The Who at the Pepsi Center

Doug told me he wanted to see the Who several months ago. When their concert at Pepsi Center was announced, I got him tickets as a gift. At the time I told him the tickets were his, and he could take whoever he wanted to the concert. Basically I figured he'd take Frank. After watching one of their early concerts on this tour on AXS.tv, I reneged and told Doug I wanted to go with him.

The concert was originally scheduled for mid-December, but was cancelled due to Roger Daltrey's bout with meningitis. It was eventually rescheduled for last night.

I try to get good seats for whatever show I attend. I figure at this point in my life, I really want to be able to see whoever I've decided is worth the time and effort to see live. Sometimes seats I think will be pretty good are actually terrible. Last night we were in the twelfth row of the right section of the stage. We were mid-row, and the seats ended up being GREAT. I chose those seats based on the fact that Doug would want to see Pete Townsend more than anyone else. It worked out perfectly.

The setlist they played was the same as every other show on this tour, and it was well-balanced. My favorite Who song, which they played, is Eminence Front. Doug would have a harder time nailing down his favorite, he likes so many of them. 

I've heard plenty of stories about how Pete Townsend resented Daltrey given he was the songwriter. On our way out last night, I made the comment that while I understand Townsend's desire for more attention, or accolades, or whatever it was he wanted and wasn't getting, the reality is that Daltrey knows how to sing his songs. The relationship is symbiotic. Both showed their chops last night. Both performed far better than I might've anticipated. Both were phenomenal.  

I don't know if I'll ever see them live again, and if I don't, that's okay. The memories I'll carry of last night's show are as good as they could be.