Roger Daltrey and Band

March 19, 2011 Off By Jon

Bournemouth O2 Academy

Saturday Night at O2 Academy in Bournemouth and a rare chance to see one of British music’s finest vocalist’s in action. Mr. Roger Daltrey with his band who are in town for a special ‘One Off’ intimate warm-up show for a gig the Royal Albert Hall in four days time in Aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust where the band plan to play the whole of the ‘Tommy’ album in full. Tonight they will predominantly feature songs from alum ‘Tommy’ in preparation for the gig in London.

The venue rewards Roger with a sell-out crowd of all ages looking forward to seeing this chance to see the great man up close. Roger and his band stride on stage to warm applause. He wastes no time in asking the audience to observe a minutes silence for those affected by events in Japan-the silence is observed impeccably.

The audience are then treated to the songs from the ‘Tommy’ with the band running through them with relative ease. Roger at 65 now a pensioner as he states, is in good form swinging his microphone from the outset in his trademark fashion. He is assisted with vocals by guitarist Simon Townsend throughout. Roger himself has no problems hitting the high notes tonight with his vocals sounding as good as ever. Guitarist Frank Simes on the lead is constantly on the move as he cavorts across the stage, clearly enjoying himself throughout the whole performance.

Early highlights include ‘Were Not Gonna Take It’ and the first big crowd pleaser ‘Pinball Wizard’ which gets the Bournemouth crowd singing along with endless loads of enthusiasm. During banter with the crowd Roger is heckled to ‘get on with it’ which he replies with an anecdote from his steelworks days, explaining this was what his foreman used to shout that to him the time! More crowd pleasers follow in the form of ‘Tommy Can you Hear Me’ & ‘Sensation’ as they head toward the more upbeat faster/harder material in the set. Drummer and Percussionist Scott Devours is no Keith Moon but certainly does not lack the power or skill, repeatedly tossing his sticks in the air mid-song, as he delivers a protean performance song after song.

After the band finish the full 24 song performance from the “Rock Opera” the audience show their excited appreciation in full, for most the latter part of the set is what this crowd are eagerly awaiting in anticipation for. The biggest cheer of the night was when Roger announced that The Who were definitely not finished despite Pete Townsend’s tinnitus problems they would find a way of getting the band back on stage together on stage at some time in the future. The final selection of songs in far from predictable with the band doing some great re-works of ‘Who are You’ and ‘Pictures of Lily’ which keeps the audience more than entertained, ‘I Can See For Miles’ and the huge anthem ‘ Baba O’Riley’ end the show with impressive style.

Sadly there was no encore, as Roger need to save himself for yet another mammoth performance mid week, however, a full on two hour set of classic music by The Who is more than substantial for any music fan. Roger reminds the crowd that all money raised from tonight’s show go straight to the Teenage Cancer Trust and would be benefiting a local hospital in Southampton, a great night out for a worthy cause for which no one could complain. Tonight was certainly one of those nights that will be remembered by those privileged few who were there for a very long time to come.

Set List
Overture
It’s a Boy
1921
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Eyesight To The Blind
Christmas
Cousin Kevin
The Acid Queen
Do You Think it’s Alright?
Fiddle About
Pinball Wizard
There’s a Doctor
Go to the Mirror
Tommy , Can You Hear Me?
Smash the Mirror
It’s a Boy(Reprise)
I’m Free
Miracle Cure
Sensation
Sally Simpson
Welcome
Tommy’s Holiday Camp
We’re Not Gonna Take It