The Who Concert Buffalo Ny May 9 2019 Review

The Who at Buffalo May 9, 2019

Buffalo photo past Ron Grosser 01

Buffalo photo by Ron Grosser 02

Buffalo photo by Ron Grosser 03

Buffalo photo by Ron Grosser 04

Buffalo photo by Ron Grosser 05

Buffalo photo by Ron Grosser 06

Buffalo photo past Ron Grosser 07

Buffalo photo by Ron Grosser 08

Buffalo photo by Ron Grosser 09

Buffalo photo by Ron Grosser x

Buffalo photo by Ron Grosser 11

Buffalo photograph by Sean Knuckles Cassidy 01

Buffalo photo by Sean Duke Cassidy 02

Buffalo photo by Sean Duke Cassidy 03

Buffalo photograph by Sean Knuckles Cassidy 04

Buffalo photograph by Sean Duke Cassidy 05

Buffalo photograph by Sean Duke Cassidy 06

Buffalo photo by Sean Duke Cassidy 07

Buffalo photo by Sean Duke Cassidy 08

Press

Buffalo News (photos)
Buffalo News
Brian Kehew's Backstage Weblog

Review by Lauren J. Hammer

Top line summary:
As I predicted months ago, K Rapids (#1) was clothes rehearsal. #2, Buffalo was orders of magnitude better. And I take little doubt, that also as I predicted, that they volition fully kicking into gear over the next 2 in Bristow (DC) and at MSG.

Audio:
This was the biggest game changer of all. The SOUND was night and fucking day. In Grand Rapids, Zak and the electric guitars were virtually inaudible from the front row. We could Run across them. We couldn't HEAR them. Hell, in 1000 Rapids, I repeatedly removed my ear plugs. In Buffalo, the roar of the mighty Who was dorsum. And it fabricated all the difference.

Much gratitude to Tom and Robert who really listened to our feedback and worked very hard to address the issues. I don't know what information technology was similar on stage. I don't know what information technology was like in the remainder of the house. But upwards forepart, we were at a fucking Who evidence, accompanied by an orchestra. Relief. Joy. Ecstasy.

Personally, I would adopt a piffling more Zak and a little more Jon. And I'd also similar a piffling more orchestra, as they were drowned out a bit, past the new mix. Unlike some, I LIKE the orchestral Who music. Merely if I have to selection between the two, I will pick Who2, every unmarried fourth dimension.

Pete:
The damn suit jacket was gone! I cheer him on in wearing whatever he damn well pleases when he's non on stage, simply I detest the arrange jacket on stage. It'southward always in his way. Information technology its identify was a striped, short sleeve shirt.

More than importantly, he was in a slap-up frame of mind. Both of them were SO MUCH MORE RELAXED and at ease. He smiled. He laughed. He and Roger chatted and joked. He even interacted, a bit, with us and the residue of the audience. And at that place were windmills. Many, many, many windmills. And I missed them, but obviously, according to Eddie and Duke, at that place were a pair of one-half assed jumps. I at the end of Tommy. 1 at the end of Baba.

Critiquing his performance - not an astonishing nighttime, just no complaints. B+

The only other particular Pete thing I can think of to mention is that while he is using a music stand (which might have his iPad on it, rather than his binder, at present that I think about it), he'southward got information technology set up downward low, and tilted flatter, so that information technology's inappreciably a visual obstruction factor. Thank y'all, Pete. Information technology sucks when it's blocking our view.

Oooh. And one other thing. No glasses. No regular spectacles. No sunglasses!

Roger:
Also in a good frame of heed. Clearly less stressed than in GR. As well had a fashion alter. Gone was the opening night t-shirt, replaced with black jeans and a white dress shirt. Patently, Roger dressing up and Pete dressing down is the winning combination.

Overall, he sounded great again. Similarly, a solid B+.

