With an older taste in music, finding a concert worth seeing becomes quite the challenge. Most classic rock bands of the 1960s have either died or retired,
but some, perhaps by the call of the stage or the need to perform, return on tour, guitars and microphones in hand.

The Who hit the world with full force this fall, arriving at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles Nov. 8 and 9.

Despite the passing of both bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon, singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend put on a spectacular reunion show. There was no shortage of the classic mic swinging, windmill strumming and all the old anthems that made the Who a truly epic group to behold live.

The duo couldn’t have done it alone, however; as the band welcomed John Bundrick (keyboard), Pino Palladino (bass), Simon Townshend (guitar and Pete’s brother) and Zak Starkey (drums) to the stage.

Pete Townshend said that these musicians “evoke” the old sound of The Who.
He was right. The new line-up truly performed to a level rivaling
that of the former group.

The Who especially proved this in their performance of “Baba O’Riley,” often mistakenly referred to as “Teenage Wasteland.”

Bundrick played that iconic synthesizer opening spot on, which was enough to have the audience in a near-constant state of applause throughout the song. Daltrey hardly had to sing the song himself; the audience filled in most of the lyrics for him right up until his harmonica solo ending the tune.

During their performance of my favorite Who song, “5:15,” Daltrey almost lost it in the vocal performance in the first half. He still managed to pull off an up-tempo, improvised rendition of those maddened lyrics that fans have come to love. The end proved satisfying, with a melodic but rough, lingering and repeating phrase, “Why should I care?”

Although this one didn’t entirely click with me, Daltrey’s voice captured the same intensity and emotion in both “Behind Blue Eyes” and “Love Reign O’er Me,” two mesmerizing ballads.

Townshend made his performance seem easy, frequently going into his trademarked windmills and some gingerly executed jumps, but nothing like the old videos.

Between songs there was an apparent sourness between Daltrey
and Townshend, exchanging sarcastic quips at times. Their apparent
differences did not, however, interfere with performing an awesome show.

“Won’t Get Fooled Again” made an impact not only with its demanding power chords, but also in the message behind the lyrics.

After the finale of “My Generation,” the band did the usual encore routine, leaving stage and then returning for a medley of “Pinball Wizard” with other songs from the rock opera, “Tommy.”

The audience was insatiable; their final encore was a duet of “Tea and Theatre.”

Townshend’s last words on stage after the last song were fitting, at best.

“Consider yourselves lucky,” he said.

The synergy created from the band’s performance in conjunction with the audience and the effects on stage was just unfathomable.

Who said newer bands put on better shows?Daltrey and Townshend proved to the last chord that rock is alive and well, whether you belong to my generation or theirs.