By Journalist Tim O’Connor, Rock At Night Detroit and Photographer Chyrisse Tabone, Rock At Night Tampa

Live Review: The Who – The Who Hit’s Back Tour- With special guest Steven Page Trio – Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI – October 4, 2022

And just like that, I was a 15-year-old Detroit kid again. 

Before the days of Ticketmaster, StubHub, or any other convenient ticketing service (convenient for a fee, of course), if you wanted to see your favorite band you had to go to the venue’s box office, sometimes waiting outside overnight.  In summer 1971, I was riding my bicycle to Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit to buy tickets to see The Who, the band whose music got me safely through my teen years.  Unfortunately, a parked car suddenly opened its driver’s door and my trip to Cobo was cut short with a trip to the ER.  Being the true Who fan I was, I asked the ambulance driver to swing by the box office before taking me to the hospital.  He didn’t and it would be 1989 when I finally saw the greatest rock band ever. 

Last night (10/4/2022) at Detroit’s Little Caesar’s Arena, before a nearly sold-out audience, The Who did not disappoint.  From the opening movement of Tommy’s Overture through Baba O’Riley’s soaring, powerful violin solo closing the show, The Who transported the nearly sold-out audience back to days when our hair was thicker and our waistlines thinner.  Accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra – yeah, you read that right, orchestra – The Who performed selections from Tommy, as well as the hits we came to hear such as Who Are You, Love Reign O’er Me, Won’t Get Fooled Again, and more. 

The show was not without its issues.  During We’re Not Going to Take It, Pete’s earpiece failed, and he had to leave the stage.  In his apology, he approached the incident with honesty and a self-deprecating humor that drew laughter and applause.    

Highlights included Behind Blue Eyes where Pete sat down to play a dreadnaught acoustic guitar accompanied by cello and violin.  Later, during the Quadrophenia instrumental, Pete played alongside his brother Simon, who turned out to be a highlight in his own right, sharing the stage with his legendary brother.  But there he was playing lead when Pete left the stage to deal with his audio issues and doing so quite well. 

Also, we learned through Pete’s introductions that the orchestra consisted mostly of local musicians recruited for the concert and led by touring principal cellist Audrey Snyder and principal violinist Katie Jacoby, who stunned the crowd when she closed the show with Baba O’Riley’s violin finale. 

And the best highlight?  Watching this iconic band with five kids in my family, who knew all their songs thanks to me playing the albums throughout their childhoods. 

Bottom line is that if you have the chance to see The Who, go.  Yeah, they’re in their ‘70’s.  Yeah, Pete’s hair is gone but his guitar skills remain.  Roger doesn’t move as well as he used to, but his vocals are solid.  And the band is real and a pure joy to experience.  Which in these days of manufactured fame says it all.  

PHOTO GALLERY