The Who Say Farewell in Seattle With Unforgettable Night at Climate Pledge Arena

Seattle (September 25, 2025) — The Who brought their “The Song Is Over: The North American Farewell Tour” to Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday night, delivering a career-spanning set that carried both the weight of history and the spirit of celebration.

Seattle’s own Candlebox opened the evening with grit and pride, powering through a raw and energetic set. Their stage was simple yet bold, anchored by a massive LED backdrop that read “American Made, Seattle, 32 Years of Rock & Roll” with the years 1993 and 2025 stamped beneath their name. Hits like “Change,” “Blossom” and the emotional closer “You” hit home with fans who sang along in unison. Kevin Martin led the charge with unrelenting energy, even wrapping his mic cord around his neck during one dramatic moment before jumping back into the song. The crowd’s response was loud and approving, cheering on one of Seattle’s own veterans of the grunge era.

Then it was time for The Who. Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend walked on stage to a roar that could have easily passed for the band’s glory days, and the two legends made sure the energy stayed right there. From the opening chords of “I Can’t Explain” to the stirring encore of “Tea & Theatre,” the band gave fans a journey through six decades of music that defined rock and roll itself.

The setlist was carefully built to balance the essential hits, “Who Are You,” “My Generation,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” with songs that longtime fans cherished, like “Going Mobile” and “Cry If You Want.” “Baba O’Riley,” lifted the roof when Katie Jacoby’s soaring violin solo took center stage, while “Love, Reign O’er Me” turned the arena into a sea of voices joining Daltrey’s.

Nostalgia was everywhere, not only in the music but also in the stories, jokes and images projected on the screen behind them. Daltrey and Townshend traded humor about aging, poking fun at how they no longer play “like they used to,” though their performance suggested otherwise. The camaraderie between them and their bond with the audience made the night feel intimate despite the size of the arena.

As the final notes of “The Song Is Over” rang out, fans were visibly emotional, knowing this was more than just another tour stop, it was a goodbye. The band’s last acoustic performance of “Tea & Theatre,” with Roger and Pete alone on stage, felt like a love letter to the audience. When the credits rolled on the big screen to the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” and “The Inner Light,” it was clear The Who had crafted an ending as thoughtful and powerful as the music that brought them here.

For the thousands who filled Climate Pledge Arena, the night was more than a concert. It was a shared celebration of music, memory and legacy, a final bow from a band that changed rock history forever.

The Who Gallery

Candlebox Gallery