Afterwards Tommy, Pete thoughtfully made mention Roger'southward upcoming orchestral Tommy release. Pete explained that he didn't bring together the bout considering he was decorated writing songs for a new Who album. (!!!)

He talked about how pleased he was that Roger actually liked the songs.

Roger talked about how in order to sing words that somebody else has written, he needs to find a manner within of Pete's songs, inside of Pete, at which betoken there was some fun innuendo. I hope someone caught video of the interaction. Non all-time priceless, but I sure would similar to see information technology once more.

Setlist/Performances:
The setlist was largely the aforementioned, with a few minor tweaks. They dropped Acrid Queen during the Tommy set. While I like it, I did not especially miss it.

During the "band set," they added in Substitute, which I similar well enough, merely does not excite me. So Sad About Us would excite me. And if we want to stay with comfortable and anticipated, I'd option Can't Explicate over Substitute, EVERY Single Fourth dimension. I wish they'd open the band gear up with it. It would restore order to my Who universe. And then, if they want to follow with Kids, that would be fine.

The other modify in the band gear up was that WGFA was Simply Roger and Pete (on AG). The show before, information technology had been Roger, Pete (on AG), Simon (on AG) and Zak. (No Jon.). I don't accept strong feelings either way, simply in my postal service evidence survey, the consensus was in favor of but the two of them. Information technology was highly interactive. And Roger turned it into quite the singalong (or sing-song, in Britspeak). Oddly, he'd have the crowd sing sort of random, verse lines, but with such a warhorse, it came off really well, and to their/our credit, we sounded great! R AGAIN complimented the oversupply on our vocals, at the very end of the show.

Then in the Quad fix, they added in The Existent Me to start the set, which was a Keen addition. DEFINITELY added more to the Quad prepare than dropping Acid Queen detracted from the Tommy set.

Again, I idea Punk was By FAR the best song of the dark. My only quibble is that there was one part, both nights, where Pete wanders abroad from the mic and misses his response lines. Simon is singing, but as much as I honey Simon, Simon is Not Pete. I then love hearing this song without Gary Glitter or PJ Proby mucking information technology up. Roger AND Pete, singing so many great lines + it is what's left of The Who in their total, explosive glory (and in this instance, with the addition of the orchestra). Most definitely one of my happiest places on globe.

AND/Simply I can run into that going right from Punk into 5.xv is pushing up against also much for Roger. I think they should flip Drowned and v.15, which would brand information technology and so that Roger has a break every other vocal during the Quad set.

Real Me / I'm One / Punk / Drowned / five.fifteen / Rock / Love Reign

Once more, he couldn't fully hitting the end of Honey, but again, he was in good spirits about it.

Other misc song/performance comments...
During the opener - Overture / Information technology's a Boy, the band and orchestra were horribly out of sync, for quite a while. The band was playing well inside their unit. The orchestra was playing well inside their unit. But they were TOTALLY out of sync with one some other. I don't know what the sound was similar where they were, only that was absolutely the case where I was. And it lasted for a while, only once that was sorted, they played really well with one another, throughout the balance of the night.

Imagine A Homo was cute once more, but over again, Roger flubbed lyrics. But this time, right near the end, he got totally lost. And with a full stone ring AND an orchestra, it could have been a disaster, but amazingly, information technology was not. BOTH the band and the orchestra totally rolled with it and held information technology together. I was mightily impressed.

Tea and Theater was beautiful, once again. It feels actually fitting in this setting. But it seems weird for Roger to sing it (both nights) without a cuppa tea!

Who Are You lot and Join Together, both of which were weak performances in GR were significantly better in Buffalo. In GR, Roger was totally restrained and didn't fully engage the crowd. These songs in Buffalo they were much more engaged and interactive. Neither one knocked my socks off, but both were vastly improved.

Eminence Front note. It'south not that either Grand Rapids or Buffalo were particularly exceptional performances, but I really, really like the way the orchestra draws out so many of the song's compositional qualities.

