Fumbled microphone twirls and malfunctioning hearing aids only add to the charm of a momentous, turbo-charged set for the Teenage Cancer Trust, as the Independent reports on 19 March 2024.
Notice, the date below is 2024 instead 2025
“I didn’t know we were going to be playing Tommy,” Pete Townshend gripes at his sole remaining Who bandmate Roger Daltrey, bickering over the setlist like two old dears over a bingo bar tab. “I’ve got a list, but I can’t see it,” Daltrey replies, more genial grandpa than golden god at 80. As Daltrey fumbles the odd microphone twirl and Townshend misses his guitar entirely mid-windmill and complains that someone in the audience is remotely adjusting his app-controlled hearing aids, you wouldn’t trust The Who with their own pension books, let alone a computerised cold call.
Townshend: “I wrote all this s*** fifty years ago”; Daltrey: “F*** off!” and they start playing their eighth show for the Teenage Cancer Trust – the annual week of gigs at the Albert Hall that Daltrey has been organising for 24 years – it’s instantly apparent that with age has come supreme power. After Daltrey has double-tambourined his way through a deceptively spritely “I Can’t Explain”, a full orchestra strikes up the tune-hopping “Overture” medley from Tommy and the effect is nothing short of momentous. It’s the introduction to a 45-minute compilation of the 1969 rock opera album’s finest moments.
The orchestra depart while the band play a looser Greatest Hits segment. And, in their 60th year and two men down, they prove themselves the most hardy and unworn act of their era.
“Substitute” and “The Kids Are Alright” remain lithe and sparkling; “My Generation” has evolved into a slab of supercharged skiffle. But, in an age when many classic rock voices are disintegrating by the hour, convincing us every Glastonbury that our TV speakers are suddenly knackered, the real test comes towards the end of a barnstorming “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (insert your own deflated Brexit gag here).
Daltrey’s voice has seemed un-weathered throughout, but as the keyboards build their spiralling electronic tension and the spotlight falls, the audience holds its breath for the song’s primal climactic howl like it’s the sudden death World Cup penalty shoot-out of high notes. To euphoric, venue-wide relief, Daltrey still rips your spine from your back at a thousand paces.
The week kicks off on Monday 18 March with The Who plus orchestra headlining the first night with their special guests the fabulous Squeeze. And both bands will be back on Wednesday 20 March to play a second night!
Tuesday 19 March will be our Night of Comedy. The line up of comedians is still to be announced so keep checking back to see who we have in store for you.
Wednesday 20 March sees The Who plus orchestra and their special guests Squeeze appearing for their second night.
Thursday 21 March will be a return to the TCT week of shows at the Royal Albert Hall from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds with their special guests, Stockport indie band Blossoms.
Friday night 22 March sees the amazing trio, Young Fathers on stage at the Albert Hall.
Saturday 23 March opens the weekend up with The Chemical Brothers and DJ James Holroyd.
Roger Daltrey has today announced that after 24 years of hosting the Teenage Cancer Trust shows he is to step down as curator. To mark and celebrate those incredible 24 years, this glorious week of TCT shows at the Royal Albert Hall will close on Sunday 24 March with ‘Ovation’, a Celebration of 24 Years of Gigs for TCT with an unbelievable line up of Roger Daltrey, Kelly Jones, Robert Plant with Saving Grace, Pete Townshend, Eddie Vedder and Paul Weller!
