The Who at Fenway Park – Boston, MA. August 26, 2025 Photographs and review by Mark Steinberg
The current touring version of The Who played Boston’s Fenway Park on August 26th in what will apparently be their last ever New England performance. I say apparently because this is the band that famously did their “Farewell Tour” way back in 1982, only to be followed by countless tours in the aftermath.
The Boston date was supposed to have been the 5th show on the “Song is over” tour, but with abrupt cancellations of scheduled shows in Philadelphia, and Atlantic City, NJ, it wound up being the third show of the tour. Those two shows were cancelled due to “illness” and are being rescheduled according to the Who’s website.
Since the death of Bassist John Entwistle back in 2002, The Who has been a duo consisting of singer Roger Daltrey, and Guitarist vocalist Pete Townshend. The current touring band is comprised of Pete’s brother Simon Townshend (Guitar and Vocals), Jon Button (Bass), Loren Gold (Keyboards), Scott Devours (Drums), Jody Linscott (Percussion), and John Hogg (Backing Vocals and Percussion). The band hit the stage at Fenway Park promptly at 8:20pm and started the show with longtime openers “Substitute” and “Can’t Explain”. It became immediately evident that the band was on a mission. They played with a fire rarely seen in performers over the age of 80 (Daltrey is 81 and Townshend is 80).
For nearly 2 hours the band delivered strong performances of the Who classics Pinball Wizard, Who are you, Won’t get fooled again, and Baba O’Riley. In my eyes, the best performances of the night came when they played a section of four songs from their 1973 epic masterpiece, Quadrophenia.
Townshend played a masterful version of I’m one on acoustic guitar, while his Simon handled the electric guitar duties. Other highlights included Simon Townshend singing a raucous version of the “Who’s Next” classic “Going Mobile”. If you’re not familiar with Simon Townshend, seek out his solo work, as he’s a strong performer who has over a dozen albums to his credit.
Always a treat at a Who show were the verbal interludes between songs, and this one was no exception. At one point Townshend mentioned his guitar was “sending Morse Code”, and then humorously said “The message is Help… Help, I’m too old to do this”. Daltrey spoke of his love of Boston, and recalled a show they’d performed back at the original Boston Garden way back on December 3rd 1973. The band had been arrested in Canada the prior day, spent time in jail, and apparently had just made it to the Boston gig. Townshend then apologized for having to cut the show a little shorter due to the Fenway curfew, and they finished the night with the duo of Townshend & Daltrey playing “Tea & Theatre”, a fitting swan song.
The press has been less than kind to Daltrey of late. Just after announcing this current tour, there was a dramatic episode regarding longtime Who drummer Zak Starkey. He was fired, rehired, and then asked to “retire”, something he declined to do and was subsequently sacked for the final time. The Who have always had a bit of controversy surrounding them, but the way that situation went down seemed ill timed, and badly handled. As a result of Starkey’s departure, Scott Devours (the drummer in Daltrey’s solo band since 2009) was hired to handle the drumming for this final tour. Devours had previously played with the Who when he filled in for Starkey when Zak had a medical issue back in 2012. The who’s drum seat has always been a difficult one to fill since the passing of Keith Moon, and Devours handled the task with aplomb.
In recent years Who tours have been orchestral events and this tour is a triumphant return to The Who being a rock band. The Who’s “Song is Over” Tour runs until the end of September, and if they stick to their word, this will be the last who tour ever in the USA.
The Who Setlist:
Substitute
Who Are You
The Seeker
Love Ain’t for Keepin’
Pinball Wizard (>)
See Me, Feel Me (with Listening to You refrain)
Behind Blue Eyes
Eminence Front
My Generation
Cry If You Want
You Better You Bet
Going Mobile (Simon lead vocals)
The Real Me
I’m One
5:15
Love, Reign O’er Me
Baba O’Riley
Won’t Get Fooled Again
(followed by band intros and Pete apologizing for ending early due to curfew)
Tea & Theatre (acoustic; Roger and Pete only)
Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles song)
Opener Joe Perry Project, featuring Chris Robinson, put on a strong and well received set to open the night.
Joe Perry Project Setlist link:
Let the Music Do the Talking
East Coast, West Coast
Twice as Hard (The Black Crowes)
Combination (Aerosmith)
Vasoline (Stone Temple Pilots)
Get It Up (Aerosmith)
Last Child (Aerosmith) (Followed by band introductions)
Chip Away the Stone (Richard Supa)
Walk This Way (Aerosmith)
The Train Kept A-Rollin’
(Tiny Bradshaw)
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