everything in its right place

22Aug08

I spent a good chunk of time the past couple of weeks thinking about the weather for August 20. I checked extended forecasts on a daily basis, and started worrying once they started pointing to rain. By Tuesday morning, I had a sinking feeling. There was no way it was going to be dry, let alone hot, this week.

God dammit.

The rain on Wednesday was the stuff of hysterical newscasts. Relentless sheets of water poured from the skies all morning long. By early afternoon, the great Pacific Northwest had reverted to its natural soggy state. It was as if Mother Nature pulled the plug on summer, and all of a sudden it was October.

My heart felt as heavy and drenched as the muddy ground outside.

Here is the deal: I already don’t like big outdoor shows. Or, big indoor shows, for that matter. Even in the best of conditions, they are generally not my bag. I don’t really like being around 20,000 people at once. More often than not, the sound quality suffers. The number of jackasses you have to deal with increases. And, in the case of White River Amphitheatre, the whole process of getting to and from the venue is brutal.

Add cascading rains and you have just ruined my day.

But, man, I couldn’t miss Radiohead. Come on. They are my favorite modern times band, for about a million reasons. So, I prepared to the best of my abilities. Even though our seats were under the shed roof, I wore a baseball hat. I knew the walk to and from the venue would be long and wet, and I hate rain in my eyes. I wore shell toes, and socks. It was the first time since June that I wasn’t open-toed.

Boooo.

Chad got me the tickets back in April, and they were great seats. Nikole has never seen Radiohead, and she had been looking forward to it almost as much as me. I kept telling her for days that it was going to rain, but she remained optimistic. So, when she called on Wednesday, in the midst of one of the day’s many deluges, I could only laugh when she gave me the news that the power in her building had gone out.

I really shouldn’t have laughed, but it was just too much. We were hours from show time, and already the day had gone sideways. Our plan to make the drive with the top down had been foiled, travel was going to be a thousand times worse with all that water on the roads, and now my friend the dentist has lost all of the power in her building.

The same building she works AND lives in. It is a lucky thing she wasn’t in the middle of drilling someone’s tooth when that transformer blew.

But then, not long before we were set to leave my place, the sun came out. The beautiful, glorious sun. Thank you, Mother Nature.

The gray day was conducive to cooking, and the seasoned chicken thighs had been slowly braising for hours. The tender meat fell off the bones and melded with the Walla Walla sweet in the pan. One chopped carrot turned into a mash, which I spread on a bollo roll. The grilled bread soaked up the juices from the bird, and a dripping half of a peach made a great side dish.

It was a perfect little dinner, and a good reminder of nature’s bounty.

Appropriately, a rainbow appeared in the sky before we left. It wasn’t warm, and the skies threatened more rain, but the clearing had come. We bundled up like Michelin men and put the top down. Fuck it, we’ve driven in much colder conditions before. At least it was dry, although it sure didn’t look like it would last. If we could make it there without a shower, we were all good.

The skies were still cooperating when we walked through the gates. The Liars had finished their opening set as we made our trek across the endless parking lot, and our mandatory trip to the bathroom was conducted as quickly as possible. As we found our way to our seats, passing the beer gardens filled with people drinking $8 swill, Radiohead took the stage.

We were settled at our seats by the end of the first song. I had forgotten that Brad Klausen and his beautiful girlfriend, Kristin, had also gotten tickets from Chad, and were right next to us. Fantastic. There were only six rows of seats in front of us, and we were positioned for perfect sound and sightlines. The GA pit was low enough to not be a concern. The roof made it feel like we were inside, but with the benefits of fresh air and cool breezes.

It was like we were hanging out at the little back bar at the Showbox. You know, the VIP jammy by the kitchen. Exactly like a sold out show there, except one billion times better.

I did not take any photos during the show. I didn’t even bring my camera inside with me. I did not need the distraction of documentation, nor did I want to think about anything other than the music. I hardly ever get to see this band play, why would I want to do something else during their performance?

All of these live shots were swiped off the internet. Most of them are courtesy of a link provided at green plastic, and the full set, from a photostream on Flickr, can be found here. The others were posted on the message board.

Yes, I just publicly admitted to reading a Radiohead message board. That’s how much I love this band.

I am thankful to folks that provide images online, but I gotta say this: I hate seeing digital cameras at shows. Especially at big shows, where you look out on a crowd peppered with little glowing screens held in the air. Yeah, I know I am guilty of taking photos at shows. But it is rare, and I always try to be as discreet as possible. I am never holding a camera above my head, nor am I ever going bonkers with the flash.

I don’t wanna bum you out. It’s your rock and roll show, too.

I notice it more and more, especially since everyone got i-phones. Technology has forever changed the concert experience, and there is no going back. You will never, ever see a big show without a sea of cameras providing distraction. I don’t like it.

But, woah, it’s nice to be able to tell a story with illustration. The visuals from the show were astounding. Click on these photos for a larger view, and you’ll get just a little hint of what it was like. Radiohead has been playing large venues for a long time, and touring for even longer than that. They know what they are doing. And, more importantly, they seem to genuinely care about how they do it.

All artists do, of course, but to varying degrees and with mixed results. Poorly executed lighting can ruin a show, and the necessary Jumbotrons can be miserable. That’s a big ass stage, and a lot of bands have a hard time making it comfortable. Too much junk, bad visuals, awkward placement — it can all make for a sloppy night.

