Cool Cherry Cream

The Who Concert 2

Monday, December 4, 2006 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario

We arrived at the ACC sometime around 7:30. My brother and I both bought shirts before the show (the wrong time; we should've waited until afterwards when there were less people), and I got a program. Forty dollars for a shirt and twenty-five for a program? I know, I know, I'm out of my brain (on the train). All that plus the cost of the concert tickets…! Geez. During The Pretenders' set, I realized that a rock concert could possibly be the best place to find a huge group of utterly insane people, in case anyone conducting an experiment requiring large quantities of psychos was wondering, you know where to find us.

While we were waiting in line, The Pretenders started their set. When we finally got our shirts, we headed to our seats. My brother and I were on the first level and my parents were on the third. I think they were a little worried about letting us find our seats by ourselves, but I knew where I was going. I've done this enough times to get to the right section on the first try by now. They also made sure to tell me that I was *not* allowed to go look for Pete and Roger after the show! Do they think that *I'm* the bad one and not my brother? (Not that he's ever done anything bad, but he's the guy, and the guys are supposed to be the bad ones, you know?). Or they're just worried about me. Eh.

But, fuck, man. I was listening to Sirius today (I signed up for a free trial just to listen to the Rachel and Pete interview, which I thought was live, but apparently not, because they said they were in New York, which prompted me to yell "NOOO! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN TORONTO!!!") and Pete was saying that he "will sign ANYTHING!" and Rachel said "bring your grandmother, he'll sign her!" Ahh. How wonderful it would be to meet Pete or Roger or Rachel or anyone! I'll talk more about this later. But anyway, back to finding our seats.

There are two doors for each section. You find the correct one by looking at your seat number, not row number, isn't that weird? I mean, it does make sense once you think about it, but you naturally would look at the next number after your section, which is the row, and that is where you would want to go. Confusing. But not for me. I've figured it all out now. I've also gone around the ACC enough times to know that getting to the second level requires going up stairs.

We found our seats with no problem. The Pretenders were pretty good. Probably the most famous and best opening act I've seen, although I couldn't name any of their songs. However, I'd heard of them before I heard that they were opening for The Who, so that counts for something. Chrissie Hynde, the lead singer, is quite entertaining, and you can tell she's done this a lot. Other opening bands don't usually tell stories, but she was pretty interesting, so that was cool. She showed us a dance that she said she learned (don't quote me on this) in some places in England where you wouldn't want to go. You stick your thumbs in your belt loop and do this back and forth motion with a partner… and wouldn't you know, it's the very dance that caught the attention of my brother and I during "Sensation" in Tommy! You know, that ridiculous dance the bikers were doing by the beach? I wonder if she knew that the dance was in Tommy or it was just a coincidence? No matter. All in all, they were pretty good.

The lights come back up and more people start arriving. I notice a large digital clock across the stadium and I point it out to my brother. He comments that I was checking my watch during the entire Pretenders set (I *so* only checked three, four times tops!) and that I reminded him of Principal Skinner from the Simpsons: "It's not like The Who to be tardy!"

The people sitting beside us came to their seats a few minutes before the lights came down again. I stood up, like the polite person I am, but forgot I was sitting on my program. And so, I sat down again and realized it wasn't still there.

I don't know much about the structure of the ACC. For all I know, there could be a hole behind my seat where the misplaced programs and garbage and clothing drops and stays forever! I was pretty worried, because that program was damn expensive for some pieces of paper! I try to reach behind me, but no luck. I get out of my seat and turn around and fiddle about, fiddle about, and eventually can grab it, but not before bumping into the head of the person in front of me. Whoops…

The lights go down, the crowd goes wild. And on the other side of the stadium we see Pete and Roger head towards the stage.

Have I ever mentioned that I like sitting the opposite side of the stadium from where the people come out, so you can be the first to see them come out? That means our side is in charge of leading the cheers, and when we get louder, the other side knows we've caught a glimpse of our heroes, and that's the cue for them to get louder as well!

Anyway, the set was much the same as last time, but they switched out "Real Good Looking Boy" for "Black Widow Eyes", which, personally, I think was a wonderful choice. Not that I'm hating on Elvis or anything. But more about "Black Widow Eyes" later.

