The Kennedy Center Honors The Who

Last night, was the Kennedy Center Honors of 2008. "Recipients to be honored at the 31st annual national celebration of the arts are: actor Morgan Freeman, singer George Jones, director, singer, actress, composer and producer Barbra Streisand, choreographer Twyla Tharp, and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who."

Rolling Stone and Mo Rocca give their review. Here's mine of The Who segment.

Jack Black gave a very funny and touching speech that only he could give. He called them "triumphant dragonslayers of emotionality" and then said they're probably wondering why he was chosen to give the speech. He then narrated a video biography of the band that was pretty good. They got a standing ovation and the camera showed George Bush snarling at them. I could have done without that.

Then came a 10 minute performance of Who songs. I'm not sure I see the point of having legendary artists sit in an audience and listen to their work performed by inferior musicians.

Joss Stone's performance was completely unmemorable, though I did like a shimmy or two. Pete looked on like "look at the kids now-a-days". It's even more insulting (or maybe that's "fitting") given that it was My Generation she was singing. Am I Simon Cowell yet?

Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters did pretty well with an abbreviated Who Are You? but I was waiting to see if he he'd have the balls to sing "Who the fuck are you?" and he didn't. The Who was not about holding back.

Bettye LaVette made the evening with a blues version of my favorite Who song, Love, Reign o'er Me. It's from 2:55 to 6:20 in the clip and is well worth listening to. Even Barbara Streisand said it was fantastic, and she looked otherwise bored with every other act.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty then sang Baba O'Riley. It looked like he was giving it his all, but it wasn't nearly enough for that song. It was saved by having a choir of New York City Police and FIrefighters sing the "teenage wasteland" chorus. Pete and Roger gave a performance for them after 9/11 and it was great payback.

I give the drummer props for play the Keith Moon part so well.



Now I have to go listen to some Who albums.