The Who @ Hollywood Bowl 2006 "review"

 

I saw the inside of the Hollywood Bowl restroom for the first time ever last night!

 

Actually I wandered almost every inch of the lower half of the Bowl. I have always complained about the sound there but during the course of the evening I found a few places where it sounded alright. It was a lot of fun.

 

I went to an art gallery showing of old punk rock photos earlier tonight (See LA Weekly cover story). I thought maybe I would just watch the bands there on a stage a few feet away from the open bar. A Ramones tribute band was playing. The setlist was already taped to the stage and looked like a great show. But I already had a few drinks, looked at all the pictures 3 times, talked to some of my friends and got bored. It was also getting really crowded. It was almost 8:00.

 

So I went down the street to the Hollywood Bowl where the Who was playing. Within a few minutes I scored a ticket for $10 and went inside. I don’t even know if it was a good seat because I never saw it.

 

I wandered all over the place and even found a place almost to the men’s room where you can see the video screen really good and hear it almost loud but just can’t see the stage. It was like seeing The Who at the Drive In.

 

During the mini opera I crashed through some bushes into the lower section. Told the usher who popped me I wanted to see where my Aerosmith seat is on Tuesday.

 

During the encore I darted into the terrace section and by the end of the show I was almost to the edge of the pool circle but I was never able to make it all the way to the front. But finally I experienced decent sound and volume at the Bowl as I got closer. I got a good look at the stage and band too.

 

They played new songs which were alright. Early in the show Pete introduced the band and pointed out that keyboard player John “Rabbit” Bundrick is off tending to his ailing wife.

 

It’s also a relief knowing the show is being archived and sold almost immedietly in DVD format so I know I will end up seeing it all one way or the other.

 

Highlight of the show was “Eminence Front.” I had a lot of fun and it was cheaper than going to see The Departed down the street. Buyer’s market for sure if anyone is thinking of going tonight. Last night was more like a reconnaisance mission for me so I might go again tonight, stay still and try to enjoy the show.