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE 2003
HERSHEYPARK STADIUM 2003
TOLEDO SPORTS ARENA 2004
AIR CANADA CENTRE TORONTO 2005
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2006
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2006
VERIZON CENTER DC 2008
UNITED CENTER CHICAGO 2009
NATIONWIDE ARENA COLUMBUS 2010
PJ20 NIGHT 1 Alpine Valley Music Theatre 2011
PJ20 NIGHT 2 Alpine Valley Music Theatre 2011
1ST MARINER ARENA BALTIMORE 2013
IWIRELESS CENTER MOLINE 2014
XCEL ENERGY CENTER ST. PAUL 2014
CHICAGO 1 Wrigley Field 2016
CHICAGO 2 Wrigley Field 2016
CHICAGO 1 Wrigley Field 2018
CHICAGO 2 Wrigley Field 2018
BOSTON 2 Fenway Park 2018
ENTERPRISE CENTER SAINT LOUIS 2022
Eddie Vedder Auditorium Theatre CHICAGO 2008
1968. Friend David gets us two tickets for San Jose Civic Auditorium show. No GA, all tickets for specific seating. David tried to get front row but managed second row, just left of center. Fantastic! Blue Cheer opened and took our heads off. During intermission I had a headache but when The Who came on they were not as loud as Blue Cheer and the headache went away.
Entwhistle, with feet firmly planted and little movement, was rock solid. Roger sang great and whipped that mic out a hundred feet and reeled in in right on the beat. Moon was a 90 minute insane drum solo powerhouse- fantastic! Pete was very focused, worked like a champ, played marvelously and windmilled with great flare. An audience member handed up a guitar to Pete (you could take just about anything but a horse into shows back then) and asked him to smash it. Pete gave it a few good tosses in the air and carefully handed it back via the audience. It was an amazing show ending with smoke bombs behind Pete's Sunn amps. Another friend took and developed some great 8 1/2 X 11 photos. Two of the Pete photos are phenomenal. I have copies of the Pete photos and hope to get them in the book.
(I really have to get this book project in the oven while I can. I also have some photos of Hendrix I took that are great and have only seen by a few others.)
Windmill approaching.
Birdman!
John and Keith
Now the good news is, there's more! And the Jimi and Noel Redding photos are cool as well. I hope the stories do them justice. Unfortunately, I cannot find the ones I took of Mitch Mitchell or Jimi playing drums.
Thanks for sharing your story. And those photos are incredible! it must have been amazing to have seen them during that period.
Who princess
Thanks for posting those photos! Always nice to meet another Who fan!
6/24/08 (MSG1)
6/25/08 (MSG2)
7/1/08 (Beacon Theater -NYC)
10/30/09 (Philly3)
5/18/10 (Newark, NJ)
5/20/10 (MSG1)
5/21/10 (MSG2)
10/18/13 (Brooklyn 1)
10/19/13 (Brooklyn 2)
5/1/16 (MSG 1)
5/2/16 (MSG 2)
3/30/20 (MSG)
9/3/24 I(MSG1)
9/4/24 (MSG 2)
The show I saw was in February. Here is my as yet unedited chapter on the Who show I saw (for some reason indentations won't post here):
WHO?
February 21, 1968: The Who, Blue Cheer. San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, CA
One day out of the blue a friend of mine in high school, David Meyerhof, came up to me and said, “Guess who’s coming to San Jose?”
“I don’t know. Who?”
“Yes!”
“What?”
“Who!”
“Who?”
“Right! The Who!”
“The Who?
“Yes, The Who!”
“Wow!”
“Yeah, The Who and Blue Cheer!”
“Whoa!”
“Do you want to go?”
“Heck yeah!”
David was one of the first people I knew back then who had a strong interest in current events, politics, social changes and so forth. He always seemed to be well ahead of the rest of us adolescents in terms of knowing and caring about what was going on in the world besides girls and music and sports. He also knew how to have a good time and he was a great guy to hang out with.
David and I paid big bucks, $4.75 each, for second row seats on the floor section of the San Jose Civic Auditorium. That’s right, two rows from the front of the stage to see Pete Townshend, Roger Daltry, John Entwhistle and the amazing Keith Moon. Incredible!
The Who were a hugely favorite band of several of my friends and me. The show we were about to see was part of The Who’s North America tour following the release of their “The Who Sell Out” LP. This great album remains a somewhat lesser known favorite amongst die-hard Who fans.
Paul Sommer was also in attendance a few rows back at the San Jose show with some other friends and we would later compare notes about the performances. He also gave me some excellent prints of some of the incredible photographs he took at that show. He and I used to goof off during gym when we were taking tennis lessons together and pretend our rackets were guitars and use them to play Cream’s song, “Anyone For Tennis?” or imitate Pete Townshend’s famous windmill guitar. I remember he and one of his bands performing a few excellent Who covers at a talent show our school put on one year.
The San Jose Civic Center was a great venue to see these bands and we were incredibly fortunate to get such good seats. Back in those days there was no such thing as a “mosh pit” and shows in seated venues like the San Jose Civic generally sold tickets for specific seating rather than general admission (which today is simply referred to as “GA”). The other big difference with major headlining band performances at that time was that very often there were no security guards lined up in front of the stage. As popular as The Who had become, the audience was enthusiastic but well mannered. There was no rushing the stage, no shoving, no pushing. Just a great time.
