MASHANTUCKET, Conn. - One of the faces of The Who, Roger Daltrey, keeps plugging along, with or without those bandmates.

The historic British rock group's lead singer performed Saturday night at MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods for his "Use It or Lose It Tour" - his first since 1985. The tour began Oct. 10 and visits mostly theaters in 30 U.S. and Canadian cities before wrapping up Nov. 30. He hit the House of Blues in Boston Sunday night.

Since The Who's initial years in the 1960s, Daltrey, 65, has been one of rock music's most powerful lead vocalists, and the name of the tour is an obvious reference to his vocal chords. Daltrey says he only has toured solo over the years to keep his voice in shape.

The Who are expected to resume touring next year, and Daltrey says he and guitarist Pete Townshend are considering playing their albums "Tommy" or "Quadrophenia" in full. They also may come out with a new album.

Naturally, many of the songs Saturday night were Who numbers, but as Daltrey promised before embarking on the tour, many were reworked and several are rarely - if ever, performed by the supergroup live. But he let the audience know at the onset it wasn't going to be a "Who show," and some country and Irish tunes along with solo material proved that. The show opened with a semi-acoustic version of The Who's 1978 "Who Are You," with Daltrey strumming guitar. And a treat for dedicated followers was the psychedelic "Pictures of Lily," a rare Who song.

Also from 1968, "Tattoo" preceded "Behind Blue Eyes," from "Who's Next," the 1971 masterpiece that some consider the greatest album in rock history.

Daltrey told the crowd he tried to drop the latter song from concerts but gets hit with strong protests. He admitted, however, it is his favorite Who song.

Daltrey shook a tambourine for his catchy "Days Of Light" from 1992.

Quite the storyteller between songs, before playing the Irish numbers "Freedom Ride" and "Someone Give Me A Stone," the frontman told of playing in Belfast during the 1990s when it was a hotbed of violence.

Daltrey's band includes Simon Townshend, Pete Townshend's younger brother, and Townshend sang and led guitar on The Who's "Going Mobile" that brought a standing ovation.

Simon Townshend, a longtime collaborator and close friend of Daltrey's, has also played with The Who, including on their tour last year.

Daltrey kicked off some blues before playing part of "My Generation," the Who anthem from 1966 that helped launch the punk rock movement.

After his "Who's Gonna Walk on Water" from the early 90s, "Squeeze Box" from 1975's "The Who By Numbers," the early Who single "I Can See For Miles," and an extended version of the 1970 "Live At Leeds" song "Young Man Blues" continued the parent band's emphasis.

Another protest tune, the youth anthem, "Baba O'Riley," featured Daltrey on harmonica. It was then that Daltrey did his trademark microphone twirl. The icon singer explained he is sick of encores and noted The Who never did them until 1982. So the band remained on stage.

After a Johnny Cash medley with Daltrey on guitar that included "Ring of Fire," and the beautiful Who song "Blue, Red and Grey (I Like Every Minute of the Day)" with Daltrey on ukulele, the concert was capped with his stunning "Without Your Love." Daltrey dedicated that song to the fans; it became his highest charting solo song, reaching No. 20 in 1980.

Also in the band is guitarist and musical director Frank Simes, keyboardist Loren Gold, bassist Jon Button and drummer Scott Devours.

Daltrey, whose solo career stretches all the way back to 1973 when the band began falling apart following "Quadrophenia," may not have as much familiar solo material as Townshend, but with his voice, the songs sing. He does have just under 10 solo albums, though.

Not making the set list were the solo tunes "Free Me" and "Walking in My Sleep," nor songs from his outstanding 1985 album, "Under a Raging Moon," such as "Let Me Down Easy" and "After the Fire." Daltrey has said he considers some of the songs too dated.

Opening up was Paper Zoo, a Los Angeles band that sounded just fine.

Born in the middle of an air raid during World War II in London, Daltrey grew up in the same neighborhood as Townshend and the late Who bassist John Entwistle, and performed with them as The Detours beginning in his late teens.

The Who, along with The Beatles and Rolling Stones, were the chief players in the British Invasion of America in the 60s, and influenced rock music ever since.

Daltrey is truly a Renaissance man, having also done his share of acting over the years, on TV, in film and in theater. He also has been a film producer and supports many charitable causes.