I have seen my share of British Rock Royalty.

I have seen Paul McCartney sing four times.  Be still my beating heart.

I have heard The Moody Blues sing Nights in White Satin fifty-six times.

Pink Floyd?  Saw them in 1987 during The Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour.

Saw Roger Waters, the Pink Floyd brain, two years ago in Louisville.

Know that I would not take a free ticket to see The Rolling Stones.   That is just me.

I didn’t think I would ever see another British Rock Royalty group after my dear wife, Carrie, and I walked out of The Ryman Auditorium in July of 2017 after seeing The Moody Blues.  I made a conscious decision that I would see The Moodies for the last time in the most iconic indoor venue in North America, The Ryman.  We saw them at Red Rocks in 2011.  Mission accomplished.

Two things happened to me to lead us to The Who last weekend.  I read Roger Daltrey’s autobiography over spring break.  It was a wonderful read.  Best musical autobiography since John Fogerty’s a couple years back.

I read Roger’s book.  I have also been so moved by The Who’s involvement in The Concert for New York after what happened on 9/11.  I listen to that concert on CD now and again and I am in awe of The Who’s performance.

Has The Who been a part of the soundtrack of my life?  Yes.  Of course, how could they not.  Have I had chances to see them before?  Yes.  Why now?

Roger Daltrey is 75 and Pete Townsend turned 74 two days ago.  I know what that means.  I sing.

These guys didn’t just show up.  They brought it.  They were real.  They were earnest.  It was a musical treat I did not think I would find again.

Buoyed by an 44 piece orchestra they blew us away with 7 songs from Tommy and 7 songs from Quadrophenia and 3 songs from Who’s Next.  Include Substitute from the 60s and You Better You Better You Bet from the 80s inside the 24 song set and you had something special.

Baba O’Riley.

Won’t Get Fool Again.

Love, Reign O’er Me.

Oh my.  It was wonderful.  Twenty-six years earlier I saw The Moody Blues at Deer Creek with an Orchestra.  I still call it Deer Creek, the outdoor amphitheater in Noblesville, Indiana that is now 30 years old.  It has had a few name changes over the years.  It is not Klipsh or Verizon Wireless or Ruoff Home Mortgage to me….it is still Deer Creek.

The Who gave us a reason to celebrate.  And we did.

Speaking the musical rights…

Danny Johnson