(Live Review) THE WHO / JOE BONAMASSA - Chicago (9/7/25)
- Mark McQueen
- Sep 23
- 8 min read
Greetings friends, fans, and followers and welcome to Beard Reviews episode #81. Tonight began as a bit of a cluster when I excitedly told Little Johnny that we were going to see one of the most famous bands in rock and roll history.
He said “Sounds awesome Beard. Who?”
I said, “Cool. So, you already know.”
“Know what Beard?”
“Who.”
“That’s what “I” just asked you Beard. Who?”
“Yes exactly.”
“Exactly what you senile old man?”
“Who we are going to.”
“That’s what I’m $&#%ing asking you! WHO?”
“You got it little dude.”
At that point, an empty IPA can whizzed by my left ear, and Johnny said, “why do I talk to you?” Then he stalked out of the room.
Eventually we got things straightened out and Johnny understood that we were going to see probably the third most popular singer/guitarist duo in rock music history. Perhaps people would say Lennon/McCartney or Jagger/Richards, but the Beard would hazard in terms of pure fame, Roger Daltry/Pete Townsend have to make most people’s top ten lists of iconic and world famous rock duos. (Ed: I'm with Johnny - nowhere close to my top ten! Dee Dee and Johnny. Steve and Joe. Ted and Derek. The list goes on and on ...)
Granted, almost The Who’s entire catalog predates Little Johnnys first breath in this world, but even he remarked “Oh yeah, I remember one of the teachers in the orphanage loved those guys. They do "Pinball Wizard" right? I didn’t even know they were still alive.”
Alive and in their final tour dubbed The Song is Over. (Ed: My brother attended the much heralded "final" gig in 1982 (in Toronto). That was 43 years ago. Talk about milking it!)
The 81-year-old Roger Daltry and 80 year old Pete Townsand, along with a plethora of skilled musicians would be bringing one more live set of The Who’s music to the sold out 28,000 seat United Center.
The Beard could only afford seats in the 300 section, (which meant Little Johnny and I had to climb so many steps we thought we were actually at the Sears Tower), but in the end, the view wasn’t too bad and of course they had the giant screens to help.
Before we got to the legends though, we had an opening set from Blues great ...
JOE BONAMASSA
This 48-year-old Blues guitar legend began at just twelve years old (in 1989) when he opened for B.B. King. This was not a one off. Bonamassa opened twenty shows for B.B. King at twelve years old proving he WAS that one in a million talent.
His first album reached number nine on the Billboard Blues chart. His next three would all go to number one. In 2009, Bonamassa fulfilled one of his childhood dreams playing the Royal Albert Hall alongside Eric Clapton. In his career, Bonamassa has released over fifty albums of both live and studio work. Over the last twenty years, Bonamassa had turned down all offers of an opening slot for anyone preferring to headline or nothing, but he announced that the offer to open for The Who’s farewell tour was just too big an honor to turn down. (Ed: I wonder if he'll accept the offer to open for The Who's next "final" tour in a couple more years!)
Bonamassa began his set with “Hope you Realize it” which showcased his most aggressive playing of the night. Trademark sunglasses on and fingers flying Bonamassa wasted little time showing 20,000 plus just how good of a guitar player he was.
“Twenty-four-hour Blues” was next and for this one Bonamassa took it down a notch to play with less explosion and more feeling. With “The Heart that Never Waits” he played an almost acoustic like stretch of picking and strumming that although quiet, echoed throughout the United Center because those 20,000 plus had stopped looking at their phones and were quietly watching this guy play some profoundly amazing chops.
“Self Inflicted Wounds” would introduce his co-vocalists, Jade MacRae & Juanita Tippins who harmonized with his brand of blues to add soul to the mix. After band introductions, Bonamassa would finish his set with the slow building “Mountain Time.” Once again highlighting one of the greatest living guitar players out there.
The Beard had to crack a cold one for Joe Bonamassa with a 92/100.
THE WHO
After about a half hour change over, it was time for the legends and up walked the smaller than I expected backing band along with Roger Daltry, still sporting a full head of hair at 81, and Pete Townsend (who wasn’t sporting any hair since about 1985.) Without any fanfare, they kicked right into “I can’t Explain.”
“Substitute” would follow and then “Who are You” which got the first good crowd pop. Then, more fully warmed up, Roger delivered an excellent rendition of “The Seeker.”
Then it was Pete’s turn to sing as he did a respectable job on “Long Live Rock.” The combination of remembering the lyrics and the guitar portions was apparently a bit of a strain as he had a tech bring him a towel right after. In his droll humor though as he toweled off, he quipped, “Don’t worry, we aren’t going to die up here. We have that saved for Philadelphia.” (Ed: Or the next "final" tour two years hence.)
Next up was old school “Pinball Wizard” followed by “See Me Feel Me.” Impressively Roger can still get some emotion in his voice even at 81. “Love ain’t for Keeping” was next which was the only song I didn’t clearly remember. At this point I was thinking both Roger & Pete were far better than I had anticipated.