SET LIST

1. I Can't Explain
2. The Seeker
3. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
4. Fragments
5. Who Are You
6. Black Widow Eyes
7. Behind Blue Eyes
8. Wire and Glass
   • Sound Round
   • Pick Up The Peace
   • Endless Wire
   • We Got A Hit
   • They Made My Dreams Come True
   • Mirror Door
9. Baba O'Riley
10. Eminence Front
11. Man In The Purple Dress
12. Mike Post Theme
13. You Better, You Bet
14. My Generation / Cry If You Want
15. Won't Get Fooled Again
16. Pinball Wizard
17. Amazing Journey
18. Sparks
19. See Me, Feel Me
20. Listening To You
21. Tea & Theatre

After "I Can't Explain", Roger explained (ha) that, "as you've probably noticed", he had a cold and that he'd need the audience's help to hit the high notes. It was kind of disappointing, but I mean, what can you do? There were definitely times you could hear he had a cold, but it wasn't really that bad. Actually, it might have been better that he had a cold (not for Roger though, because I know how awful colds are, and I'm just about ready to start actually eating fruits and vegetables if it means I won't get a cold every winter!), because I think that Pete was trying to make up for it by being extra talkative last night. Which is a BLOODY AWESOME thing. Because when Pete rambles, it makes for a highly entertaining time. There was one point where I was sure he was going to start rambling, but alas, it was not to be.

I don't mean to make fun of him or anything, because I love Pete to pieces. Or… fragments, shall I say? Ha ha. Pete is an intelligent guy, and his rambles can and do make sense. But they are also really entertaining, and who am I to blame for wanting to be entertained? He didn't go overboard on the rambling, meaning he didn't go on about flamethrowers out of nowhere (unfortunately).

I really like it when the artist talks about the songs, or their life, or anything, rather than just playing the songs. Give us some insight into something! Because first off, it makes the concert longer, and that's always a good thing. And secondly, well, this goes along with getting good seats and meeting the artist or getting their autograph.

You know why I like to get close seats at concerts? Because of the connection, man! You can't lock eyes with Roger Daltrey when you're up in the nosebleeds! And when the artist talks to you, the audience, you have a chance to talk back! Well, scream back, at least. My family always argues about who so-and-so was waving at or looking at during a concert. And even though we probably all know that Jon Bon Jovi was waving at those drunk girls beside us who were waving at him, we each have this glimmer of hope that he was waving at *me*, he was acknowledging *me*. It feels nice to be acknowledged, you know? Especially when it's by a rock god.

Anyway, there were a group of guys behind us. Whenever The Who played a recognizable opening riff, they would yell "UHH-OH!". But their most entertaining comment went like so:

Anyway, "Fragments" began and after the "UHH-OH!"s subsided, they proclaim that it's "Baba O'Riley". Pah. What kind of idiot can't tell the difference between "Baba O'Riley" and "Fragments"?

Okay, okay, I'm kidding! That's just me, being sarcastic. I'm not a snob. I realize a lot of people haven't heard the new album, and I mean, it's their loss, but whatever. I'm just kidding, but it's amusing.

Roger introduces one of the songs, saying that it's a new one and his favourite off of the new album, and that he's so glad that he has Pete for a writer, because only Pete could write a song like this. Cue audience cheers! YEAH PETE! And then… and then… they start into "Black Widow Eyes"!?

AHHH! That's *my* favourite new song! WOW! I thought for sure Roger was more of a "Mike Post Theme" guy. But you know, I think partly "Black Widow Eyes" is my favourite because I saw The Who perform it on a video on YouTube and Roger was just hypnotizing. You can tell he really does like that song.

It seems whenever I go to a concert, there's always an older guy sitting nearby that I perceive as a sort of nerdy or grumpy guy. But he has authority, and when he starts clapping, you start clapping, and when he stops, you stop. I realized this when he started clapping before "Behind Blue Eyes" and I started clapping as well, and yet, I don't usually clap before songs, and I've never been a big "Behind Blue Eyes" fan. So I decided I had to stop doing that. And I took charge of my own clapping rhythm with the next song.

Oh, and before moving on to the next song, I'd like to inform everyone that Roger looked at me for a solid couple of seconds during "Behind Blue Eyes". And it was in fact *me* and not my brother, and not the "UHH-OH" guys, and not the grump, and not the Charlie Watts lookalike. So pshaw to all them.

