DVD Review: The Who at Kilburn (2008)

The live performances of The Who are the stuff of legends. Their sets at Woodstock, Monterey Pop Festival, and Live At Leeds are some of the best rock and roll performances ever committed to film and vinyl and have earned the band a deserved reputation as one the most electrifying live bands to come out of the British Invasion era.

Sadly, it is the last filmed concert to feature the original Who lineup: Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwhistle and Keith Moon. Moon, The Who's original drummer, died of a drug overdose a few months later.

The Kilburn concert was filmed in 1977, at a time when many people had dismissed the band as creatively washed up. Punk was all the rage, and successful rock acts like the Who were deemed over the hill. Prior to the performance, The Who hadn't performed in a year, and were clearly feeling ill at ease when they hit the stage. This proved to be a plus for The Who - not a minus. They had something to prove.

The DVD includes the full concert which was filmed at Gaumont State Cinema in Kilburn as well as 1969's London Coliseum concert.. The Kilburn show was recorded for Jeff Stein's documentary film The Kids Are Alright. But due to technical problems, only a small portion of the film actually made it into the documentary.

This rare footage has been sitting on the shelf - until now.

It was shot on 35 mm using six cameras and a 16 track recorder. The performance has been digitally restored and remastered in high definition.

Daltrey warns the fans, "We dunno what this is gonna be like, cause we ain't played most of these songs for about a year!" On that cautionary note, The Who slam into Can't Explain, replete with all the trademark mike twirling, guitar windmilling moves fans have come to know and love.

Townshend takes a few minutes to get unglued and find his sound, but once he does - he plays like a man possessed. He prowls the stage, preening, spinning, leaping and gyrating, wringing every ounce of emotion out of the neck of his guitar, determined to beat his Les Paul guitar, and his audience, into submission. His disdain, anger and discomfort are palpable, and he uses it to tremendous advantage in his performance.

Keith Moon may have put on a pound or two prior to this performance, but ever the show man, he twirls his sticks and slams his snare drum with maniacal glee. Moon possessed one of the most innovative and unorthodox drumming styles in the business and his premature death was a devastating loss to the band and the fans.

John Entwhistle acts as the visual anchor, the calm at the eye of the storm. Although he remains motionless onstage, Entwhistle's fingers fly over his bass, spinning a dazzling rhythmic web between Townshend' s fierce power chords and Moon's maniacal "shave and haircut" drum fills.

John sadly died of a heart attack in 2002.

Roger Daltrey, The Who's fiery frontman, possesses one the most powerful voices in rock music. Looking every bit the very epitome of a rock star, his energy never flags as he snarls and growls his way through each of the Who's classic numbers. His bloodcurdling scream on Won't Get Fooled Again is sheer rock magic.

The DVD is packed with great songs and performances, too many to list in detail. Along with the two concerts, as bonus material, the DVD offers the full performances of The Who's rock opera Tommy and A Quick One While He's Away that has been edited out of the Coliseum show. It's unfortunate that the 1969 concert could not have been left intact, but at least the chopped material is included as an extra.

For Who fans, this DVD is a "must have." It captures this legendary band at their snarly, raw, unpredictable, explosive best.

Rob Rheubottom

Disc 1:The Who At Kilburn 1977

1. I Can't Explain
2. Substitute
3. Baba O'Riley
4. My Wife
5. Behind Blue Eyes
6. Dreaming from the Waist
7. Pinball Wizard
8. I'm Free
9. Tommy's Holiday Camp
10. Summertime Blues
11. Shakin' All Over
12. My Generation
13. Join Together
14. Who Are You
15. Won't Get Fooled Again

Disc 1:The Who At Kilburn 1977Disc 1:The Who at the Coliseum 1969

1. Heaven and Hell
2. I Can't Explain
3. Fortune Teller
4. Tattoo
5. Young Man Blues
6. A Quick One, While He's Away
7. Happy Jack
8. I'm a Boy
9. There's a Doctor
10. Go to the Mirror!
11. I'm Free
12. Tommy's Holiday Camp
13. See Me, Feel Me
14. Summertime Blues
15. Shakin' All Over
16. My Generation

A Quick One, While He's Away

1. Introduction
2. A Quick One, While He's Away

Tommy

1. Overture
2. It's a Boy
3. 1921
4. Amazing Journey
5. Sparks
6. Eyesight to the Blind
7. Christmas
8. The Acid Queen
9. Pinball Wizard
10. Do You Think It's Alright?"
11. Fiddle About
12. Tommy, Can You Hear Me?
13. There's a Doctor
14. Go to the Mirror!"
15. Smash the Mirror"
16. Miracle Cure
17. Sally Simpson
18. I'm Free
19. Tommy's Holiday Camp
20. We're Not Gonna Take It