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Videos
Full show
I Can't Explain
Who Are You
The Seeker
Long Live Rock
Pinball Wizard, See Me Feel Me
Love Ain't for Keepin, Behind Blue Eyes
Eminence Front
My Generation
My Generation
You Better You Bet
Going Mobile
Going Mobile
The Real Me, I'm One, 5:15
I'm One
Love Reign O'er Me
Baba O'Riley
Won't Get Fooled Again
The Song is Over
Tea & Theatre
Tea & Theatre
Press
Review by Lisa Grand
The band really delivered as if to demonstrate what a special place Madison Square Garden holds in their hearts. It was touching to hear Pete say that this was the 36th time The Who had played there.
Pete and Roger were both in a great mood, and their banter was hilarious as always. Roger’s voice was strong throughout most of the show, and when he lost his place with the timing or forgot the lyrics, instead of blaming someone else, he and the rest of the band laughed it off. This was such a relief, and the crowd was 100% behind him.
Highlights of the show for me were:
• A killer version of Long Live Rock with searing vocals from Pete.
• The jamming during My Generation and 5:15.
• Pete encouraging Roger to resume Love, Reign o’er Me after he had given up.
• Pete seeming to be 20 years younger than he was at previous shows.
Pete’s movements were fluid and graceful, and his singing and guitar-playing were both stellar. His jacket was so much more sleek and elegant than the crumpled fabric of some of his other jackets, but more importantly, it had a zipper to prevent it from draping over the front of his guitar. Thank you to the person who designed and/or encouraged Pete to wear this jacket!
One of most touching moments was when Pete stopped playing during Tea & Theatre and sheepishly admitted that Roger, with his arm around Pete, had thrown him off. Roger said something about it being difficult to explain their relationship to journalists, but we know that the fiery nature of their relationship is what fueled much of the band’s greatness.
It meant a lot to me that Pete and Roger cared enough to surprise us with Long Live Rock, to jam and to basically give it their all at their last show at Madison Square Garden.
Review by Brian Cady
• Wow, there were a lot of T-shirt hawkers outside! There’s got to be a dumping somewhere of all that. Ebay?
• Who came on right before 9pm. Got a laugh out of my Apple watch warning me I was in a “dangerous noise environment.” You shoulda been there in the 70s, lad!
• Delightfully, Pete was in a talkative mood which I’ve always found a good sign for a Who show. Talking about how easy his job is. Wondered if he was going to break into a cover of “Money for Nothing.”
• Roger’s voice was good up to “See Me, Feel Me” (sorry, the conclusion of “We’re Not Gonna Take It”) where it started to get a bit raspy. Never noticed before that Roger sings “I get opinions” as “I get uh-pin-yah”. Wonder why? Anyway, he got raspier on “Love Ain’t For Keeping” and I started to wonder if he was going to be like that for the whole show. Fortunately, he got his voice back for the next song and kept it (almost) throughout.
• Then, out of nowhere, “Long Live Rock”! I’ll have to go through all my personal showlists to see if I’ve ever witnessed a live version of this before. Of course, the reason for it is obvious. They’re putting in more songs Roger doesn’t sing to the set. He did do some nice harmonica backing, ‘tho.
• Loved Pete’s intro to “My Generation.” “This is a song I guess we shouldn’t be playing at our age.” (Long pause). “Fuck it!” — into the song. Saw Pete give Roger the nod that they were going into the “Cry If You Want” extension. Everyone around me was confused. “What song is this?” “Dunno.”
• Tried to listen carefully during the “Quadrophenia” section and I swear I almost heard Jon Button’s bass. Here’s a question: after Keith’s death to the present day, there’s been so much resting on whether the drummer was matching or reminding people of Keith. Why did this never happen with John?
• The botched and re-done ending for “Love, Reign O’er Me” was the emotional highlight of the night, far more than the later “Tea & Theater” semi-hug. Roger was golden on the song until those final moments and Pete then stepped over and whispered into Roger’s ear. It was like he had just picked up the old fallen warrior for one last charge and Roger came through.