The San Francisco psychedelic/power-based trio, Blue Cheer, opened the show for The Who. It was announced just prior to the start of the show that a third band had cancelled and we were informed that we would only (only, hahaha!) be seeing Blur Cheer and the Who. I have a vague recollection that the band that cancelled that night might have been The Anonymous Artists of America but I can’t confirm this.
The Blue Cheer line up for that date consisted of the late Dickie Peterson on bass and vocals, Leigh Stephens on guitar and Paul Waley on drums. David and I had seats facing just to the left of center stage so we received the full gale force of Stephens’ heavy duty Marshall driven guitar. Stephens played like a workhorse with the sleeve shirt of his right arm rolled up and with a look of intense concentration on his face. Peterson was a solid rock on bass and with his gravely vocals and stern, almost statuesque stage presence, he was the anchor that held the band firmly in place throughout their hard-driving set. Waley thrashed on his drum kit throughout the entire performance like a man possessed, head slightly bowed over his drums with his beautiful long flowing blonde hair all but covering his face during the entire performance. All I could see of his face in brief glimpses was his teeth-bared grimace and his tightly shut eyes. Though not the master drummer that I would soon experience in watching Keith Moon, Waley played with an intensity that left me mesmerized.
Blue Cheer were renowned for their massive volume and while we watched them thrash through their numbers, I was completely electrified, but when their set was over I was dazed and had quite a bad headache settling in from the pummeling from this astonishing band.
During intermission I said to David, “Man, my head is pounding!”
“You’ll be alright,” he said in his typically kind and gentle manner. “Once The Who come on you’ll forget all about it and we’ll have a great time.”
He was so right.
In 1968, the pre-Tommy/Quadrophenia rock opera era Who, were still young, snotty, and just a tad bit naïve, but were beginning to transition from their early pop leanings into the powerhouse for which they would become renowned. With his earlier song,” A Quick One, While He's Away", Pete Townshend had already started to compose and develop the kind of extended pieces that would eventually be termed “rock opera” and by now had perfected his classic windmill guitar move. Though not the most accomplished of the sixties crop of great rock guitarists, Pete’s performances were riveting and his song writing skills were skyrocketing. Roger Daltry was in excellent form, strong of voice and perfect in his moves. Statuesque yet monstrously proficient, John Entwhistle kept the bottom driving and melodic. And Keith Moon was at his crazy best.
As the Who gained in stature they would also gain in volume and eventually be well known for being the loudest band of their time. But at this particular performance, The Who’s sound level seemed almost tame compared to Blue Cheer’s. And for me, this was not at all a bad thing. They still cranked it up like any good rock band does, but their sound was balanced, the clarity of the singing and playing was excellent and they put on a show that stands out as one of the most memorable of all those that I will write about here. Simply put, The Who were superb.
Somewhere around the middle of the set, a fan a few rows behind and to the right of us, started calling out to Townshend. Pete looked out into the light and squinted a bit and said, “What’s that?”
The fan yelled out something again and Pete replied, “What? Smash my guitar? Hey look, we’re still playing,” and turned to start another number when the kid yelled out even more loudly “No! I want you to smash my guitar!” and held a guitar he had brought into the theater for Townshend to see. Just that fact alone- that someone would be allowed to take an electric guitar into a show- is hard enough to imagine today but there it was. The guy yelled at the people in front of him to take his guitar and pass it forward. The instrument changed hands until finally someone in the front row ran up and handed it to Pete. I can’t remember which number the band went into next, but Townsend put his own guitar down and picked up this kid’s guitar and tossed it up in the air a few times, banged it lightly on his knee once or twice and generally pretended to rough it up a bit and then waved to another fan in the front row to come up and take it. He handed the still-intact guitar down to the audience member and motioned to have it given back to its owner. For me, this is such a great memory, but imagine how it must feel to have been the owner of that guitar! Hey man, wherever you are, good show, mate!
As was the case with most Who performances at the time, the final song of the set was “My Generation”. I’m guessing that after ending almost every show with that song, the band might have begun to grow a bit tired of the act but if so, it certainly did not show. They played that number with great fire, Daltry swinging his microphone out on its leash in an unbelievably long arc and tethering it back in right in place and right in time with the beat, Entwhistle churning out those remarkable bass lines and standing straight and statuesque while maintaining full concentration on his work, Moon flailing a million drum beats per second for the entire show without missing a single beat and Townshend windmilling and jumping around and looking fine in white slacks and silver sequined jacket. Toward the end of the song it appeared that Pete was going to perform his classic guitar smashing act and although he did thump the tail of the guitar on the stage a few times, twirl it around, throw it up in the air and catch it gracefully, he never really caused much damage to that fine instrument. David and I were not all that disappointed- we had been given a fine show. No complaints. As the last song neared the end, Pete formed an elongated “X” with his long spidery arms and legs, spreading his feet apart and holding his arms out wide, fingers straight, hands held flat, all the while his white Gibson ES-355 guitar hanging on its strap around his neck and shoulder, bleeding out glorious feedback while white clouds of smoke-bomb haze billowed forth from behind his Sunn amplifier, enhancing the overdriven, overheated grand finale. It was a glorious ending to a superb show. Absolutely fantastic!