For much of the day--between work and having to drive around in more rain!--I've been tooling around the net, looking for further info on the Radiohead show I missed two posts ago. People are sad, disappointed, angry and just plain tired. There's an online petition (please consider signing) up and people on RH message boards are all over this.
So let's add some perspective, and I don't do this to minimize what anyone went through last night: this was a pop concert, and while we spent a good deal of money, for most people, I hope, this was discretionary income. In other places in the world, as we speak, people are suffering far worse than the eight hours I had to sit in my car and expel greenhouse gases. Should we be upset? Of course. Nissan Pavilion and LiveNation didn't deliver to a huge number of people and that counts for something, but, unless we made the local news in DC, I can't imagine much press for this event. Let's face it, RH is a popular band, but they ain't the Stones (thank god)...
Here's the really neat thing though--when I was suffering after the Bull Run "concert" in '01, it was a very solitary experience. I was the only Radiohead I knew and had gone there by myself. As a result, I had this crazy story to tell people, but it was basically my story. Today I discover that not only, of course, were there a ton of people with a similar story, but many of them also shared the gut-wrenching time I had last night. Many of the comments I have seen have been supportive and encouraging. If nothing else, the internet has been a place for information about the show (missed Paranoid Android, Karma Police, Planet Telex and Optimistic? I expected the new album, which is great, but damn...) as well as a way for some of us to hear other stories and band together. Still, this is one of the first times the internet has actually made me feel better. There's a lot of commiseration and sympathy out there and, perhaps, it's merely because many of us share this common interest (no flaming, please), but it does represent some of what's best about the internet.
I started this blog as a homework assignment, but today several people I've never met commented on the RH post to offer help, commiseration and support--that's pretty amazing.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Something for the Radioheads (and Silvia)
It doesn't make up for those of us who missed last night's show--but it's a pleasant find nonetheless.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Rain is good, but not for Radiohead
So how was the show?
Back in '01, I went to see Radiohead at this place in VA called Bull Run. It was hot and I got there early, parked, went in and sat in the sun, waiting for Thievery Corporation and the the Beta Band to open up. It rained instead.
At first, the rain was a welcome respite from the heat, but it just poured. After a time, we were instructed to wait in our cars and told we would be readmitted. I sat for over an hour, drenched, in my car's passenger seat, watching teenagers slide in the mud, until we were told the show was canceled. I received a full refund.
So when my wife surprised me with a pair of Radiohead tickets I was a bit apprehensive. They were playing at a different venue, the Nissan Pavilion, but it was supposed to rain. It did.
My friend and I left Baltimore at 5:30--perhaps naive for a 7:30 show, but I had no idea how long it might actually take--I know 495 is a nightmare, but the rain didn't start until we left and it was Mother's Day. I had to visit my mother, of course, and it seemed unreasonable to tell her I couldn't visit because I needed to go to a 7:30 show that was 90 minutes away. Besides, shows start late, and there's an opening act, the Liars, that if we missed--oh, well... (sorry Liars, you seem like a fine band).
Suffice to say, we drove in an increasingly complex system of police mandated detours with hundreds (thousands?) of others, in the rain, with no clear idea of how close we were or even how to get back to the interstate. This went on for hours. My feelings were: the show will be canceled (all these people unable to get in!) or delayed (again, all these people). By 10:30 we unrolled our window and asked a cop, who had just blocked yet another road, "No show?" "No show," he answered.
This was some relief. I have been driving for five straight hours in the rain. We looped around and into a gas station for a bathroom break and a snack before turning around to head home (we went the wrong way for about a quarter of an hour--I had never been there before remember). I got home at 1:30 am. I could have gotten into South Carolina if I had driven straight south--Boston, if I had gone in the other direction. We joked that we could have driven to NYC for a slice of pizza and back, and still had time to spare.
The show, I find upon waking, was not canceled. It went on as scheduled. I'm not angry about that--fans made it in, why shouldn't they play? But will we receive refunds of some kind (I didn't even get to see the parking lot!)? Why, if Radiohead wants to be green (which I applaud) do they recommend fans use public transportation to a venue that, to my knowledge, has none? RFK is off of the Metro. How in the hell does anyone go to see anything at the Nissan Pavilion? That was a lot of rain (flooding, apparently) but it wasn't a hurricane. If shows are going to go on rain or shine, shouldn't there be contingency plans for traffic and, perhaps, some drainage or road improvements?
