August 30, 2012: Post 597 (2012 Day 243)

August 30, 2012

Daily Comment

Last night I saw Bruce Springsteen at Vernon Downs Racetrack, a little more than a half-hour away from home.

It was, in every way, a fabulous night. One of the best concerts I've been to (and I've been to some memorable concerts).

Technically, the concert was superlative - the three gigantic tv screens, the huge (really, really huge) stage and performance setup, and the best outdoor sound I've ever heard - balanced and punchy, every instrument and vocal could be heard.

The weather was also perfect - Crystal clear skies and comfortable temperatures (when we got there it was about 70 degrees out, when we left it was in the low 60s - not too cool for comfort at all.

The performance, what we came for, was standard for Springsteen: Which means, because he and the band are one of the best performing acts ever, it delivered what the audience was there for. Yes, he has schtick. But as someone who's been a top live performer for 40 years, he knows what works for him and he knows his audience. Even the corny stuff doesn't feel that way, it feels like a natural and organic part of the show. The high-energy performance itself, like the soul acts he modeled his performance style on, was theatrical without costumes, without the usual rock-n-roll props, all movements seeming natural, spontaneous, and unstrained.

One thing that is sometimes missing from such huge concert performances is a sense of warmth and heart - that has certainly been the case in other huge concerts that I've attended (some of the stuff I saw in Madison Square Garden comes to mind). Not the case here. The audience is embraced and is having a good time from the minute the band hits the stage. Bruce frequently involved the audience on a number of levels throughout the night, walking out into the crowd at stage front, taking requests (by bringing the signs they'd brought to the stage) and, since most of his repertoire is so well-known, sing-alongs throughout the perfermance. He even (very Courtney Cox) brought up a young boy to sing a chorus, and ended up with the boy on his shoulders.

He and the E-Street Band (and E-Street Horns and E-Street Choir) are all excellent musicians, and from that point of view, there was nothing to be desired - every individual musician had a moment had at least one moment in the spotlight - they are a tight and obviously well-rehearsed unit,. They performed for three hours, and the energy-level never dropped.

A very good night, indeed!

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 

Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        202.4 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    206.2 lbs  
Day Net Loss/Gain:     - 3.8 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

My weight continues to jump around crazily. I guess that's the way it is going to be for a while, as my schedule for the next ten days is also crazy - there will be random cheats, which, although it just shouldn't have happened, began tonight, as I subbed after rehearsal and stayed out tired and a little hungry.

Speaking of Eating crazy, last night's ultra-late breaking of the fast (1am) meant I woke up feeling full, so no breakfast.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch

Tuna and Egg salad on Spring Mix.

Dinner

Chili (Ground beef, black beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, spices) with peas.

Snack
A shot of Jameson's. A shot of something awful and sweet (whiskey and honey? I don't know - they were giving them away, somebody suggested I try it - nauseating). Then candy, and lots of it. This was a really bad fail, brought on by being tired and hungry and nowhere near any on-plan food.

Midnight Snack
More chili. @1am.

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:  22 oz,  Water: 120+ oz,  a shot of Jameson's, and something else I wish I hadn't tried.

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!