Photos by Andy Argyrakis

“The Song Is Over” for The Who in North America, or so the latest farewell tour advertisement went, but thankfully co-founding front man Roger Daltrey is still flying the band’s flag, alongside a series of solo selections and choice covers for a “A Great Night Out.”

When the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer came to Milwaukee’s historic Riverside Theater, it added up to two hours of classics backed by eight ace musicians, staring with a surprise, true-to-form interpretation of lifelong creative partner Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open The Door.”

If anyone wondered “Who Are You,” the 82-year-old Daltrey passionately reminded everyone by that very track and continued making the case there will never be a “Substitute” throughout “Waiting For A Friend,” “After The Fire” and “Days Of Light.”

The headliner soon tipped his hat towards Paul Simon, not only covering “The Boy In The Bubble,” yet suggesting the recording of the blockbuster album “Graceland” in South Africa did more to end apartheid than any of the politicians.

Daltrey returned to The Who’s smashes “Squeeze Box” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” as fans accentuated the latter with their loudest wails, followed by Simon Townshend, guitarist, longtime collaborator and brother of Pete, taking lead vocals for “The Way It Is.”

Passing the mic back to the boss meant a chance to hear interpretations of Garnet Mimms’ soulful “As Long As I Have You,” Creedence Clearwater Revival’s southern rocker “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?” and Johnny Nash’s reggae standard “I Can See Clearly Now,” lofty tests that were each passed with ease.

The anthems reached a pinnacle come the immortal “Baba O’Riley” and Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World,” and though there was technically no encore beyond an acoustic bit of The Kinks’ “Days” as an outro, Daltrey already made plenty of potent statements regularly living up to a rebellious reputation.

More than a typical opener, veteran singer/songwriter Jeffrey Gaines was a familiar name to many after bouncing around several major labels in the 1990s and 2000s, plus it turned out his glorious voice remained just as hypnotic today during a folksy meets alternative spread to get people prepared for one of the most iconic vocalists to ever walk the planet.

For additional information on Roger Daltrey, visit TheWho.com/Roger-Daltrey.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Riverside Theater include Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng (Sept. 19); Patti Smith (Sept. 23); Matt McCusker (Sept. 26); Leonid & Friends (Oct. 2); Anthony Jeselnik (Oct. 10); “Undertale”: The Determination Symphony (Oct. 15); Ben Schwartz & Friends (Oct. 16); Josh Johnson (Oct. 17); Beat (Oct. 19); “My Hero Academia” In Concert (Oct. 20); Sylvan Esso (Oct. 21); Widespread Panic (Oct. 23-25) and “Outlander” In Concert (Oct. 31). For additional details, visit PabstTheaterGroup.com.

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