The Who in Phoenix, AZ 10-30-22

 

The Who Setlist Ak-Chin Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ, USA 2022, The Who Hits Back!

 

 

Videos

Pete banter about bad venue pt 1
Pete banter about bad venue pt 2
1921
Pinball Wizard
We're Not Gonna Take It
Who Are You
Eminence Front
The Seeker
Naked Eye
Another Tricky Day
Won't Get Fooled Again
Behind Blue Eyes
I'm One
5:15
The Rock
Love Reign O'er Me
Baba O'Riley

 

Press

AZ Central

 

Review by Debbie Bruns

(the professor with the tattoos)

The show at the Ak Chin Pavilion in Phoenix was a memorable one. Ended up standing at the end of the fourth row Simon side (not where I thought I would be but read on). It was fun to watch Katie and Simon doing what they do, which they do so well.

After the Tommy set, Pete did riff on Live Nation and the acoustics at the venue. Live Nation did a major screw up which you may (or may not) have heard about. Suffice to say, my fourth row spot was a result of it. I had a ticket for the front row for a few hours, which was enough time for us to gift our seats to Phoenix-based friends. Live Nation gave us tickets to a box but I wanted to be where the action is.

The Tommy set was awesome as always. The back and forth between Pete and Roger during Pinball Wizard always makes me smile. They look like they enjoy it too. I’m always taken to another place during Listening to You. That song definitely has a special place in my heart.

I don’t remember exactly when but Roger was complaining about his earpieces saying it felt like he had mice in his head. Looked to be resolved later on. Pete complained again too, more about being outdoors and saying he was glad so many people attended as that assisted with the sound quality.

I thought The Seeker, Naked Eye and Another Tricky Day were very enjoyable. Amazing how the first bars of each set the tone. As I’ve shared before, Behind Blue Eyes is another favorite. I could watch Roger sing that one over and over and over (thanks YouTube).

The Quadrophenia set was strong. The Real Me was a highlight. And, of course, Love Reign O’er Me and Baba O’Riley did not disappoint. Seeing the end of another show was a bit more poignant as the tour begins to wind down but Roger, Pete, and all members of the band (Katie, Audrey, Emily, Loren, Simon, Zak, Billy, Jon, Keith) are giving it their all every night. It’s a gift and will sure to keep giving after the tour ends in a few days. The memories will stay with us regardless of ticket snafus and crappy acoustics because The Who is The Who, the greatest band ever.

 

Review by Horace Austin

The afternoon began with a little bird telling me that tickets had dropped in the front row for Phoenix. It was in fact the mother of all ticket drops. The entire front row dropped. All 24 seats. At the standard price of $257 per ticket. That includes fees. I immediately alerted my traveling buddies Terry and Eddie. Other friends of ours were soon notified. Everyone scored. Everyone was excited.

Several hours later, that excitement turned into soul shattering disappointment. We were informed by venue security that Row AAA — the row that had dropped — did not exist. It was a LiveNation computer glitch. Instead, we would get refunds. We would get complimentary VIP Club Box Seats 20 rows from stage. What a fiasco. Everyone was frustrated. Everyone was calling bullshit.

I couldn’t believe this was happening. The Phoenix show suddenly became the Kobayashi Maru show. The Kobayashi Maru comes from STAR TREK. It’s a test given to Starfleet Academy cadets to test their character when confronted with a no-win scenario. This looked like a no-win scenario. But, James T. Kirk doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario. He never accepts defeat even when he’s outgunned. There’s always a way out. Fortunately, for some of us, there was. Eddie, Terry and Pete Pinto had extra tickets they couldn’t sell in Row BBB — the row we thought was 2nd row, but was actually front row. So Pinto, Eddie, Terry, myself and my local friend Eric ended up in the front row in between Pete & Rog. (Somebody Saved Me and it was Terry. Thank you again, Terry.) Chris Z. had extra tickets in Row CCC. But, like Kirk, he didn’t accept the no-win scenario With an assist from me, he persuaded venue security to allow him and his 6’2” girlfriend to stand behind me and Terry. Crazy Rob played his cards right and was able to stand behind Eddie and Pinto.

When The Who took the stage, Pete went off on LiveNation and called Ak-Chin Pavilion a shithole. Was the band alerted about the ticket fiasco???

After the TOMMY suite, Roger looked at me and said something off mic. I couldn’t understand him. Then I looked at Pete. He looked at me and asked on mic, “Is it your birthday again?”

I shrugged my shoulders and said, “No!”

Pete replied, “Then shut the fuck the up!” Everyone burst into laughter. Wow. After all these years, Pete finally took the piss out of me.

The interaction didn’t end there. “Eminence Front” climaxed with Pete machine gunning us. When Pete got to me, he cracked a smile. Jubilation overtook us. That energy carried over the rest of the show.

This was likely my last Who show with Eric. We’ve known each other 37 years. We saw PSYCHODERELICT in Berkeley in 1993 (2nd show) and The Who in Irvine (2002) and Phoenix (2007). He brought a youthful exuberance to the rail. Chris Z. really appreciated it.

All of that being said, I feel for my friends who bought Row AAA seats and did not or could not stay down front. They traveled from out of state. What an absolute clusterfuck by LiveNation. What a crazy day filled with unexpected twists and turns.