Let’s face it. The current group is just the world’s best The Who tribute band.
I think they just should go by Townshend/Daltrey now .
I don’t really see the need for a 2nd guitarist but they have toured with Bundrick on keyboards since right after Moon died. That makes sense since many of their songs need a keyboard sound.
I thought there was. Pete’s jacket and shirttail were constantly flopping around in front of his guitar, and he had to keep tucking them back. I kept thinking that was something that they should have taken care of in rehearsal.
They were fine. What, you’d prefer the Jonas Brothers? Giving a 12-minute Who concert is a thankless task and they did the best possible with it.
I feel badly about it but I have to agree. Daltry was either growling or screaming notes that used to soar, and Pete was giving it the old college try but still a mere shadow of his old self vocally. I was frankly surprised at the toll time has taken on those guys. The music and light show were great.
Jesus. Townshend wasn’t even playing the guitar, guys. Not most of the time, anyway; most of the guitar work was pre-recorded.
It was a horrible show, an absolute embarassment. It pains me to say it, and I’d like to pretend they were good, but they were not. Blame it on the short format if you like. It was aisgraceful. The Who were a great band a long time ago; they’re simply too old now. Rock music isn’t for old coots.
Oh hell, there’s a virtually inexhaustible source of decaying rockers to keep Superbowl halftime shows going indefinitely.
For instance, Fleetwood Mac is still touring. Heart could probably crank out a set (they might need to reinforce the stage). And while they’re more pop-oriented, ABBA would be good to bring in the female audience. Of somewhat more recent vintage, what about U2? (I wouldn’t want to see any of these acts perform, but they’d make some people happy).
Who would work nicely is Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
Too bad a couple of band members died, but the Traveling Wilburys would’ve appealed to the nostalgia crowd.
I liked it. But I’m old, I’ve seen the Who in concert at least twice, and the music and the show was something familiar. Nice to see that the halftime show was designed for the demographic I belong to. In other words, I’m glad it wasn’t somebody whom I’ve never heard of, and whom I’d have to shout, “Get off my lawn!” at. 
Well, they did perform two years ago.
It’d be cool as hell to see Rush, but that’s not likely to happen. Prog rock, unfortunately, seems to be Rodney Dangerfield of the rock subgenres.
I’d also like to see some bands who have their origins in the 80s and 90s, like Metallica, Pearl Jam or Green Day.
Fleetwood Mac started in the 60s but this version is the one from the 70s. Heart? 70s. ABBA? 70s. U2? Started 70s. Known from 80s. Did halftime in 2002. Tom Petty? 70s. Did halftime in 2008.
I love the Who, and the one gig of theirs I saw live, at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena in 1979, was one of my top two or three favorite concerts ever, but the halftime show was horrible, mainly due to a combination of wobbly, out-of-sync vocals by both Daltrey and Townsend, and (on my TV at least) a completely futzed up mix. Hey, I’m close to the same age as those guys, but enough with the geriatric rockers at the Super Bowl, already. Please please please get someone more contemporary next year.
As others have said, the light-up stage was interesting and spectacular. I also liked the nod to WWII RAF symbology they had going on.
I think the reason they have to keep booking fossils is because there is a dearth of younger acts who are actually real musicians anymore. The most popular acts are lip synching dancers who can’t play instruments. There aren’t very many real bands anymore. The music is all canned these days.
Green Day would be a good choice. They’re a respectable, veteran act who can play their own instruments and they have enough recognizable hits to put together a 12 minute medley.
How about AC/DC? They’re still kind of old, but they’re a generation down from The Who, they’re a terrific live act and they have a bunch of kick-ass, recognizable songs.
ABBA, while never offically breaking up, has not performed together as a group since the early eighties and is essentially defunct.
You know who else would be cool? Ozzy.
Elton John can still rock a house.
One of the folks with us was British, and he remarked that he wondered how many Americans would recognize there were RAF roundels on the cymbals. (They’re not just WWII roundels; the RAF still uses them today, though muted and not in such vivid colours, like other nations have muted their symbols and colours.)
Btw, how did Carrie Underwood do on the Star Spangled Banner? I was in the bathroom and thought I heard suckage at the end.
At least ZZ Top’s guys can still sing. Pete can’t, for sure. I wish they HAD lip synched; then we could have enjoyed the sounds as well as the light show.
raises hand
Inactive pilot, who’s favourite airplane is the Spitfire; who remembers the roundel T-shirts from the '80s and that The Who used them in the '70s.
Queens of the Stone Age
Kings of Leon
Muse
Chevelle
Manchester Orchestra
Switchfoot
Breaking Benjamin
Flyleaf
Atreyu
30 Seconds to Mars
Cage the Elephant
Shinedown
Sick Puppies
Are they all good? Eh, most are ok, relatively similar sounds in a lot of them, but they are real artists, playing real instruments, and don’t sound like they’re gargling rocks and look like they’re going to stroke off any minute.
Hell, several bands from the 90’s are still making new music and touring.
Green Day
Weezer
Pearl Jam
Linkin Park
Alice in Chains
Foo Fighters
Any of these bands would have been better than the shit we got tonight.