14 Oct 2025

Sunday 28 September 2025: MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Show Report: September 28 2025; MGM Garden Arena, Las Vegas

Another big arena, but this one seems different. Although it’s hosted a lot of boxing events, this is not so much a sports arena (like the hockey/basketball places we usually play). It seems like their main focus now is concerts, which is good for us. Still it sounds a little weird acoustically as we’re setting up in the big empty room. So hard to tell what it will sound like with all the people here – that’s always very different, which can be good or bad.

This venue is attached to a huge hotel, the MGM Grand, one of the biggest in Vegas. And everyone on the crew had one and a half days off here (travel from Seattle ate up half of the first day, second day was truly “off” from work.) Our people could see the sights, gamble, drink, eat, shows – whatever. Even the lobby was running big ads for the show – of course! They want people to come and $tay – gamble and drink and so forth. There are more than a thousand rooms here, and four-plus pools to enjoy; it’s a great place to be for our day off!

I myself went over to our old stomping ground, Caesars Palace, where Rod Stewart was doing his big show. So different to ours – it’s not a rock concert as much as a venue show, like Broadway or Vegas, with lots of flashing lights and dancing onstage and video, huge amounts of video content. But that’s for a general audience, I think. People that don’t know more than the hits (he has a lot) they are just visitors to Vegas for a big night out – that’s what Caesars tends to book in there. Ours – very stripped down and almost a club show in comparison.

Speaking of – I remember seeing Rod in Leeds, England, and he was talking about stopping touring that summer. He said he might sing some shows, but not the big rock shows of his past. He’s still here, calling it “The Encore Shows” and planning more stuff for 2026, so maybe it’s the terminology. Final “tour” – so smaller sets of residencies are available, or one-off special shows. Also here, Mötley Crüe are in town – and I saw their “final tour” many years ago. Then they did a stadium tour and now some more shows. So – maybe this is just an industry joke or whatever. Kiss played seven years on the road for their final run. Well, whatever – this was supposedly our “last show” of this The Song Is Over –  North American Farewell Tour (no mention of charity events or residencies or tours in other places? I know there will be offers – to do a little more. Some from other countries, especially Asia and the UK, although I know they have often talked about South America and Mexico – that seems less-likely.

“Well this is a nice turnout! More than usual . . .” Pete says to the VIP soundcheck crowd. He’s probably forgetting that this was the last listed show when the tour went on sale. So many people have come from all over to see this (even though there is now an added show in Palm Desert and a private charity event concert after that) “Nice to see you old chap!” Roger calls out – sitting in the front seats is Roy Lamb, our tour manager of nearly two decades. He retired a while back after the Royal Albert Hall shows a year or so ago. And he’s won a Lifetime Award from the Parnelli Awards, very few people reach that level. “Happy birthday!” Roger adds – as it’s Roy’s birthday, happening to coincide with what we all thought would be the last show of this tour. The band runs through the usual, then Roger and Pete thank the crowd for supporting. “Now back to bed” Roger jokes, maybe . . .

Backstage before the show, they really have done up the place, not just with the usual signage of who’s on tonight, but cookies, doorways covered in Who photos, all kinds of neat attention to detail. Mostly impressive is the unveiling of a new poster-sized plaque in the artists’ hallway: It celebrates the band coming to the MGM Garden Arena with a nice story of the group etc etc. Pete and Roger signed this on their way to the stage. There are dozens of posters and photos of other impressive groups in the hallway here, but this is something quite extra.

One of the fans today has brought something special: He was in the audience as a kid during the VERY first Who shows in NYC. It was part of the Murray The K shows, with many artists performing, more than one show each day. It’s fascinating that he kept his programme from the show in good shape and brought it by for us to see. It’s strange to see The Chicago Loop band billed above The Cream and The Who! But they were all new and starting out, virtually nobody went in to see these new bands.

Video courtesy of Grey Goose

Billy Idol – now that is an opening act! He’s popular with almost anyone who lived through the ’80s and he has a long connection with The Who for sure. As the bellboy in live Quadrophenia, the 1980 Tommy video/LP at Universal Amphitheater, and some vocal songs on Rachel and Pete’s Classic Quadrophenia run. He’s a lovely guy – very sweet and quiet actually – but their show is perfect: There are lots of hit songs you know, and a set full of rockers you may not. The band is incredible as are the visuals and sound. He’s a touring headliner; this is his last show after his own popular tour, so this was a strong night for the fans. They were definitely enjoying it like most opening acts never get – and I don’t think I’ve seen our own crew enjoy an opening act as much. Go check out Billy – he’s still great!

Video courtesy of MacH3Videos 

After such a solid start, The Who come out, with the arena now full of humans and the energy is up, for sure. Vegas crowds are a mix – some people live or work here, but most of your audience came to town to see the band, or happen to be visiting from wherever and just wanna see a show. Rog and Pete come out rather slowly – letting the important moment happen. As always, very casual and workmanlike – not of the usual Vegas-show fanfare. It starts well and Pete is doing some unusual solos. By the second song, he’s clearly in a great mood. And the audience is singing along loudly to ‘Substitute’ – that’ s not a common singalong song.