• The rest was a bit anti-climatic. “Won’t Get Fooled Again” was played before “Baba O’Riley”, an unusual order, but maybe because they knew “Baba” had the surprise punch of local gal Katie Jacoby running out on stage for the finish. She’s really learned to play into Pete’s energy; the two were practically dancing at the end. “Won’t Get Fooled Again” had the show’s most senior moment when Roger forgot the words and Pete had to carry the song for a while. Of all the songs to forget the words...
• Show ended by about 10:50p. By the end, there were some not dry eyes in the house. It was a very emotional finale and felt every bit the Old Soldier’s last hurrah. Pete didn’t want to close the door totally on this being the last MSG but it’s hard to see how they’d do a better job of it.
-Brian in Atlanta
Review by Mark Fintz
I went to a Garden Party, all my friends were there;
NFL coach Cowher was there and New York Icon Spike Lee joined all us front row members (George L, Duke, Lauren, Eddie and me) riding the rail. There’s been concern about ticket sales, but let’s get real. Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s all in pricing is completely to blame. Do what you must to get in.
This was my fourth show and they have gotten better each night. After blowing out Boston and Jones Beach, the band returned to MSG for their 36th show.
The Garden was packed and the band took the stage launching into ICE and Substitute, Who Are You and Seeker. Second night in a row where Pete says hello Georgie to George L, an icon himself.
After Seeker Pete mentions a surprise and they belted out Long Live Rock, only my 2nd time seeing that one. Pete tore into LLR, it was joyous. Setlist surprises don’t come often and hope this one stays in the mix.
Pete has found his groove and is visibly enjoying being there. Great moment when he tells the crowd how easy it is for him, though Roger may disagree. I didn’t shoot many pics, but got videos of several songs, looking to complete a shows worth over all the ones I attend.
Eminence Front has become a shining moment for Pete. The video imaging of him on the screens in green and colors blended nicely with the song.
A mini Tommy set with PW/see me/Listening. Sparks and Amazing Journey would complete this. My Generation into Cry if You Want rocked. The Quad set had a false start for 5:15, but otherwise excellent.
During the end of LOR some fan screamed out, disrupting Roger who was puzzled and stopped. Pete and he took the moment to grab a drink, Pete with his Coca cola and Roger some water, we need water. Pete patted Roger and he resumed the ending of LOR.
They switched Baba and WGFA in the order, opting to do Baba first. Song is Over and Tea and Theatre wrapped the show. Two hours flew by.
Pete announced that Atlantic City and Philly will have new dates soon. Roger hinted that they’d be back in New York. Why not finish this tour with another Garden Party.
It’s been a long time since the Who played without an orchestra and they were well prepared to deliver song after song. Roger, omg how does he sing so freaking good at 81? The band is sharp and Scott Devours has energized the band and he was most excellent.
Still don’t have a ticket? If you love this band like I do, get tickets. The Who kicked out the jams, played with a fire in their bellies and as Rachel Fuller wrote, “It’s not enough”. The Song is not over.
Review by Lauren J. Hammer
I spent the show on the rail 5-6 seats, John side of Roger. My 1996 magic happy place. Again, grateful.
And right next to me (outside of me) was non other than filmmaker Spike Lee and a friend of his. Spike was a sincere, casual fan. Who’s Next is his favorite. It was his first show. His friend is a serious guitar guy, but not particularly a Who fan. Anyway, we had a great time together. And a nice time with the folks on the other side of me, too. George was a couple of rows behind me. Seth and Lisa G and Jon R were also R3, a little further down. Andrew, Eddie, Sean, and Mark were on the rail, but further out, outside of Simon. And Farryn and Lisa were 2nd row, inside aisle, Pete side. Not sure where other folks were.
