Two CDs capture the second of two fundraising concerts that Townshend played at San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse, and an enchantingly intimate look at the veteran Who man as he chats, jokes, and, of course, plays through a solid set of acoustified classics. The venue itself has some fond attachments to Townshend – it was here that he premiered the Tommy musical before launching it on Broadway and, hardly surprisingly, the deaf, dumb and blind kid opens the show, via a rousing "Pinball Wizard." Initially, it feels as though the second evening is simply going to be a recap of the first, as "Let My Love Opens the Door" follows on. But "Heart to Hang Onto," "Collings," "Sheraton Gibson," and the Quadrophenia chestbeater "I'm One" all make unexpected appearances amid the previous evening's fare, and Townshend's between-song chatter and joking is even more effusive than it was before.
The first of two fundraising concerts that Townshend played at San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse, and an enchantingly intimate look at the veteran Who man as he chats, jokes, and, of course, plays through a solid set of acoustified classics. The venue itself has some fond attachments to Townshend – it was here that he premiered the Tommy musical before launching it on Broadway and, hardly surprisingly, the deaf, dumb and blind kid opens the show via a rousing "Pinball Wizard." From there, Townshend swoops into an affecting "Let My Love Open the Door," setting the pace for the remainder of the show.