Sunday, May 15, 2016

The Who Came Miles & Miles To Vancouver


DESPITE signage to stay calm, people responded with wild and noisy adoration when The Who appeared on stage at Roger's Arena in Vancouver on Friday 13th this weekend.

The British rock band that began over 50 years ago is still going strong with two original members, singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend.

Seated far from the stage, my husband and I relied on big screens and background videos to enhance the experience. All the musicians played their hearts out trying to please, including Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey who smacked the drums with both vigor and finesse. Keith Moon who passed away several years ago was the original drummer for The Who.

The screen scenes showed key historical world events spanning 50 years as well as the band's enthusiastic fans from the past to those currently at the arena. It wasn't always easy to distinguish the time frame, although cell phones in hand were a good clue.


The past fifty years were kind to 72-year-old Daltrey whose powerful voice had an emotional edge and raw richness to it that in my opinion superseded the voice of his youth.

The walls reverberated with LOOOUDDD rocking sounds and I wondered if I was the only one uncool enough to plug my ears now and then.

I heard that way, way back in the "old days" Pete Townshend smashed his guitar on stage during performances but now only strings were broken and instruments were more gently exchanged.

They played some of their biggest hits, including My Generation, Pinball Wizard and I Can See For Miles.

When I got home I found a video from a television show they did years ago when they had more hair and seemed a bit more constrained than they currently were at the arena.

I think this group got better and better (as did the light show) and grew into their most meaningful tunes over time.


Visit Postcards From Penelope Puddle to view more BC scenes.

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This post is also linked to SIGNS, SIGNS.

Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

13 comments:

  1. Nice to know you had a really good time and The Who’s performance has been getting better with age over 50 years. Your photos nicely convey the excitement of the day. I can relate to you; when Billy Joel rocked Osaka Dome about ten years ago, I was one of the audience.

    Yoko

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  2. That looks like quite a show!

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  3. Hello, both my hubby and I love The Who. It would be neat to see them now, I have seen them perform in TV' shows. Great photos of the concert. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

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  4. What an event and wonderful photos ~

    Happy Week to you ~ ^_^

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  5. Great concert and wow it is good to hear that people improve with age!!! Would love to hear this concert. Fun photo memories and appreciate the youtube too.

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  6. Who is/are the Who?
    Clearly not Dr. Who.
    Do the Brits not know who they are?
    Well, at present they/we don't even know if we are Europeans or not.
    Who's Who?

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  7. I love to see these old dudes still rocking!

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  8. How lucky to see them! It must have been great!

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  9. I can't believe it has been 50 years. I would have loved to have seen the concert.

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  10. What a rare opportunity!
    My how time has gone, eh?!

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  11. How NEAT (rather uncool word :) but then, both Bill and I plug our ears in loud concerts and in some movie theatres too) that you got to attend this concert. I was introduced to The Who by a student many years ago. Never heard them live but have a lot of respect for their talent. I'm so glad they no longer smash their guitars. That always struck me as very sad. I'm going to listen to your video just for old time's sake :)

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