Knowsley Hall Music Festival 2007 Live Review @ Knowsley Hall (Liverpool) - 23 Jun 2007
Photo By:Elly Roberts
Live Review
Despite the appalling weather on the final leg of Saturday night, thousands of excited revelers went ga ga as the heavens opened when The Who took to the stage at 9 pm. Greeted like long- lost heroes, lean looking Pete Townsend and Roger Daltrey beamed with delight at playing the inaugural Knowsley Hall Music Festival. After Daltrey's sip of refreshment ( tea me thinks ), the band launched into their near two hour set with their first top ten hit in 1965, I Can't Explain, which kick started the rain drenched party. Soaking wet and undeterred, fans threw themselves into the spirit of the occasion with lumi-sticks flying all over the place. From the off, Townsend and Daltrey did their customary pouting and strutting: Pete gave them his trademark windmill enough times to keep them all happy, while drummer Zak Starkey ( Ringo's son who turned down the chance of being a full-time member last year ), Pete's brother Simon on guitar, former Free keyboardist John 'Rabbit' Bundrick and bassist Pino Palladino kept things nice and tight at the back. After The Seeker and Anyway Anyhow Anywhere they went for Fragments from last album Endless Wire, which was well received.
Good evening.Townsend said about the weather. The atmosphere kicked up an extra gear when Daltrey asked the crowd,
Thank you for coming.
It's good to be here.
I think it's better than Glastonbury.
Who are you?as the band threw themselves into the 1978 hit with archive footage running on the screens behind them. Good Looking Boy was introduced with Daltrey saying,
Who, who, who are you?
This is who got me into this: Elvis.as a huge black and white image of the King hung above the band. Barbara Riley upped the lighting effects. Daltrey hit the harmonica. Townsend did the posturing. Then from 1973 we got a thumping Relay. Dipping once again into Endless Wire, Man In A Purple Dress, Townsend's song influenced by Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ lowered the din, just for a while. With the arrival of My Generation (a seriously extended and most welcomed version), and the booze sinking freely, mud madness broke out in the guest area stage left: dives, somersaults, rugby tackles aplenty. "Why don't you all f-f-f-f-fade away... " , helped by the crowd at fever pitch, never sounded so brilliant. The harder the band played, the more the fans went for it. The biggest cheer of the night rang out for the intro of a magnificent version of Won't Get Fooled Again while Daltrey slow marched alone with mic aloft, before he embarked on bouts of mic swinging with the reinforced white strapping taking the strain. Mimicking Townsend, air-guitarists could be seen everywhere with multiple rotating images flanking the entire band. Main set done, our Pete thanked them for staying with them as the rain finally stopped. A quick band bow prefixed The Kids Are Alright, which seemed appropriate. With Tommy images on show, rapid strumming signaled a full length Pinball Wizard. Zak was pounding harder than ever. Rog went for a twin tambourine bashing routine while Pete indulged in some exhilarating solos. Closing the 20 song set (6 in the encore) it was just the magnificent pair for the genteel T And Theater with Daltrey still clinging to his cuppa. So far The Who's 2006-2007 tour has apparently grossed $28, proving who's better, who's best right now!
Relative local boys The Coral a six-piece from the Wirral once again showed why they're in a league of their own. Their often idiosyncratic music was a breath of fresh air. Their 14 song set went without a hitch, until one song towards the set end, In The Rain, seemed to summon the rain gods, as light drops descended. New single Who's Gonna Find Me a chunky funky slice of modern pop with gorgeous harmonies was aired to great response. Further in Pass It On (from forthcoming album) was a more straight forward and foot-tapping pop ditty that got the crowd going. Feedback, thumping bass and tribal drums opened sing-along Remember Me. Dreaming Of You went well too, as did hit single In The Morning and I Remember When with its soaring harmonies.
Belting out songs from hit album Hats Off To The Busker, Dundee's overrated but popular The View lead by tousled hair frontman Kyle Falconer romped through Superstar Tradesman, Same Jeans and plenty more. Fans, clearly pleased to see and hear the Scottish quartet cheered after every song, though much of their music left me cold, despite knowing how to play to the crowd. They're very competent musicians, but this band has a long way to go to prove they're worthy of the current accolades. They were however, perfect fodder for this type of event.
NOTE : To purchase a copy of The Who's performance at Knowsley, log on to www.themusic.com and click link The Who 2007.
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