Whenever we come to this venue, the old loading ramp and door remind us of a scene filmed here. It’s nice that a venue spent some time and money to actually improve the acoustics of the building!
They help absorb echo and control sound reflection throughout the room. The room looks its age and reflects the time when poured concrete was everywhere (now it’s more glass and shiny metal styles on modern buildings.) One nice thing to note spaced around the walls are “tube traps” the cloth-covered cylinders like we use onstage. Thankfully, Madison Square Garden and The Forum have resisted the trend. This is how we know the building, but since corporate sponsors can now be counted on for millions to have naming rights, it’s common to find classic old venues with changed names. This place used to be called the San Diego Sports Arena for years and years it is nearing a 50-year point itself. It’s not been a difficult tour, in the normal ways (quite the opposite) but it always wears on you to be away from home and stability. Despite the days off (or maybe because of them?) I see more and more crew people sleeping during the day. I’m seeing the results of the road as we near the ending of this tour leg.
The Who Hits 50! Tour: Valley View Casino Center, San Diego, CA, May 27, 2016
