This is a song that if you put it on in the car in the middle of the night on the interstate,.... you'll find yourself driving 120mph and not even know it.
A lot of times we revere these guys because of their creativity and song-writing skills, but Pete's sense of timing is just something he was touched by god with.
Petes timings are so insane. And in every live show he plays different versions of his solos but they still have that great feeling and timing. Ppl who critisize his playing doesn't understand it..
@@guitarsolos89 yeah, he is very loose but he never plays a solo twice..he takes a lot of chances, no comfort zone here... He always plays in the moment, thats fantastic
Might not be your type of band but listen to Yes's Chris Squire. Especially on "Close to the Edge". Love Entwistle, but IMHO Squire is right there with him.
@@leonardoD81 I'm right there with you, they're both amazing. Entwistle had the heaviest hit to his sound, Squire had that famous growl, and they both go nuts on a good groove.
Pete really made a major breakthrough in his guitar playing on that tour - kinda Gilmouresque. He never played that solo the same but each time was amazing.
I was at this show!! It was supposed to be The Who’s “final concert” I was sixteen. I waited in line at Lamport Statium at The University of Toronto for almost 24 hours to get tickets of myself and my cousin that was coming up from Boston just for this show. This was before the internet. When they finally opened the ticket window everyone who was waiting in line had to rush to the front to cut off the line crashers. A riot broke out. It was total chaos. The cops cracked some skulls and I was finally able to scramble my way to the window and scored two tickets directly across from centre stage in Maple Leaf Gardens. Unforgettable night!! Thanks for the memory and the reminder of the greatness of this band ✌🏻😎
Fell in love with this song in Worcester, MA 1992. I’m a guitar lover but ... Entwhistle had my attention most of the evening. He was and still is the Best Bassist I’ve ever seen
So cool how Pete's solo is in the INTRO, where it plants a flag and establishes the overall vibe of the song, rather than about 2/3 of the way through like most solos.
(Singer to band) "Hey guys were going to do a Who song. Tommy we are going to need you to play it just like Entwistle" (Tommy puts down bass, grabs car keys, goes and gets a 9 to 5 job)
At rehearsal last night our drummer suggested adding this song to the set list. I've never played it before so I'm looking around for it and BOOM, here you are breaking it down. What a cool coincidence and just a great song. Thanks for the dealers choice today!
Sometimes I laugh about Roger getting in John's face about getting blown off the stage from walking and singing too far stage right. Then John, with his country gentleman charm, just tells Roger, "This is the #WHO, I'm the bass player, this is what I do..."
Pete's opening solo in this song is one of my favorite 30 second guitar solos of all time. Due to the phrasing and most of all the feel. It's a much better solo than the studio solo, which is pretty remarkable. The song has a much stronger energy on this live version.
This live version is good. Definitely better than the studio version, but in my opinion Pete’s phrasing, solos and singing are even better on that old promo video they did that MTV used to play back in 1982 at this same arena in Canada. It was a live sound check. The video is on youtube it’s a VEVO video.
His opening is awesome, but don't forget the last 8 measures where he puts in so many rests, it's extremely difficult to play.....and sing at the same time. Very Best Regards, Tom Scott Author ● Speaker ● World's Leading Expert on the Corrupt U.S. Legal System _Our American Injustice System_ _Stack the Legal Odds in Your Favor_
Most guitar players don't know Pete is also one of the rocks best synth players. He was a big ARP player. He even combined the two on "Who Are You?" by feeding his guitar through an ARP 2600. Great guitar player, cutting edge keyboard player.
I LOVE this video!! I have always thought "Eminence Front" was one of Townsend's best compositions. It's crazy keyboard intro, it's tasty guitar licks, and of course John Entwhistle on the bottom. This unstoppable riff always gets my blood going. Thanks for posting.
always been my favourite song by them, and this live version is an inspiration. A crime it was left off the live album of this gig. Thanks for breaking this down.
The best, most passionate review of this tune. I love your excitement about the harmony, it's exactly how I feel about Pete and his compositions. Thanks Michael!
Can’t say enough about Pete Townshend not only as one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, but as an overall musician and composer. Doesn’t get his due, but absolutely deserves to be recognized. Side note: looks like he’s rocking a Schecter PT (Tele-style guitars made by Schecter and named PT after Pete). Schecter makes incredible guitars at great price points for what you get. I have an LP-style guitar by them that I absolutely adore.
