My first memory to have the Who is the live tour album, ‘Who’s last’, 1984. I saw that cover photo of buring the union jack and thought very cool. There is a record shop near Chiba station, where I grew up, 25 miles away from Tokyo, and that record shop sold lots of british records. Saturday afternoon, I quite often was there, and just looking for the analog records cover photos. I don’t have enough money to buy one record every week. and I couldn’t buy Who’s last, because that was double records……

After high school, I got some CD of the Who, through friends or bought one and watched the Quadrophonia.. I like the British rock in my teens, and so did my friends. I had no
friends to share the love for the british rocks in high school days,
but there were lots in college.chose Brighton for the summer English study program. I stayed one month at a member of the 10CC house, who was living there.

then, The Who came to Tokyo ! they came four years back, but it was for the festival, this is the first time for them to be here as the tour…

I went to the Monday gig at Budokan, and that was fabirous. Mr.Townsent guitar was tight and Roger’s voice was brilliant. Budokan is ten thousand capacity arena, much better expierience than Tokyo Dome that has fifty thousand capa. Stones, Bono, Bowie…the big name plays the big arena,,,, so was very lucky to see The Who’s gig at such a just-fit place. It was the first time to see live show at Budokan since Tom Petty in the mid 90’s. at that time, the clipping noise was hunging around a hole.

anyway, when the intro of Baba O’reily started, I shed tears. I couldn’t help. Baba O’Reily expierience was much more fabrious even than Stones, who is my favorite. It reminds me of the Michel Gun Elephant at Atlanta. I am not big fun of them, but I was moved the fact that Japanese rock band coming around the gig tour in the States where they have no fame. I felt their sprit of keeping move on.

The Who makes me overflowing tears, but not Stones. I guess the reason for that rely deeply on the diffrence of their rylics and music style. I like stones rock frame of the american blues and country mixture. Who is not like that, their music remains the great britain green grass hills long under the grey sky and the New Castle dizzy protest. That young straight Mods rythm beat me. Stones has rolling, but Who is shaking. 

After the show,  I listen the CD of Baba, but not so good as live show… nothing is better than going live show.

The audience there was relatively old gen. skewed, assumingly having waited this first who live here sinve the teenage  waste  land.  The guy sitting nex to me surely bought a ticket from my friend at the previous show on Sunday, Saitama arena, who was supposed to come with me this night. He is totally normal salary man no one would think him of rock fun. Budokan was filled with guy in normal in daytime, but still ‘need to fight’ fire in mind. The neighbour guy got MD and recorded the live. I finger-whistled quite often so that I can recgnize in case I got the bootleg.

Nov. 17, 2008  Budokan Set list

SE: Jean Genie (Bowie)

Can’t Explain
The Seeker
Anyway Anyhow Anywhere
Fragments
Who Are You
Behind Blue Eyes
Relay
Sister Disco
Baba O’Riley
Eminence Front
5:15
Love Reign O’er Me
Won’t Get Fooled Again
My Generation
Naked Eye

Encore:
Pinball Wizard
Amazing Journey
Sparks
See Me Feel Me
Tea and Theatre