Like taunting the fates though, as soon as I thought that a very very reworked “Behind Blue Eyes” from Roger and a strained “Eminence Front” from Pete would follow and you realized these are guys in their 80’s up there. It aint going to be like even the 1990’s let alone the 1960’s.
Next Pete false started “My Generation” cutting off on the first verse and telling the crowd “I started that in the wrong Key.” “Cry if you want to” was a deep track from “Who’s Next” but then Roger got back on the horse delivering a decent “You Better You Bet”, before turning the vocals over to Pete’s brother and second guitarist (Simon Townsend) for “Going Mobile.” This was a good version. Simon probably has a better voice than Pete at this stage of their lives.
“The Real Me” was once again surprisingly good as Roger had gotten to take a short break. Then it was time for some more Quadrophenia songs as “I’m the One” & “5:15” followed. (I have always loved 5:15” so I am glad they chose to include it. When the piano intro for “Love Reign on Me” began though, admittedly I thought, Uh Oh.
That song was a showstopper back in the 70’s, 80’s even the 90’s, but I held little hope Roger Daltry at 81 could deliver the goods and honestly it was a mixed bag. There were moments that old man powered up his voice more than I could have expected from him, but on the huge ending power notes, his voice cracked to the extent he simply stopped and said, “Let’s try that again shall we.” The second attempt fared no better and he tried a third time softening the range a bit until he could get through it. Afterwards he reminded the audience, “It’s only Rock n Roll, right?” (Ed: Geriatric'N'Roll more like it!)
Next it was Pete’s turn to battle as the epic “Won’t get Fooled Again” required a little more than he had in the tank. Fortunately, his brother and the rest of the musicians on stage kept it chugging along and the song's saving grace was that Roger skipped the earlier yells to save up for the one big one at the end. That one he hit hard, and he carried it for a ten count, so I am calling it my last authentic live scream on that song, and I will remember it fondly.
One more epic and crowd sing-along as the keyboards broke into “Baba O Riley” (which half the fans still only refer to as 'Teenage Waste Land'.) With that one the crowd did the work singing as loudly as they had all evening.
Renowned New York violinist Katie Jacoby (who has toured with Daltry, Springsteen, and Miley Cyrus) was brought out for the big ending violin solo and nailed it with passion and precision, allowing the crowd to get that satisfied feeling on the big ending.
As a finale, they quite correctly performed “The Song is Over”. This time when Roger’s voice ever so slightly cracked on the line “The Song is over. It’s all behind me.” It could have been emotion as much as technique. You could feel the weight of the words as these two icons were saying goodbye to a career of sixty years.
In a moment both moving and bittersweet, Pete sat down with the acoustic guitar and Roger stood next to him with the lights dimmed to just a circle around the two of them for “Tea and Theater.” As Roger sang the lyrics...
“One of us Gone. One of us Mad. One of us Me. All of Us Sad.”
“Lean on my Shoulder Now.”
“This Story is Done”
“It’s getting older now. We’re getting older now.”
“All of us Sad. All of us Free.”
“Before the two of us walk from this stage.”
“Will you have some Tea at the Theater with Me?”
That was their moment. So much history and things said in those lyrics. A lifetime encapsulated by two 80-year-olds on center stage in front of 20,000 fans. A small blue & white circle of light as they shared their private moment publicly. Roger reached out his hand and laid it on Pete’s shoulder. Pete strummed the finishing chords of the song and glanced at Roger. What passed between them in that second was theirs alone, but then the light slowly faded from the stage and indeed, this song was over, and I got to see it.
The set was sloppy in many spots. Voices cracked. Keys were missed. But in the end, so what? The Who began as a punkish band out of the gate and became a theatrical band only later. These were two icons of the music industry and if you love rock n roll, I cannot imagine seeing that set and not feeling it in your heart.
Technically, it wasn’t the best performed set of the year, but emotionally it may be a hard one to top just from the enormity of its being the end. Sure, they could pull a Gene Simmons and come back for the twenty-eighth final tour, but I do think this is it for the band known as The Who and I am glad to have shared it with the musicians and the fans. I crack two cold ones. One to show respect for their seven decades of music and one for the enjoyment that this single set, even with all its foibles, afforded me. I give The Who’s Farewell Show 95/100.
Anything you want to add Johnny?
"They were pretty impressive for guys that old Beard. You said they were both 80 right? Do you think you will still be going to rock & metal shows in a few years when “you” turn 80?”
John, I’m 59!
“Really Beard? Listen, and I mean this in the nicest way. You look like you’re older.”
“Bite Me little dude.”
And that wraps up episode #81 of Beard Reviews. Remember to stay tuned every Thursday for Beard & Little Johnny reviews on your home for Metal the Mighty Decibel. Catch all the videos on our TikTok page at thebeard0728 and of course follow Mark McQueen on social media for all the other great Beard reviews segments along with our multi times a week “In the News with the Beard” columns. The Beard is always writing and reviewing, and you do not want to miss an episode. So, until next time, this is the Beard saying, “Live Life.” “Stay Heavy” and “Horns Up.”
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