I loved this song as a kid when it was a hit. Many years later, when I’d occasionally drop this into my DJ sets, sure enough, it was a hit with the crowd. Solid piece of funk rock.
To me this is the best performance of this song. It totally overshadows the recording. Pete’s intro on the guitar is absolutely slick. I could have listened to that itself much longer. And then there’s some good shots of John’s bass playing. His fingers just fly. Thanks for your analysis.
"It totally overshadows the recording"... If by that you mean the studio version - you're 1000% correct. I'm surprised Mike didn't saying anything about the difference. The studio version was just mailed in... this was the real deal.
Have seen them a handful of times and they never disappoint. At the Desert Trip in Palm Springs the line up was Bob, Dylan, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Roger Waters and The Who. The Who were phenomenal, the others all great but The Who crushed it. Pete talked about how how wrote this song coked out of his mind in a hotel in Miami. How did he find coke in Miami, lol? Always been a favorite player of mine, great song.
I am pretty sure that main, repeated riff is being done by Roger throughout the song. This gives Pete the space to embellish and solo as freely as he does. The opening keyboard sound is a prerecorded sequence that Pete created on an ARP and it under lays the entire track. The he keyboardist is again soloing and embellishing over the top of it. John’s bass playing is what it is - big and funky. The drums are kept simple but are so in the pocket... I have to say that I don’t know if Keith would have been able to hold back the way that Kenney does so well. Great song.
Moonie kept it together enough in Join Together, Relay, and several other songs from his heyday. I'm not sure what he might've come up with on his own, but I'm sure that he could've laid down the beat for this tune if that's what was necessary.
My first ever concert when I was about 12 was The Who back in the late 90’s/early 00’s! Truly unforgettable night of my life. I remember on the way home asking my dad what that keyboard song was that they played and sure enough it was Eminence Front. Still one of my favorite songs to this day and will blast this song any time any where it comes on!! Love the breakdown of it and have an even greater appreciation for the band and song! Keep up the great content brotha!
I'm a 55 year old classic rocker, and I've NEVER heard Pete Townshend mentioned when people talk about lead guitarists. No, he's not Eddie or Satriani, but considering he's primarily a composer, his guitar playing is absolutley solid.
Another great reach back to amazing tunes,,so many memories flooded back just hearing the opening...”gotta get the scratch “‘...love this channel..👏👏👏👏👍🙏
Thank you for your advanced analysis. Been a Who fan since Who by Numbers, but then I went back and started from the beginning of their career. With that solid right hand and power chords he sort of hid his lead skills. They’re not hidden anymore.
I remember when this song and MTV video came out. I loved it right away. I had already seen the Who in St. Paul, Minnesota, a couple of times and was familiar with their live songs portfolio. But this one was a pure guitar piece. So many learning gems in this teaching; it will be of great benefit for me to study this video. Eminence Front lingers in my head after many years.
What a grand choice this dealer's choice is! Nice job breaking this one down and discussing options for covering instruments not (currently) in your band. Great job, Michael.
You can call it what you want! I call it “LEARNING A TON OF STUFF”!!!!!!!! The more I watch your stuff, and the further and deeper I get into your courses, the more I begin to understand your depth of knowledge and ability to share it with us!!!!! F’N AWESOMES JOB MICHAEL! (Dave)
A fantastic tune from pete townshend ! I heard this when i was 14 .im 49 now ! It was this 82 Toronto gig that i first ever came across the who . And i have loved them ever since.
Thank you Michael for the lesson on listening. Hearing you analyze the parts along with the music is very helpful. Certainly NOT your typical react channel!!
Fellow Bmore boy here... love what you’re doing bro! If I ever see you out in town, I’m buying you some beers as a small token of gratitude for all of this awesome content!
So glad you’re giving them love. Would love to see you comment on their young man blues from the Isle of Wight. Or really I just hope you already love it as much as I do
One of the best songs when driving in a city at night, 2 -3 in the morning. Or maybe its in a movie, thats what it sounds like, that memory comes in my head everytime this song starts.
@@GunsmithSid first music i heard on a compact disc was Tangerine dream, in the 80's. And your right Risky business is most likely where im getting that image. Thank
