Oats posted:Bruce got more energetic as the night wore on. Like others said, I think the kids of his band-mates energized him. We got two tour premieres and Backstreets with the friends interlude instead of Sad Eyes. I really like this version a whole lot....The whole joint was on it's feet for the last 12 songs.
...I thought for sure Bruce was coming out for one more. After the band left the stage, he did come out with Jake and the crowd went nuts but they just waved and thanked the crowd once more and went off.
...This was one of the best shows I've seen, better than NJ and MSG, right up there with Philly, DC and Rochester. I'm looking forward to tomorrow night immensely.
...Venice Beach was a hoot. We're having a great time.
Happy to finally meet not just any, but the #1 SPLer :-) You do keep the place alive, Oats, your attention to the task is very much appreciated and keeps a great variety of material in front of our eyes. Don't ever stop!
Bruce's energy level topped even Tuesday, when it looked like he was totally over his illness. Oakland, I think, still had reports of snot rockets, but he looked great on Tuesday and had discarded the scarf or towel he was wearing around his neck in Phoenix, when he had sought aid from a physician in order to keep his voice up that night. If he gets any more energetic Saturday he may bring down the building earlier than was planned. (We need the old place's ac to semi-hold-up just one more time!)
Whether the crowd energized Bruce or vice versa, this was one of LA's most involved crowds I've seen in years - although perhaps being not far from where Oats hung out meant I was seeing more of the crowd than I have when closer up :-)
I thought Bruce was definitely in the mood for an additional song, but likely saving that for Saturday. Hope he doesn't wear himself out too much to manage it then, but common sense suggests it'll be Wrecking Ball after Shout for the venue's final concert ever, and no way he's leaving the building without playing that.
He also came out post-Shout and waved as people were shuffling out on Tuesday, guitar in hand, and half the floor crowd stopped dead and prepared to turn around. Appreciated the gesture, but put the guitar down first so we don't have our hopes up, lol!
My own observations don't mean as much with only 3 shows on the tour, so it's nice to hear you saying it's up with the best of your 9, Oats. Maybe Saturday can make it to the top :-)
Haven't been to Venice Beach in years. Yes, it's a hoot, probably the closest to revisiting the 60s you'll see in most of California these days.
Mike
