Bowl Blues for The Offspring and Pennywise

Last night KJEE's Summer Roundup featured The Offspring, Pennywise, Everlast, The Whigs, and Rebelution at the Santa Barbara County Bowl. One dedicated reader who was in the audience had the following to say in an email to me:

I'm wondering if the County Bowl's rules are getting too heavy handed and the focus is on fundraising and fancy new buildings and not the concert experience - the lawns gone, and the seats are more uncomfortable than a High School gym's.

This was our experience at yesterdays concert - and no-one in the group is under 40:

- bag searched 3 times on way in

- our sunblock confiscated [from a grandmother and mother of three] in our group - in a heatwave - "because we might throw it at the band"

- can't stand still anywhere in the shade ... moved 8 times times before going to seats

- and the most insane rule: YOU CAN ONLY BUY 2 WATERS AT A TIME!

We were told it's because we might spill them. I am NOT kidding!
Its 88 degrees, they've confiscated our sunblock and won't sell me enough water for our group during a 7 hour show !!!

- and there was no crowd control where it actually is important - in the bathroom tunnel entrance area

One has to assume that there is stricter security for some shows than others. I would think The Offspring would get tougher security than James Taylor. Still, on the hottest day of the year they are restricting water like they would beer? and confiscating sunblock? There are probably a few things people could throw on stage, I wonder who makes the list? (perhaps Homeland Security as it sounds as sensible as airport regulations)

Anybody else have a less than positive experience at this concert? The changes at the Bowl will mean a different set of acts and likely a different set of rules -- perhaps only time will tell if the big changes over the last couple of years are fan improvement.