Incredibly, I am 0-2 with Radiohead concerts.
Back in '01, I went to see Radiohead at this place in VA called Bull Run. It was hot and I got there early, parked, went in and sat in the sun, waiting for Thievery Corporation and the the Beta Band to open up. It rained instead.
At first, the rain was a welcome respite from the heat, but it just poured. After a time, we were instructed to wait in our cars and told we would be readmitted. I sat for over an hour, drenched, in my car's passenger seat, watching teenagers slide in the mud, until we were told the show was canceled. I received a full refund.
So when my wife surprised me with a pair of Radiohead tickets I was a bit apprehensive. They were playing at a different venue, the Nissan Pavilion, but it was supposed to rain. It did.
My friend and I left Baltimore at 5:30--perhaps naive for a 7:30 show, but I had no idea how long it might actually take--I know 495 is a nightmare, but the rain didn't start until we left and it was Mother's Day. I had to visit my mother, of course, and it seemed unreasonable to tell her I couldn't visit because I needed to go to a 7:30 show that was 90 minutes away. Besides, shows start late, and there's an opening act, the Liars, that if we missed--oh, well... (sorry Liars, you seem like a fine band).
Suffice to say, we drove in an increasingly complex system of police mandated detours with hundreds (thousands?) of others, in the rain, with no clear idea of how close we were or even how to get back to the interstate. This went on for hours. My feelings were: the show will be canceled (all these people unable to get in!) or delayed (again, all these people). By 10:30 we unrolled our window and asked a cop, who had just blocked yet another road, "No show?" "No show," he answered.
This was some relief. I have been driving for five straight hours in the rain. We looped around and into a gas station for a bathroom break and a snack before turning around to head home (we went the wrong way for about a quarter of an hour--I had never been there before remember). I got home at 1:30 am. I could have gotten into South Carolina if I had driven straight south--Boston, if I had gone in the other direction. We joked that we could have driven to NYC for a slice of pizza and back, and still had time to spare.
The show, I find upon waking, was not canceled. It went on as scheduled. I'm not angry about that--fans made it in, why shouldn't they play? But will we receive refunds of some kind (I didn't even get to see the parking lot!)? Why, if Radiohead wants to be green (which I applaud) do they recommend fans use public transportation to a venue that, to my knowledge, has none? RFK is off of the Metro. How in the hell does anyone go to see anything at the Nissan Pavilion? That was a lot of rain (flooding, apparently) but it wasn't a hurricane. If shows are going to go on rain or shine, shouldn't there be contingency plans for traffic and, perhaps, some drainage or road improvements?
Incredibly, I am 0-2 with Radiohead concerts.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
My apologies
for that last post. It's late, and I'm desperately trying to build something, anything that's interesting and not hopelessly cheesy. Somehow, in real life, I manage to walk the charming and ironic dweeb line quite well, but this business with a script and an agenda and things to say... I feel like a great writer while I'm doing this video stuff because I have zero talent for this and, as I'm working on my Experimental Forms final as well, it seems a lot easier. At least if the writing sucks, I don't have to stand in front of the class and present it!
In other news, I'm watching a VH1 special with Radiohead--"From the Basement" or something. My wife just surprised me with tickets to see them at the Nissan Pavilion. Perhaps I can do my best Thom Yorke in split screen? Sigh.
Love my wife. I do.
In other news, I'm watching a VH1 special with Radiohead--"From the Basement" or something. My wife just surprised me with tickets to see them at the Nissan Pavilion. Perhaps I can do my best Thom Yorke in split screen? Sigh.
Love my wife. I do.
More nightmarish embarrassment!
It just wouldn't be the internet without stuff like me...
Please tell me it's all in good fun...
Please tell me it's all in good fun...
Saturday, May 3, 2008
I did it!!!
This project is a total nightmare (FYI, I can't act and have no charisma in front of the camera). BUT, I think I've solved some of my technical issues (ie. the split screen).
O Frabjus day, Calloo, Callay!
O Frabjus day, Calloo, Callay!
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