Roger Daltrey, Royal Albert Hall, London
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.If Tommy was made of bricks and mortar it would be Grade I listed by now. The tale of the deaf, dumb and blind kid with messianic tendencies is heritage rock, as safely establishment as the Albert Hall itself.
The two are also similar mixes of glory and of-their-time problem-elements. The Victorian venue still has acoustics that make you wonder where the lifeguards and changing rooms are, while the 1969-vintage pioneering "rock-opera" still has "Fiddle About", a jokey song about paedophilia that tonight, of all nights, you think they might have omitted. That's because Roger Daltrey's performance of The Who's magnum opus is part of a week of shows raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust (Absolute Radio is the radio partner), of which he is patron, and which has raised millions over the last decade.
The Who singer and his American band give the piece a faithful reading, with Pete Townshend guesting to thunderous acclaim on "The Acid Queen", the composer's voice less reedy and more powerfully gravelly than it has often seemed. A few songs later, the fact that he's in the building makes a Townshend- less "Pinball Wizard" feel curious, but it's churlish to complain when, as Daltrey explains, tonight was arranged at late notice to fill a gap in the TCT season, and his band are more than competent.
The stand-outs, "I'm Free", and "See Me, Feel Me" and the anthemic climax of "We're Not Gonna Take It" are rousing. Daltrey's voice is in good shape, and his trademark mike-whirling gets increasingly ambitious as the evening enters post-Tommy party mood with its rare outing of "Pictures of Lily" and a return to the stage for Townshend on "Baba O'Riley".
One is left with a pleasant feeling of skew-symmetry: although Tommy long ago lost any cultural relevance it may have for teenagers, tonight, at least, it had a profound pertinence to one particular group of them. And that rocks.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments