The Who shook the Sprint Center last night (Photoblog)

“Thank you for waiting,” was the first thing that Pete Townshend said to the Sprint Center crowd last night, immediately recognizing that last night’s performance for the Who had actually been rescheduled twice, both due to various health issues faced by Roger Daltrey. Who fans who waited the extra year for last night’s show were treated to a retrospective of the band’s 56-year career. (Townshend was quick to point out that the “50th anniversary” thing was not exactly accurate.)

As the crowd waited for the band to begin, the LCD screen behind the stage featured a video slideshow, highlighting the band’s past Kansas City appearances, including stops at Shawnee Mission South High School, Municipal Auditorium, Kemper Arena and Arrowhead Stadium. The slideshow also included a tribute from the band to Prince, which drew a warm response from the crowd. 

The band came to the stage to a huge reception from approximately 10,000 fans who had waited for this day — and who had not lost track of the date due to the series of rescheduled dates. Daltrey and Townshend were the last to emerge, and the arena’s volume escalated. The arena was not sold out; swaths of the upper deck were blocked off with curtains. But the Sprint Center felt very full, and the level of enthusiasm coming from the crowd often made it sound like sold-out blowout. The audience somewhat predictably skewed older, but a number of people came with their families, and 20-somethings clustered with their beers in the arena’s walkways.

The opening moments were huge, with “I Can’t Explain,” followed by “Who Are You.” During the latter, Daltrey pointed to different sections in the audience, beckoning them to get their arms in the air. His performance was big and warm, yet his voice is not the voice of 1970s Daltrey — he strains to hit certain notes, and the effort shows. Yet overall his sound is still powerful and effective. It recognizably is legendary Roger Daltrey singing, and he can summon big sounds when he digs deep. He does still appear to enjoy the stage, and swings his microphone around his head, prowling. 

The band’s current lineup is heritage rich — while the only classic members may be Daltrey and Townshend, Townshend’s brother Simon takes guitar and vocal backup duties, Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey is on drums, and the band is rounded out by longtime contributing tourers Pino Palladino (bass), Loren Gold (keyboards), John Corey (keyboards), and Frank Simes (jack of all trades), whose careers are each impressive in their own rights. 

Most eyes were on Daltrey and Townshend, of course, and the two performers joked and played with the audience throughout the evening. Prior to their performance of “Pictures of Lily,” during which a photo of original drummer and legend Keith Moon was displayed on the backdrop, the two went back and forth about transgender bathrooms, with Daltrey saying “who gives a fuck [who uses what bathroom],” and Townshend joking about who he would pick fights with in the toilet. Daltrey also noted a rare agreement with Trump on this issue — and that was about as political as the band got through the night, preferring to celebrate their careers, from the political to the pop. Daltrey also celebrated Townshend’s writing.

“Those pop singles…don’t underestimate them,” said Daltrey to the crowd. “Pete doesn’t write with a pen — he writes with a razor.” 

To Who fans — and likely those who have just absorbed classic rock from radio — the night was full of familiar hits, but standouts included “Behind Blue Eyes,” “The Kids Are Alright” and “Love Reign O’er Me,” which included a Daltrey wail so huge it was surprising.

The Who have come to Kansas City just a handful of times in what is now almost six decades — whether we get another opportunity to locally witness Daltrey and Townshend look back at their careers seems doubtful (or feels that way, maybe, after the trauma brought on by the recent deaths of several musical icons). In this case, last night’s Sprint Center show left a sweet taste, and it was worth waiting that year to have last night with them.

Setlist:

I Can’t Explain

Who Are You

The Seeker

The Kids Are Alright

I Can See for Miles

My Generation

5:15

Pictures of Lily

Behind Blue Eyes

Bargain

You Better You Bet

I’m One

The Rock

Love, Reign O’er Me

Eminence Front

Amazing Journey

Sparks

Pinball Wizard

See Me, Feel Me

Baba O’Riley

Won’t Get Fooled Again