Irvine Meadows’ ‘Tasteless’ Performance

Critics may hail the return of Steely Dan to the stage (“Steely Dan at the Greek: Night of Expanding Men,” Sept. 9). However, they may do better to review the increasingly tasteless performance of today’s concert venues.

Recently, my friend and I took on the trek from Hollywood to Orange County to attend the rare appearance of Steely Dan at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre.

Having carefully prepared a sumptuous picnic of roast chicken, vinaigrette salad and home-baked cookies, we couldn’t wait to dine under the stars to the tunes that defined our teens.

We arrived, parked and ventured to the turnstiles with food in tow, only to be informed of a new company policy prohibiting any outside food, water or containers inside the venue. OK, alcoholic beverages in glass bottles were an understandable no-no of my concert-going youth, but no food? No water? What kind of risks are they protecting us from?

We scarfed the baked chicken on the asphalt outside the gates, surrendered all plastics and cleared the turnstile. In about a one-eighth-mile walk, we stumbled upon the real health risk to concert-goers: an oasis of fast-food concessions that were hidden from view at the entrance.

If clearing customs upon entry was not a personal safety issue (food fights?), or for environmental reasons (more trash in a Del Taco meal than in my entire picnic), then it’s obvious that Irvine Meadows cares more about selling food byproducts than in providing a quality experience for the audience.

Needless to say, our hearts were broken, sold down the river: fast food under the stars . . . sick! Not only does the management fail us by dictating an unhealthy diet, but also, they insult us with their lack of social and environmental consciousness.

How about some clearly marked recycling bins for all that plastic and glass we tossed? I suggest a donation counter where we can at least have the option to deposit our uneaten picnic food for pickup by those persons less fortunate. They do have homeless in Orange County, don’t they?

JENNIFER KELSEY

Pacific Palisades