The Who Bring Live Debut of “All This Music Must Fade” to Final Canadian Show

The Who, photo by Bill Kelly

On Thursday, Sept. 4, The Who stepped into the spotlight at Budweiser Stage for the second and final Toronto stop of their “The Song Is Over” North American Farewell Tour. Through their fond farewell to the US and Canada so far, he legendary rock innovators have reliably delivered electrifying performances of favorites from throughout their expansive catalog, often embellished with rarities, track resurrections and other surprises. With their final send-off to The Great White North, the band went above and beyond by treating attendees at the limited VIP soundcheck to a live debut.

The Who began their second night in Toronto with an intimate sound check set, which showed the band steeling themselves for a big performance to follow by working through some stable setlist inclusions. The night commenced with “Ball and Chain,” the first song of Who, their 2019 revival album. Following that selection, which has made it to the stage five times this year after a two-year lapse, the band tore into a mix of regular features before unexpectedly dropping into “All This Music Must Fade.” Also from their 2019 album, the surprising entry into The Who’s pre-show setlist marked the track’s first-ever documented live performance.

With a pre-show closer of “Going Mobile” properly priming them for the night ahead, The Who began their show proper with “I Can’t Explain,” the group’s very first single released as The Who in 1965. This retrospective opening set off an early focus on the beginning of the band’s discography, including further groundbreaking singles “Substitute” and “The Seeker,” followed by a brief departure to their prolific late ‘70s era with “Who Are You” and “Long Live Rock,” the rare single which arrived onstage for the first time since 2014 at their performance at Madison Square Garden last Saturday.

The remainder of The Who’s set was consistent with the packed shows they’d delivered in their trek up the East Coast since Aug. 16.  The band turned to their 1969 rock opera Tommy with “Pinball Wizard” and “See Me, Feel Me,” then dug deep into 1971’s Who’s Next with “Love Ain’t for Keepin,” “Behind Blue Eyes” and later “Going Mobile,” which they performed for the very first time at their Florida tour kickoff and has since spotlighted guest vocals from guitarist Pete Townshend’s younger brother Simon. Following the 1982 It’s Hard inclusions “Eminence Front” and “Cry If You Want,” the band’s 2000s revival saw some play with “You Better Bet” before an in-depth exploration of Quadrophenia with four cuts, including “The Real Me,” “5:15” and “Love, Reign O’er Me.”

To conclude their performance, the band tore through the titanic hits “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Baba O’Riley,” featuring special guest vocals from Katie Jacoby, then followed “The Song is Over” with introductions to the supporting ensemble. The Who currently feature frontman Roger Daltrey and Townshend alongside guitarist Simon Townshend, bassist Jon Button, keyboardist Loren Gold, percussionists John Hogg and Jody Linscott and drummer Scott Devours, previously of Daltrey’s solo band and joining in place of his publicly ousted predecessor Zak Starkey. This stacked cast peeled off for the grand finale of “Tea & Theatre,” delivered acoustically by the founding duo of Townshend and Daltrey.

Through Sept. 28, The Who will cross the U.S. with their final stateside dates, including stops at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena and a closing program at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. They’ll take the stage next at Chicago’s United Center on Sept. 7. Find tickets and more information at thewho.com.