That much of Pete Townshend’s output deals with issues of identity, from I Can’t Explain, right through his two searing rock operas, it is no surprise that this devotion is so deep and the kinship so strong. The clouds draw nearer as the orchestra take their seats and like every Who gig I have attended, and there have been many, the excitement is building fast and intensely. Those first two albums still stand proudly next to The Specials’ debut album, both culturally diverse bands with uncompromising anti-Tory messages. Campbell’s solitary delivery matches the fable of disenchanted early ’80s youth on the tough streets of Birmingham. The latter gets an airing tonight and this is the hands down highlight of the set. Red Red Wine has become a staple of Smooth Radio now and that slick ’80s production has marred the memory of the band, making it hard to remember their much more credible roots in absolute gems like Food For Thought and One In Ten. Eyes closed, this is great, particularly on songs like Many Rivers to Cross, Kingston Town and the Elvis cover, Can’t Help Falling in Love, eyes open – it all becomes very flat and hard to enjoy. Now however, as their title suggests you have some members of UB40 playing the music perfectly well and Campbell standing alone and estranged, delivering by the number renditions of their classic songs without audience interaction or any real sense of fun. UB40 With Ali Campbell is a very different beast to the band who never seemed to be out of the charts in the ’80s, a collective of talents that seemed to be having a constant party onstage, laughing and interacting whilst scoring a massive hit with Chrissy Hynde on I Got You Babe. UB40 should bring some sunshine surely? UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell Fairhurst wears his influences on his sleeve but that doesn’t appear to be causing him too much harm.Īs more and more parka clad men of a certain age appear I am beginning to think that a coat would have been a good idea, the approaching clouds are suggesting this isn’t going to be a July scorcher after all, despite a glorious day so far. Recalling ’90s Britpop with that mix of ’60s psychedelia thrown in, there are echoes of Cast and Ocean Colour Scene, even smidgens of the best moments of Kula Shaker. Fairhurst and his band have already supported Liam Gallagher, Def Leppard, Roger Waters and The Scorpions, so the recognition is there and the future looks bright, particularly with tracks like new single Changin’ Wind that closes the set today. Going Nowhere In A Hurry is a quieter original and is the closing track from their album, Life Intimidating Art, which is puzzlingly only available at gigs. The much-covered Beatles classic is getting a pretty good makeover once again. He has a tough job playing to a virtually empty arena, but he is giving it his all. We spot him entering the arena earlier and he has the swagger of Jagger off to a tee, all silk scarves, and tight trousers. Vocalist Dean Fairhurst looks every bit the stereotypical “rock star”, the likes of which have clearly influenced his work. Due to hold ups with press allocation, Warrington’s Standin’ Man is nearing the end of their set as we arrive, caught mid-way between a psych-rock version of The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby. With the audience seated on the pitch only, the lack of seats in the stand make the crowd seem quite small in comparison to your usual stadium gig, and adds an unexpected intimacy. Tonight, The Who and the Heart of England Philharmonic stop off in the unlikely setting of St Helens and if there was a roof, it would have clearly been blown off, scattering its ashes along the East Lancs Road as we speak. The Who Hits Back has been a well-received tour this year with almost unanimous praise from major press reviews, as the band have been backed by a full orchestra, some members full time on the tour and others hired locally. From the early Detours shows and Who shows of the pubs and clubs of West London, through the stadium tours and the worldwide live Tommy phenomenon and numerous reunions to the unstoppable force that the band have now become, Townshend and Daltrey rarely disappoint. The Who live experience is never cut and dried.
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