29 September 2026 (gig)
1 h
The Who (Roger Daltrey, lead vocals, and Pete Townshend, guitar and vocals) sadly ended their touring career last year in the US with a final jaunt appropriately called, "The Song is Over". The shows on the tour were so amazing that it's really hard to accept that the bands time on the road is really done, as there is so much gas left in the tank (and millions of Who diehards have their collective fingers crossed that the band will change their mind).
Never one to stay inactive, Daltrey is in the midst of a solo outing, which stopped at the Chevalier Theater in Medford, Massachusetts on September 29, 2026.
Daltrey's solo shows are always a great mix of classics from The Who, solo cuts and an interesting selection of covers. Opening with his version of Townshend's greatest solo success, "Let My Love Open The Door" (which would have been right at home on The Who's 1981 album, "Face Dances") and Largo's, "Freedom Ride", followed by a blistering version of "Who Are You", which nearly blew the doors off of the theater.
Staying in familiar territory, Daltrey brought out The Who's 1966 hit, "Substitute", one of the bands greatest pre-Tommy" creations.
Revisiting his vault of solo cuts, Daltrey did first-rate takes of "Waiting for a Friend" and "After the Fire" (before which, Daltrey told a story of how Townshend wrote the song and sent it to him in 1985, which ended a stretch of estrangement between the two). The Leo Sayer/David Courtney-penned cult classic, "Giving It All Away" (the first single release from Daltrey's 1973 solo debut record, "Daltrey") was spectacular, as was Daltrey's interpretation of Paul Simon's "The Boy in the Bubble".
The energy in the room elevated when Daltrey did more Who classics. And with the help of some audience participation on 1975's "Squeeze Box" and the always exhilarating closing number from the "Who's Next" album, "Won't Get Fooled Again", the songs were even more rousing. Daltrey did a great job of working up the crow pre-song, and had them do the iconic scream at the songs climax on "Won't Get Fooled Again."
Daltrey's onstage compatriots include several top-rate musicians: Simon Townshend, guitar and vocals; Doug Boyle, guitar; Scott Devours, drums; Billy Nicholls, mandolin; Jody Linscott, percussion, John Hogg, bass; Steve Weston, harmonica; Geraint Watkins, keyboards and accordion; and Katie Jacoby, electric violin.
Simon Townshend has been playing in Daltrey's solo band since 1994, and is also a touring member of The Who (once in 1996-'97, and he then became a permanent fixture from 2002 on), did his big brother proud manning the lead vocals on "Goin' Mobile".
As the Northeast area in the US has just endured a severe nor'easter the last few days, Daltrey's choice to play both Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain", followed by Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" could not have been more appropriate.
Daltrey's biggest solo hit, 1980's "Without Your Love", really showed how his voice still possesses the raw, yet emotional power, which makes the song a standout part of his set. "Without Your Love" is part of the soundtrack album to the 1980 film "McVicar" (starring Daltrey), which is also a stellar Daltrey solo album and well worth searching out.
The night concluded with a phenomenal performance of "Baba O'Riley", made even more epic when Jacoby took center stage to recreate the amazing violin solo which completes the song, and a compelling cover of Neil Young's
"Rockin' in the Free World" ended the night.
When the song was initially started on-stage, Daltrey stopped the song, saying it was "too slow". The band then restarted "Rockin' in the Free World" with a fiery passion that Daltrey has always brought to everything he has ever touched.
Photo Credit: Bryan Lasky