Baba was over again quite wonderful with the orchestra. Information technology (obviously) lacks the full dial of the band only version, but as I said earlier, I similar information technology. Katie was fab, once more. But Roger, instead of awkwardly (and adorably) remaining center stage with Katie, every bit he did in GR when she took over, stepped back to where he plays the harmonica during Drowned.

Review past David Wilson

The second show of the tour was structured similarly to the first one (Grand Rapids, MI) with a three-part presentation. Full disclosure...I did not attend Grand Rapids; any reference to that prove is taken from other accounts.

Role 1 - Band and Orchestra

The show opened with substantially the aforementioned song wheel as in K Rapids. Fortunately, they dropped Acid Queen. The band and orchestra were wildly out of sync for the beginning few songs - Zak seemed to be manner also fast, nearly manic.

Pete initially just looked lost trying to friction match either competing rhythm without much success. He pulled into gear, basically taking command of the beat during the jam at the tail finish of Astonishing Journey and into Sparks.

Audio rest was still a trouble with the orchestra relatively much louder than Roger'southward vocals and rest of the band. Couldn't actually hear Jon, Loren, and at times Pete. Simon carried much of the intricate solo piece of work and was a fleck college in the mix. Pinball Wizard and the Run across Me Feel Me finale were well received every bit expected, the afterward being gloriously enhanced by the orchestra. It was surprising to hear that they returned to using the There's A Doc riff (always used to close the alive versions of See Me Feel Me until the 1982 bout) and and then transitioning into a coda with the ending used in the Tommy picture (and used to close Come across Me since 1982, except Roger's solo shows).

Who Are You received a very light orchestral handling but yet sounded neutered. Much has been made by others nigh the inclusion of Imagine A Homo in the set; information technology sounded magnificent. However, this option of a new-performance song simply seemed to further distance this tour arroyo from the traditional aggressive and uncomfortable tour formats that The Who are best known for. Eminence Forepart was nifty (and I never say that)! Join Together didn't work with the orchestra; kitschy Springsteen sing-along was a dud as well.

Part two - Band Only

Y'all could finally hear the individual band members; all in sync as well! Great to come across Substitute played. Merely Roger and Pete performing Won't Get Fooled Once again...Pete'south playing very reminiscent of his 1979 functioning at Secret Policeman'due south Ball. Prissy work. I missed the typical evidence closer version though.

Office three - Band and Orchestra

The Quad set was well done. The heavier musical manner and more symphonic vocal structures worked well. Of class, opening with thundering The Existent Me really set up the final role brilliantly. The Rock was outstanding and Love Reign O'er Me was great. It seems at that place may have been a fleck of vocal viagra in a couple of spots... okay by me if it helps the overall performance. Baba was spectacular every bit always...enhanced by Katie Jacoby'due south soloing.

Overall Experience

This is show 20 for me...dating back to 1976.

While interesting in concept, I constitute that the song selection and execution fell below my expectations. I enjoyed it, but felt that the orchestrated experience was more labourious than augmented.

The band, and peculiarly Pete, seemed to really struggle with having to piece of work with the orchestra. The tour concept is premised on the orchestra accompanying the band. However, for much of the show it seemed to be the band trying to accompany the orchestra...and its scripted performance. There was no avenue for the band to boogie on its own, except during Office 2.

Two questions:
ane. Is it necessary to have the long blocks of orchestrated songs, rather than interspersed with ring only songs?

2. Tin a more up-tempo beginning exist considered...Tommy is much too soft to showtime. Maybe something from Who's Next, I Can Encounter For Miles, or other high-energy songs?

I admire the initiative to try something dissimilar. I'd like to see the band have more than of the lead and be heard, without fighting for sonic space or control.

Long Live Rock!

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Source: https://www.petetownshend.net/gigography/the-who-moving-on-tour/the-who-at-buffalo-may-9-2019

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