by BBG

The Who is one of my favorite classic rock bands of all time, so I definitely had some mixed emotions when I saw that Roger Daltrey will hit the road to play The Who classic Tommy in its entirety along with selected "Who classics". Though he has blessed the tour, there will be no Pete Townshend, the brain behind Tommy. Pete has been replaced by Simon Townshend, his brother, who will play guitar alongside Frank Simes (guitar), Scott Deavours (drums), Jon Button (bass), and Loren Gold (keyboards).

Commenting on the tour, Pete Townshend says, "Great to see Roger performing TOMMY with his band in 2011. I will be there in spirit. Roger has my complete and most loving support. Roger is touring his unique concert version of TOMMY using his faithful presentation of the original work as the backbone for a set of wider material. It is wonderful to hear the way Roger and his new band re-interpret the old Who songs."

The North American tour, which also promises "striking visuals," will hit two NYC-area arenas of considerable size: Prudential Center on 9/18 and Nassau Coliseum on 9/23. Tickets for Prudential Center go on AmEx presale at 10AM on Monday (5/16), and regular sale on Friday 5/20. Tickets for Nassau go on sale 5/20.

All tour dates and some video of The Who performing Tommy in its entirety with Pete Townsend and John Entwhistle is below.

Continue reading "Roger Daltrey taking 'Tommy' on the road (Pete approves) --- 2011 Tour Dates"

Roger Daltrey's 'Use It or Lose It' Tour - his first solo tour since '85

Daltrey will be joined onstage by a longtime collaborator, guitarist/backup singer Simon Townshend, and a stellar crew of American players, including guitarist/musical director Frank Simes, keyboardist Loren Gold, bassist Jon Button and drummer Scott Devours.

Promising a healthy serving of Who songs ("but they'll be my versions of them"), solo material - including some songs he's never played live - and covers that pay tribute to his influences and admired contemporaries. Although he prefers to keep his set lists a surprise, it's no secret that Daltrey has over the years performed songs by the likes of Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and Queen, among others, alongside favorites from his Who and solo catalogs.

Daltrey's solo tour comes to NYC on Friday, November 20th for a show at Nokia Theatre Times Square. Tickets are on sale now.

The tour also includes four Jersey stops. Tickets to his November 17th show at Red Bank's Count Basie Theater are on sale now. The show at Montclair's Wellmont Theatre (November 11th) goes on presale August 19th. And his pair of Atlantic City dates (November 13th and 14th) go on presale September 2nd. All tour dates are below...

Continue reading "The Who's Roger Daltrey going on a solo tour (dates) "

Soul diva Bettye LaVette is back in NYC for a show this Sunday at Blender Theater with John Hammond. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.

Betty recently performed a tribute to Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey at the Kennedy Center Honors. Video, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Bettye LaVette - 2009 tour dates, Kennedy Honors Who video "