This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Ah, the summer concert season. Is there any more exciting time for a fan?
After all, how often do you get the chance to blow most of your paycheque for the privilege of being crammed into the back row of a stadium’s upper deck, staring for two hours at the butt of the biker in front of you while he dances on his seat, screams “Whooo!” at the top of his lungs every 30 seconds and spills beer on your head? If you’re ready for a less stressful (and less expensive) concert experience, perhaps it’s time to check out this new live album. If you still don’t feel like you’re at a gig, try parking your car two miles away and charging yourself $5 for a bottle of water.
THE TICKET: An epic 145 minutes, recorded at the stately London theatre on Nov. 27, 2000 — back in the good old days before bassist John Entwistle was dead and guitarist Pete Townshend was on the sex-offender registry.
SOUND CHECK: Crisp and clear stereo, with Townshend windmilling in the right channel and Entwistle anchoring the left while singer Roger Daltrey and Moon-like drummer Zak (son of Ringo) Starkey battle it out in the centre.
GOLDEN OLDIES: Pretty much every one of these 25 songs, from the opening blast of I Can’t Explain and Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere through mid-set blasts like Baba O’Riley and Who Are You to the closing singalong of Tommy’s See Me, Feel Me / Listening To You. But the boys get extra points for tossing in the deep cut Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand.
BIC LIGHTER BALLAD: Pete’s mid-show acoustic-guitar mini-set of Drowned, Heart To Hang Onto and So Sad About Us (with guest Paul Weller).
ROCK-STAR CLICHE: The endless stream of guest stars. Weller and Eddie Vedder are fine, but does anybody really need to hear Bryan Adams singing Behind Blue Eyes? No.
LAST WORDS: Live at Leeds was the first great Who live album. With The Ox gone, this solid, energized offering one could very well be the last great one.
