By: Ashley Watrin
On Wednesday, October 1, at Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, California, iconic English band, The Who, bid a final farewell to their North American audience on the last stop of “The Song is Over” tour. Led by the remaining original members, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, the night showcased their over six-decade run with most-beloved songs and biggest hits.
Luckily, I had the pleasure of catching their last show ever in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl on September 19 with my dad. Opening with their first-ever hit single, “I Can’t Explain”, the audience erupted in praise as the band reminisced back to their beginnings in the 60s with hits such as “Substitute” and “My Generation”. Their catalog from the 70s brought “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, “Behind Blue Eyes”, and “Baba O’ Riley” from their acclaimed 1971 album Who’s Next, along with the 1978 major hit “Who Are You”. Songs such as “Pinball Wizard” and “The Real Me” featured in their rock opera films, Tommy and Quadrophenia, also made appearance in the show. The crowd’s momentum for the band continued on with 80s favorites, “Eminence Front” and “You Better You Bet”.
To complete the night, the band led us into their final song, “Tea & Theatre”, from the 2006 album, Endless Wire. Choosing to perform a full acoustic version of this song made for a rather more bittersweet grand finale to their goodbye show. The presence of only Daltrey’s vocals and Townshend’s strumming on stage reminded the crowd of the looming truth. After sixty-plus years of such a remarkable and influential reign, the rock legends of the British Invasion and hard rock have officially decided, the song, indeed, is over.
Yet, don’t let the end of an era stray you. I’m sure they agree as well, especially as Roger Daltrey proudly belts… Long Live Rock!
Complete Setlist for Hollywood Bowl Night Two – September 19th
1 – I Can’t Explain
2 – Substitute
3 – Who Are You
4 – I Can See for Miles
5 – Long Live Rock
6 – Pinball Wizard
7 – See Me, Feel Me (with “Listening to You” refrain)
8 – Another Tricky Day
9 – Behind Blue Eyes
10 – Eminence Front
11 – My Generation
12 – Cry If You Want
13 – You Better You Bet
14 – Going Mobile
15 – The Real Me
16 – I’m One
17 – 5:15
18 – Love, Reign O’er Me
19 – Won’t Get Fooled Again
20 – Baba O’Riley
21 – The Song Is Over
22 – Tea & Theatre