Brian Kehew's Backstage Blog

The Who Hits 50! Tour: Toyota Center, Houston, TX, April 29, 2015

HOUSTON (25)

Roger: “If it’s Wednesday, it must be . . . HOUSTON !

Today’s report is a little different, as the show was consistently good, yet nothing outstanding to report. So . . .

HOUSTON (21)

HOUSTON (16)

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There was a great segment right before ‘Behind Blue Eyes’. Roger had just adjusted his old 1950s Everly Bros guitar he cherishes – when suddenly it fell off its strap pin and it dropped onto the stage.

HOUSTON (4) HOUSTON (7) HOUSTON (11)

For a moment, everyone onstage is silent in shock. The audience is cackling, yelling and laughing.

The whole bit is transcribed here below, as the audio may be less clear on the video clip. But it’s great to hear/see the audience and the way they interact onstage. Come see a Who show and each night will be full of unique moments like these:

Roger: “My baby! (cries) I can’t go on without it. No, no!”

Pete: “Go on, finish it off, go on, go on! Go on, Rog, go on, Rog, finish it off, go on, Rog!! Go on Rog – let ME do it! Go on, let me do it! Go on. . . .”

Roger: “No, you’ve ‘ad your days of that! I remember when I couldn’t afford one, and I had to stand outside a shop window and measure one through the glass and make the bloody thing! Out of bits of wood and God-knows-what. And after I finished it, it DID work and I had it for about six weeks, but I realized I’d made it about 10% too big, because the glass of the window was magnifying it. And, from then on, all my guitars were too big – and extremely heavy!”

Pete: “I’m not sure I follow you…. but it’s very interesting.”

Roger: But you’ve never followed me, Pete.

Pete: Oh, I do follow you. I f*ing followed you to f*ing HOUSTON! (cheers).

Or did you follow me!?!

Roger: I was following you!! You told me we were going to Dallas!

Pete: I’m happy to be here . . .

I’m REALLY HAPPY to be here!!! (cheers)

F*in’ HOU-STON TEX-AS!! (massive cheers)

. . . and I don’t have to do duets with EITHER Tony Bennett OR Lady Gaga. They’re doing duets together, bless their little hearts.

He’s f*ing 88!! Just the weight of his wig must . . .

Oh I must stop this, it’s wrong isn’t it? I actually love ’em both.

HOUSTON (12)

HOUSTON (13)

. . . and then both moved onward to the very serious ‘Behind Blue Eyes’.

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In The Who world, even mishaps are moments of opportunity, they become highlights and things you won’t see on a pre-programmed show that’s the same every night.

See y’all in Dallas!

BK

Tonight’s Set List

I Can’t Explain
The Seeker
Who Are You
Squeeze Box
I Can See for Miles
Pictures of Lily
My Generation
Magic Bus
Behind Blue Eyes
Bargain
Join Together
You Better You Bet
I’m One
Love, Reign O’er Me
Eminence Front
A Quick One, While He’s Away
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Pinball Wizard
See Me, Feel Me
Baba O’Riley
Won’t Get Fooled Again

 

 

 

1 thought on “The Who Hits 50! Tour: Toyota Center, Houston, TX, April 29, 2015”

  1. stepee says:

    Good rapport there. I saw a very, very famous reformed group a few years ago and the show they played at Birmingham was identical to the show on the tour DVD released later in the year filmed in a South American country!

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