Roger Daltrey Answers Who He Is At Parx Casino Show: Review

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — "Who Are You?"

Anyone who has heard the songs on the radio for the past 60 years knows that voice.

Subscribe

It's the voice of a Classic Rock legend. It's the voice of one of the groups that came out of the British Invasion. It's the voice of The Who.

Roger Daltrey performed as a solo act at the Xcite Center at Parx Casino last Friday, mixing classic Who songs, with some of his solo catalogue, and some interesting covers choices.

Daltrey first appeared when The Who formed in 1964 with guitar virtuoso Pete Townshend, thunderous bassist John Entwistle, and lunatic prankster drummer Keith Moon.

But it was Daltrey's powerhouse vocals that fueled the band's assault on the pop charts, helping establish the group as one of the best live acts ever.

At age 82, Daltrey may be like the lead character in "Tommy," being somewhat blind and deaf, as he joked to the sold-out audience.

But the voice remains intact.

That was no more evidence when he wailed into "Who Are You?" as the third song of the set after opening with a tip of the hat to Townshend by playing his hit "Let My Love Open The Door."

The voice was as strong as you hear him on the record.

Daltrey really didn't play many Who songs. Just the main ones: "Squeeze Box," "Baby O'Reilly," and "Won't Get Fooled Again."

He let Townshend's brother Simon sing "Going Mobile," never performed by The Who live.

Daltrey did not fire off his signature scream in "Won't Get Fooled Again" — instead allowing the audience to let it loose.

After all, this isn't a Who tour, Daltrey stated. He spent a lot of time talking to the audience, laughing, sharing stores of the past, commenting on the state of America, and basically basking in the glow of a Classic Rock warrior who doesn't "hope to die" now that he's old.

Daltrey performed some of his solo work since 1974: "After the Fire," "Giving It All Away," and "Days of Light."

But it was some of his interesting cover songs that really made this performance even more special.

Daltrey honored artists he has long loved and respected.

He mentioned his appreciation for Paul Simon showcasing music from Africa with "The Boy in the Bubble."

He touted songwriter John Fogerty for gaining back ownership of his legendary Creedence Clearwater Revival songs with "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"

And Daltrey ended his show with Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World," stating that young is a great songwriter, but not a hard rock singer.

Daltrey said he would provide the "anger" that the song needed and fired away at the lyrics with all the venom and attitude of a legendary lead vocalist.

After all, he's Roger Daltrey. And he has That Voice.