As for the show, more than anything, it was REALLY SPECIAL AND MEANINGFUL to be there. The band has played MSG more times over the years (36) than any other venue in the U.S. And, I’ve been to more Who shows there than any other venue in the U.S. Tonight was #16, if I counted right. All in the first three rows, most of them FRC. Not bad, considering I missed their iconic runs in 1974 & 1979 (and I also, regrettably, missed the final four with John in Y2K).
The show itself, really ebbed and flowed. In the aggregate, it was all good, but performance-wise, as with Jones Beach, neither particularly strong nor particularly weak.
The big surprise of the night was the unanticipated addition of Long Live Rock (with Pete doing the lion’s share of the vocals). Everyone keeps saying it hasn’t been played since the UK in 2014. I could swear I’ve seen it in the intervening decade, but maybe I’m wrong, and it’s from listening a fair bit to that opening night Glasgow show. (That Cry If You Want train wreck is one for the ages.)
In any event, it was fun how excited people were by it. Personally, while I’m ALWAYS happy when they play something, anything, different, and I do like the song, I don’t think it’s an especially great choice. Not dynamic enough, IMO. And Pete flubbed a few lines along the way. But, whatever.
The other noteworthy setlist item is that they swapped WGFA and Baba. Didn't like the flow nearly as well. I thought it was a bit of a momentum killer.
Fun detail: Spike excitedly exclaiming to me about how I’d gotten the entire arena clapping (to either Baba or WGFA). Baba, I think it was. Actually, Eddie and I found one other across our great divide, and synced up our clapping with one another - as we do. It was a special spousal moment.
5.15 was deeply emotional for me. That week of six Quad shows at MSG in July of 1996 (+ solo John show + solo Simon/Ben show + late night revelry) was the BEST WEEK EVER. And no small part of that was John, John, John. I was in the first three rows at all times, FRC for >1/3 of the time, and my eyes were glued to that man and his flying fingers, more often than not. It was beyond the beyond. During 5.15 tonight, I spent pretty much the entire time with eyes closed, facing where he should be, trying to hear and see him in my mind, crying. It was not the first time I’d spent 5.15 that way (the song that should have been retired when he died), but it may be the first time in that room, in that spot, my old spot - and for the last time. A couple minutes in, my security buddy, Joey, came over to check on me, and make sure I was ok. So sweet. I was ok and not ok.
Misc other stuff…
Roger got completely lost early in WGFA, but he had a good sense of humour about it. Pete and the band and the rest of us kept it going, and he eventually folded back in.
During Love Reign, Roger couldn’t quite get it at the end. He stopped, backed it up to hit it on a Round Two, and he totally nailed it. That was great.
Best part of the entire show for me, was at the end, when Roger and Pete started talking, really talking, to each other and to us. Thy talked some about their beginning together. They touched on Pete joining Roger’s band in 1961. They talked about how different they are from one another. Roger hates golf and boating. Pete hates fishing. On the one hand it wasn’t anything we haven’t heard them each talk about before, but they were having the conversation TOGETHER, not through journalists. And it was affectionate, not snarky or edgy. And in the process, they were saying goodbye, their public goodbye, to NYC, their U.S. home for 58 years. My entire life. And in their NYC “house,” MSG, the Garden. Even writing about it right now, I am on the verge of tears. I AM SO GLAD I WAS THERE. I didn’t necessarily know it in advance, but this was the one that mattered most, to me.
Afterwards, a bunch of friends had passes and were going back. I did not. A bunch of us socialized as we made our way out. But sadly, many either peeled off by choice or circumstances. In the end, it was only a core group of six of us that ended up downtown at Katz’s. Super sad that more of my loved ones weren’t with us, but I had a perfectly lovely time with those who were, and damn, was it ever delicious - the perfect conclusion to my NY/NJ Italian and Jewish food adventures. As a matter of fact, I’m about to call this a wrap and eat the rest of that sandwich right now (on the train, to Saratoga Springs, NY, for tonight’s Indigo Girls / Melissa Etheridge concert).