Next they introduce their new mini-opera, "Wire & Glass", and I make sure to applaud before they begin the song (and also after "They Made My Dreams Come True", because you are SUPPOSED to clap there, just listen to the song!). I feel the need to let them know that YES we bought your new record and YES we appreciate your new music and YES it is, indeed, beyond awesomeness. And most importantly YES keep making new music and YES we still love you and YES come back next year — PLEASE come back next year!

I'd like to that think they heard my acknowledgment for the new songs and it made a difference in their lives, or at least their enthusiasm in performing the new songs. Because dagnamit, these new songs are REALLY GOOD. And you know, I know I'm in the minority, but I enjoy the new songs more than the old. If they stuck in the rest of "Wire & Glass" or "In The Ether" or "God Speaks of Marty Robbins" in place of say, "You Better You Bet", I'd love it! But as I said, I know most people are grumps and want the old stuff. Which of course I appreciate and love. But you know, I think they've got a good balance going on with old and new.

Whenever I go to concerts, I think I get more of a feel for what the song really means. And like last time, I was able to connect more of "Wire & Glass" (and the other mini-opera related tunes) to "The Boy Who Heard Music". The screens helped especially, and I realized "hey, there's Leila and Josh and Gabriel!", although I try not to look at the screens when I could be looking at The Who!

At some point during the concert, Pete told us that Toronto is his favourite city to play. Partly because, he said, when he used to drink, he had such a good time there. Crowd goes wild! Now, I'm not a Torontonian, but it's good to know that Canada is being acknowledged, eh. And b) they will almost definitely return to Toronto when (that's right, I said when, not if, ya hear, boys?) they come back for their next tour.

And although my brother didn't hear it, I could swear somewhere near the end Pete told us to "fuck off", which is always a sure crowd-pleaser.

I don't have much to say about the second half, but I mean, as the beginning, and as always, they were awesome. "Mike Post Theme" ESPECIALLY rocked. I mean, FUCK. It was really really awesome. It's just an awesome song. And Roger, cold or not, is just awesome.

I'm trying very hard to think of a subtle way to say something about this song here, that will not incriminate me. But if you too wish Roger would wear those open shirts, then you catch my drift. Heh heh heh.

I think right from "My Generation" up until "Tea and Theatre" we all stood. Well, us younguns at least. I wanted to stand for "Tea and Theatre", but everyone else sat, so I did as well.

Anyway, we thought that last time it was awesome that Roger broke his tambourine, but this time, there were three or four broken tambourines scattered about!

But, as we know, all things must come to an end. Here come the tea mugs. Bring out the Kleenex.

Had I not listened to "Tea and Theatre" so much since getting the album, I might have cried. There was one time that I was listening to it at home, and man, it just hit me. I mean, fuck. "The story is done"? That is not what I want to hear, Pete! But today, while reading about the mini-opera, apparently "Tea and Theatre" is part of it, which would mean it is not entirely true. And while some (all) of "Wire & Glass" is sprinkled (doused) with things here and there (and everywhere) from Lifehouse and Tommy and Psychoderelict, it is still, technically, fiction (based on facts). So, there's still hope. And while I know that every tour has been the "farewell tour", it's still possible that this one *is*.

And also while reading about "Wire & Glass", I found that my views of "They Made My Dreams Come True" are completely wrong. I always thought it was, I suppose, Ray narrating the main part, and then the kids of The Glass Household singing "they made my dreams come true", but in a sort of sad way, you know, we're famous, and now we're corrupt, and wasn't it so much better when we weren't famous? But not at all. Apparently it's still Ray narrating, and the kids have made his vision of this tragedy at the concert come true… or something. Huh. Interesting. I've been meaning to reread "The Boy Who Heard Music".

When they were done the last song, they did the whole hugging thing and waving to everyone, and again, of course, Roger waved at me, and I was about to wave back when he turned away. Probably to cry because *I* didn't acknowledge *him*. Anyway, at one point, Pete started jumping up and down and waving to someone in the section to the left of us. Later I learned my parents had left, but then went into that section, realizing that there was another song. And my mom was apparently jumping and waving afterwards. I figured that he was waving at someone he knew or something, not realizing my parents were there. I don't know whether to believe her or not, heh. I kind of would rather he not have been waving at her, because, well, then I might go insane with jealousy.

So, really, as you might guess, my conclusion is that it was a really great concert and The Who fucking rocks, and what else do I need to say? It's The Who. It goes without saying.