Come, grandson, and sit on my knee, and I’m going to tell you a story of a world gone by. When I was a child there was a thing called “rock and roll.” Now, I know that you and your friends listen to what you may call “rock” or “classic rock,” but there is a major difference between what is in your ipod, and what old grandpa used to play on a vinyl record with a needle. Here, let me pop this dvd of a group called The Who: Live in Texas ’75, and you’ll see what I mean.
First, notice that there are no synchronized dancers? No light shows? No one passing friends along the audience? No nosh pits? People actually went to these concerts to just sit and listen to the music. I know that’s hard for you to believe. Also, see the singer Roger Daltrey? He’s not groaning, moaning or agonizing. He’s singing like a man; loud and proud. From the get go of the opening songs like “Substitue” and “I Can’t Explain,” he’s engaged in the song, and singing like he’s engaged in the music. No navel gazing here, child.
Then, there’s the leader and brains of the group, Pete Townsend. Yes, he did some weird things when he got older, but at this stage in his life, he wrote songs that were not self-examining meditations or angst-ridden diatribes. They were anthems about life, univrsatl themes like “Baba O’Riley” and Behind Blue Eyes” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (which should have been played when Obama was running in ’08-but that’s another story for another time.) Likewise, the band had this drummer, Keith Moon, who had more energy in one paradiddle than these boring metronomes that get off on djembes, or whatever they p lay now that looks hip and cool. This guy always looked like he was about to keel over, which he eventually did. That’s what made the music, and this concert, so exciting.
Yes, it was a different world back then, and I hope that this film of a concert during my youth makes you realize that popular music doesn’t have to sound like a group therapy session or Broadway show
Eagle Vision DVD
www.eaglerockent.com