Live at Kilburn opens with “I Can’t Explain" and continues to rock through a 15 song hour plus set of hits and a couple rarities. Songs included in the set are “My Generation,” "Baba O'Reilly," "Behind Blue Eyes," and selection of tracks from the Tommy album. This concert in many ways represents the end of an era. Keith Moon in less then a year would be dead and The Who as a band would change forever.
In 1977 it was the height of the punk period in music and Pete and the boys appear to encapsulate the spirit of the punk vibe, regardless if that is their intention. The band looks a little worst for wears and at times it’s obvious they don’t even want to be on the stage. Still it’s the danger of it all combusting at any moment that makes this performance so damn raw and watchable. Townshend is at the top of his angry young man brooding self and in between fighting within himself he’s even throwing out verbal jabs at the audience and the film crew.
One of the highlights of this concert has to be the first performance of the soon to be Who classic, “Who Are You.” First off it’s the only performance with Keith Moon on the drums and was a completely unknown song for the audience. The album of the same name wouldn’t be released until 8 months that following August. Three weeks after the albums release drummer Keith Moon would be dead. The version performed here was clearly a work in progress. The band is not confident in the material yet but shows them clearly still feeling their way through the soon to be staple in their arsenal. The show closes with a ferocious rendition of “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
If that’s not enough to satisfy you, there’s a second disc with another full concert from the London Coliseum in December of 1969. The performance takes place shortly after their appearance at Woodstock and features their rock opera Tommy in it’s entirely (minus a few tracks) and is almost identical to the Live At Leeds set recorded 2 months later.
This footage was saved after being found outside of the offices of Track Records when The Who’s former management threw it in a dumpster, when they were subsequently replaced in the mid-seventies. Much like the Kilburn concert, this footage has mostly been unseen since it was shot. The footage compared to the Kilburn concert, is extremely raw and was never shot with the thought it would ever see a commercial release. None the less, it’s a nice contrast of comparison with the one from 1977. Both concerts clearly show the band in two entirely different periods.
The Who at Kilburn 1977 DVD is a must have for any Who fan. Both concerts show the legendary band at the height of their careers in two different eras. The Who has proven their place in music and this DVD is a testament to just that.
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