Pete asks the crowd “how many of you are from Las Vegas?” and it’s a good portion. He says quite a few friends had moved there and told them it was the best thing they ever did…

But later, he says “I apologize if I look like I’m grieving. I lost two good friends to cancer. It has affected me.” Sad to hear. I know one of them was the amazing choreographer who did the Quadrophenia ballet – stunning work, truly inspired. Go see it in New York if you can!

Roger talks about troubles, pointing at Pete: “He changes the strings and he gets a brand new sound. But I have to wake up with what I went to bed with,” meaning his voice, it can’t be fixed so easily. Roger admits that the tour had some challenges. They had to postpone two shows, and then move them. And then “they had me over a barrel” to add one more at the end; the coming Palm Desert show. “I didn’t have to say yes, but I did” he admits. “We do our best (big cheers) I’m not running around like Mick Jagger . . .” and catches Pete doing some animated Jagger moves behind him. “Am I doing it? No – Keith Moon” Roger agrees “He was the ultimate up-stager!”

Video courtesy of whofanray 

‘Another Tricky Day’ wasn’t originally in the tour set list, but it’s good they added this one. Here in the room, the sound ends up being very punchy and tight, not a long-reverb place. That makes every instrument clearer and the band can really hear what they are playing without all the mush coming back from the room. On a rhythmic and percussive song like this, it makes a lot of difference. Right before ‘Behind Blue Eyes’, Pete starts playing some unplanned Spanish bits on his acoustic guitar – things like that are off-the-cuff but always welcome. These parts make each show unique, and some of them can be pretty cool. As it is tonight with the exploratory guitar noises before ‘Eminence Front’. This one sounds very Western, cinematic desert stuff – and is quite unlike the other ones we’ve heard til now; again, the improvisation is what wakes you up and you say “now that’s cool.” ‘Cry If You Want’ is the second half of ‘My Generation’ each night, and tonight they start adding Simon and Pete’s backing vocals in a soul style. More newness. And the up/down aspect of the jamming is definitely working on this one.

Nothing much stands out from the next few, but in the last four or five shows there’s been something off during ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’. Usually it’s Pete’s guitar and he’s had discussions (ha) with Scott onstage about the drum fill into the scream portion when Pete hits the big power chord: That’s the part that’s off. However, I know Scotty’s doing it right, because I can see and hear the count-off voice he has in his ears; his monitors play the tape track of the synth stuff, but also a count-in so he knows where sections start and stop. Same as Zak had and Kenney and Moonie before that. So Scott changes his fill each night, as the other drummers did – but always ends right on the “1” beat of the next loud band section. For some reason, this big impact moment has been less than perfect – but for years and years (even the first three quarters of this tour) it’s always been dead on for everyone. Hmm . . .

Video courtesy of Stasio Rusek

‘Baba O’Riley’ starts off, and Pete starts jigging. You know the moves. Not as crazy as the Shepperton stages video with the tambourine, but far more animated than most things we’ve seen this year!

They discuss the formation long ago – Pete had just turned 16, but had been kicked out of his circle of friends. “I don’t remember what it was, but I think I called somebody a c**t!” Roger asked him to join his band, and Pete said “yes, yes, yes!”

‘Tea & Theatre’ is the dramatic end. I remember the times they’ve done the acoustic duo numbers: ‘A Man In the Purple Dress ‘and ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’, for example on the orchestral tour (sometimes). It’s always powerful, I know Roger loves it particularly – so I always wonder if this is where the future will be, without being The Who (big noisy band) but being those two guys who can play Pete’s MANY amazing songs in any format? Would be different, would be cool.

At the end, they start to talk and it’s A LOT. So much said.

Pete says their legacy goes back a long way, and the height of their career “was when there were just four of us.” Talks about the story of ‘Tea & Theatre’ being where two kids die – “and that happened to us, the two critical members”. He mentions that John died here in Vegas, and they always think of him when they come here. “We miss them both so much – but –we’re here. We don’t know how the fuck we got here!” Rog adds “We didn’t think it would last til the end of the week. How wrong we were!”

Video courtesy of whofanray

It was their dream to come to America – and be successful in America. “Because you were the land of steak! And you have been so generous and so good to us and our band and our music. Thank you SO much!!” A nice night for everyone. This was simple and fun, some emotion as this talking stuff really means a lot nowadays. Their personalities are pretty wonderful, and they are so real when speaking – like a conversation to a friend, not “rock star to crowd”. Another reason why we love to see this band live!

Onward! . . .

Tonight’s set list follows after the photo so if you don’t wish to know it, look away NOW!

Dan, Dan the tambourine man!

I Can’t Explain
Substitute
Who Are You
I Can See for Miles
Long Live Rock
Pinball Wizard
See Me, Feel Me / Listening To You
Another Tricky Day
Behind Blue Eyes
Eminence Front
My Generation
Cry If You Want
You Better You Bet
Going Mobile
The Real Me
I’m One
5:15
Love, Reign O’er Me
Won’t Get Fooled Again
Baba O’Riley
The Song Is Over
Tea & Theatre

Check out The Who Store for exclusive tour merchandise including this Limited Edition MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV 2025 Poster