The Who, Marlay Park, Dublin, 29th June '07

They called out for the tale of the Who so I shall weave it.
Weazel Hayes: "Let it be intricate for the weaving!"
I shall do my best.

After being rained on twice in Marlay park in the one week, I was loath to make the trip a third time but it was the Who, one of the five greatest bands of all time without any question, so an effort was made. Keogh's first for a few kick offs with Kenny White and Bill Dwyer, which turned into a few more when Murt arrived. After navigating through that difficult moment when someone suggests we sell the tickets to pay for more liquor, we made it to the Luas and out to Dundrum, picking up Jason Quinn on the way. More pints in the Eagle (are you keeping count?) When Coffeys Brian and Peter arrived, we got two taxis up to the park in plenty of time for the headliners.

One of the big problems with these outside gigs is the bar. As they're sponsored by one beer crowd, you don't get any choice. On this occasion, they were firing out Becks, at a fiver a pop I might add, which has the consistency of dishwater. At this point of course we were buying two at a time which left you with the age old dilemma of how to have a cigarette while holding two pints. Solution? Drink the first one at the speed of light. It was here that the downfall began. But wait, you might say, you didn't have to drink all the pints, surely? And I might reply that you, soft lad, should go and find another blog. The Who came on and kicked off in fine style with "I Can't Explain", one of the great singles. Other highlights included "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere", the peerless "Baba O'Riley" (Me, at my age, roaring out "Teenage Wasteland", Who do I think I'm fooling?) and the great "Tommy" medley that almost finished it off. They really were fantastically good, I've seen them twice before and they're actually getting better. The closing "Tea and Theatre" is really touching and Pete n' Rog were ace throughout. Rog made the scream at the end of "Won't Get Fooled Again" and Pete was windmilling, and playing like a demon, all over the shop. What more could you want?

What's more, I ordered the dvd of the show so I'll actually be able to see it and remind myself of the bits I can't remember. Class.

At this point things got messy, with many fridge sized holes in my memory. Taxi into Cassidy's, more pints, more pints, some bad food, standing watching as two night link buses pulled away from me (no idea why), getting a text from one of the lads telling me he loved me (it was meant for his wife), waking up the next morning with blood on my hands (a nosebleed, thank Jaysus), seriously putting my foot in it on the phone to the missus the next day.

Weazel Hayes: "Weave It!"
"I will not."

Next Up, The Coff and I head off with our tent on the morrow for the Oxegen festival where we will be, without a shadow of a doubt, the oldest swingers in town. The Hold Steady, Gogol Bordello, Amy Winehouse, Jet, Brian Wilson, Razorlight, The Kings Of Leon - I hope to see them all but who knows what will transpire? Check back to find out, and I really must get around to the tale of Nashville...