The Who – The Lights Shine Brightly on Super Bowl XLIV Halftime Show
We just saw the halftime show for this year’s Super Bowl game featuring Roger Daltrey and Peter Townsend from the infamous 60′s British Rock Band The Who. The set consisted of some of The Who’s all time greatest hits performed via a 5 song medley…. a very nice medley even with the old duffers playing … and Daltrey’s voice not quite at its all time best.. as we have personally witnessed here at YATM seeing the band live just prior to late drummer, Kieth Moon’s death. They certainly did not have a stage like the one that adorned them tonight… whoa, what an amazing addition to arena rock and roll… it was like a giant flying saucer with rows of lights running every few feet from edge to center all virtually controlled with computers creating a show all on its own with pulsating lights of varied colors and shapes, alternating computer graphics broadcasting words or phrases and even pictures like the actual silhouette of Townsend while he is strumming his guitar in large circles was broadcast in duet showing his signature circular strumming style via 10 foot graphics on the stage… but the old guy wasn’t breaking guitars like he used to or smashing them up against the drumset. However, Keith Moon may have been present in spirit and channeling through his replacement tonight. The drummer, not sure who accompanied them tonight, did an awesome solo at the end of the last song, “Don’t Get Fooled Again”. During the entire set fireworks came out of the ribbing between the stage support beams and from the center of the stage adding to the dramatics of the big arena performance on Super Bowl Sunday. The stage was clear fiberglass where the band was setup so there was little blocking the high tech light show or pyrotechnics of the show from a complete 360 deg view.
Set list consisted of
1. Pinball Wizard ( the opening line of this song, “Ever since I was a young boy I played the silver ball”) accompanied by huge surge of applause from the arena.
2. Baba O’riley – they played almost the entire song on this one, the audience joining in on the lyrics “… just a teenage wasteland…. we’re all wasted!” Daltrey did an excellent harmonica solo at the end which led into
3.Who Are You
4. See Me, Feel Me (short transistional piece to the final song from the rock opera “Tommy”)
5. Wont’ Get Fooled Again
The Who…worst halftime show ever.
I detest football, but taped the whole show only so that I could watch The Who. True, they did not sound as they did, but who does after 40 years? I am appalled that even fans are badmouthing this super group! Can you sing like that at 35, let alone in your 60’s? Moreover the acoustics were not ideal. Give it a break! When you sing live, unusual things can happen to your voice! It was fabulous that they chose The Who so that many can be reminded of music the way it should be!
These guys were one of the best, my first concert, what an experience it was.. I don’t think anything will ever match up to it. Thanks for the comments!
The drummer is Zak Starkey, Ringo Starr’s son.
The drummer is Zak Starkey. Yes, Ringo’s Son. Keith was his godfather who got him his first drum kit. He’s been playing with The Who since the late 90′s.
awesome, thanks for sharing that, how cool is that hey? Cheers!