Pete Townshend - A Day in the Garden

Bethel, New York - August 15, 1998 - Geetarz 262/263 - DVD-R2

Geetarz Comments:

This recording should come with a warning attached - "May Cause an Irresistable Groove". One of the fascinating things about Pete Townshend is that he has never let his songs become stagnant or fixed in a certain arrangement, and this gig, part of what was billed as "Woodstock '98", is no exception. "Acid Queen" sees new life when rearranged and sung by Tracy Langram. "North Country Girl" receives a beautiful treatment and is a standout track, as are Pete's duets with blues legend Taj Mahal. But the unforgettable track here is the revision of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again". Powered by Chucho Merchan's ultra-funky driving rhythm and Jody Linscott's percussion, sounding at times like something one would hear in a steel foundry, it starts off quietly and builds into a crescendo yet never loses that funky, driving rhythm. Handle this performance with extreme care - every time I take a quick listen, this one stays in the player for weeks, driving everything else away. DVD-R2 sourced from c. 3rd generation VHS. Would love to see this in perfect quality!