San Francisco

Fillmore Auditorium

March 2, 1996

From: DDAJon@aol.com

I just got back from John's show at the Fillmore in San Francisco. I must say it was a remarkable show--one of the most enjoyable ones I have been to in a while. The band was great. A special tip of the hat to drummer Steve Luongo who played with tremendous power and skill. There were probably several hundred people in attendance, and the band played for about an hour and a half (including the encore.) John was in good spirits, and seemed to be enjoying himself. His singing voice is not great, but his bass playing is better than ever.

Perhaps the highlight of the evening for me was when, during Shakin all Over, John and Steve did a lengthy segment together (while the other two band members stood by in the wings). That part showed best how John is the best bass player rock has ever seen. It is truly incredible watching his amazing nimble fingers go up and down the guitar with such skill.

I didn't write down the entire set list, but here are many of the songs (in the approximate order played):

  • Heaven and Hell
  • Had Enough
  • Success Story
  • Trick Of The Light
  • The Real Me
  • Boris The Spider
  • Under a Raging Moon (which he dedicated to Keith)
  • Last Song
  • My Wife
  • Summertime Blues

    Encore:

  • Long Live Rock
  • Shakin' All Over

    He also played one or two other songs from his new CD.

    I left right after the show, so I don't know if he came out to meet the fans.

    The band played very very loud. If any of you are going to John's shows in the future, I would strongly recommend earplugs. Many of the fans up front (where I was) wore them. Actually, the band sounded a lot clear with the earplugs in than with them out. All in all a great evening.

    Jon Karesh


    From: Gord1@aol.com

    DAMN!

    What a great concert. So fresh, my ears are still ringing. Thanks to everyone who suggested ear plugs. I sort of wore them, but had to remove them especially during Heaven and Hell, Trick of the Light, Under A Raging Moon, Shakin' All Over and The Real Me.

    The Real Me was awesome beyond words. (I guess that means I won't try to explain it. Those of you who have seen the show already know what I'm talking about.)

    Under A Raging Moon and Shakin' All Over were great -- it really allowed Steve Luongo to show his talent - I also thought that everyone in the band sang well. They played Boris The Spider - not one of my favorite songs, but surprisingly I enjoyed it more than any version that I've ever heard.

    For those of you who still have the chance to see John, definetely do it. Without the rest of The Who, you really get to concentrate on John and his hands. Amazing! Oh, and bring some ear plugs just in case.

    John played 3 songs from The Rock; Love Doesn't Last, Life After Love, and Last Song.

    If I didn't have to go away on business tommorow, I'd drive down to Santa Cruz to see the band again. It was also nice meeting other listers Aaron and John.

    -Gordie NP: The Rock (of course) #0594

    From: Dennis McCoy (hiwatt@deltainet.com)

    This was the first visit by any Who member to the original Fillmore since their West Coast debut in June, 1967, when they played three nights immediately following the Monterey Pop Festival, just down the road apiece.

    The band was good, John was good, the songlist was as reported in previous posts. The Fillmore was good. In fact, this newly renovated Fillmore Auditorium has the warmest, friendliest staff I've ever seen. Eveyone who walks in the door is treated like an old friend. Three bars, a restaurant and a wonderful collection of old "Bill Graham Presents" momorabilia.

    I bought earplug for the occasion, but didn't use them (WHAT?), and thoroughly enjoyed the show, regardless of unintelligible vocal static in place of human voices.


    From Ststeve37@aol.com

    The Fillmore is a great hall with a great sense of history. Sitting in the bar before the band came on, most of the posters advertising the shows are up for viewing, including the Who in 1967, and various Fillmore West appearances from 68-70. Seeing the show was a treat. The San Francisco shows had no publicity, and no one I spoke to before the show had any idea of what to expect or even why the Ox was on tour now! My last experience seeing John (other than the `89 Who review) was 2 shows in July 1988 touring what I now know to be the Rock LP. I was not a fan of Henry Small's vocals then, and was hopeful he was not on the current tour. Not dissapointed! The new band was tight; the sound was good, and it is a treat to watch John play the bass.

    It is hard to list highlights, as seeing some songs that I had never seen performed before, or just love to hear, obscured my objectivity-I had a great time! Given that my last experience seeing John tour made me feel it would have been better if he just played with no other band, and that it sounded like that sometimes, I felt the mix was very balanced for the Fillmore show. I don't have a complete set list, but here goes from memory... Heaven & Hell; Had Enough; Success Story; Real Me; Bridges Under the Water; Under a raging Moon (sorry Steve, great! effort, but no Keith Moon); Life After Love; My Wife; Boris; Trick of the Light; the Last Song; Summertime Blues; Shakin' All Over.

    The bass solo in Shakin' was incredible (as was watching the Real Me played up close) and left the audience satisfied as a final encore. I heard nothjing about in-store signings, and didn't stick around after the show for autographs (tried that on the Who 82 tour & did it in 88). I thought the Rock CD was good-better than I remembered the material as being in 1988. The liner notes also went a bit of the way towards explaining what happened to the album a friend told me she heard at NAMM in 87 or 88 & was promised at the time of that tour. Mystery solved... Thank you John for a great Saturday Night! Back to setlist index.

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