None of these issues were the case on Wednesday. As has been reported, Radiohead has gone to extensive lengths to decrease their environmental impact while on tour. The lighting they are using this year is a custom made LED system and is truly a put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is move. It is all good and well to bitch and moan about one’s carbon footprint; to do something about it is an entirely different matter.

Radiohead talks the talk, and they walk the walk. One of my favorite characteristics in human beings.

You can find information about the lighting system in an article penned by the band’s Tour Production Manager. It, and a bunch of other pieces detailing Radiohead’s commitment to lessening the inarguable environmental impact of touring can be found at the band’s official website, here. It is well worth reading, especially if you tour.

I already know I am prone to superlatives. Obviously, you do, too. I can’t help it, I love life. I am enthusiastic about it. Even when things are terrible, and everything is sad, it is still the only life you have. Make it good. You never get even the shittiest day back, so try to find some good in it.

Some folks might think that is crazy hippie talk, or bordering on feel-good pap. It is not. I am no Pollyanna, for sure. I will call a motherfucker out on bullshit, and there is plenty of stuff that bums me out to the point of acerbic criticism. But, man, life is short. Make it count. Find the stuff you like, and go bananas.

I have only seen Radiohead perform a small handful of times. Every show is memorable, but a couple of performances really stand out. In 1995, they played at Moe’s (now Neumo’s), with the Flaming Lips. I feel like I went with Nicky, but maybe not. It was a great show, and offered promise of a good future for the band. Later that year, I went to the Sailor’s Union Pacific Hall for the first and last time. I still recall the goosebumps from Fake Plastic Trees.

There have been other times, each good, but none as great as the performance at the Greek Theatre in LA on June 29, 2006. Seattle was not included on the tour routing that year, and I was coming off a bad time. My on-again, off-again horror show of a boyfriend had just entered a nine month treatment program, my beloved uncle had just died, and I was sad. Amy knew it, and she saved me. Like she always does.

It was an amazing night. Russell, Amy, and I all agreed that it was, without question, the best show we had ever seen. I briefly wrote about the night here, which shouldn’t be a surprise. I referenced that show again, when news about In Rainbows was released. It is a bold statement, particularly considering the pretty amazing array of shows under our collective belt.

I honestly didn’t think anything could top that show. Sure, I’ve seen plenty of bands since that have blown my mind, but not like Radiohead. In case it isn’t already embarrassingly clear, I love this band. In my mind, they have not released a single bad record. They conduct their business in a manner I respect. Their musicianship is extraordinary, and they truly seem to care about what they do. Like all good rock stars, they guard their privacy, and seem like the kind of dudes you’d like to have a nice dinner with.

And, those crazy crooked eyes on Thom Yorke make me giddy with delight. Never has there been a more interesting looking frontman. I think he is beautiful. I love things that are askew. Especially humans.

Wednesday night’s performance was the best show I have ever seen. I am still reeling from it. Although 15 Step was technically the start, the first song I enjoyed from my spot in row 7 was Reckoner, a positively high note in the band’s extensive catalog. It is my favorite track off of In Rainbows, and one I will play over and over and over again, never growing tired of its beauty.

I could easily spend hours going through the set list, detailing each and every song. I’m not going to. Even though I only write this blog for me, I also realize there are a lot of people reading it now. There is no need to bore you to death. Besides, some things you should just keep to yourself. I have no problem telling you about a visit from Tha Chief Boot Knocka, or revealing some of my innermost thoughts, or talking about my family, or posting unflattering photos of myself.

But, Radiohead? How they make me feel, how important their music is, how almost each and every song feels like someone I know on an intimate level? That shit’s between me and them.

They will never know how important they are to me, and that’s ok. I don’t know any of those dudes, and they get enough accolades from all sorts of folks. They don’t need me to validate their art.

But, man, I sure wish I could thank them for all they have provided. I wish I could tell them that I get it, and that I admire their conduct and ethics. I’ve seen a ton of shows. I understand the business of music fairly well, and have a good amount of experience with artists. My praise is heartfelt and sincere.

There are only a few performances that have brought me to tears. As I stood there the other night, sandwiched between friends, I didn’t even care that my eyes welled and dripped big, fat drops of water while the band played No Surprises. There has never been a band that has commanded my attention like Radiohead.

They are certainly the only band I would ever endure the absolute hell of White River to see. Everyone already knows what a nightmare this venue is, and the difficulties getting in and out are legendary. I’ve only been there once before. For Radiohead, of course, in 2003.

I went alone that year, even though I had two tickets. After Jen couldn’t go, I couldn’t think of anyone else that wouldn’t annoy me. At a Radiohead show, I am totally that person, the one you see that is closing their eyes, or laughing out loud with joy, or swaying as if they are the only person in the room.

I’m not even embarrassed by it, nor do I want to compromise it. It is a very rare thing for me, and I want to enjoy it to its fullest.

It was raining steadily by the show’s end, and had been for awhile. That GOODS cap that George gave me last year really came in handy. We had wisely put the top up upon arrival, and the super absorbent car wash towels mopped up any damp. It took us well over an hour to even get out of the parking lot, an absolute disaster of metal, glass, mud, and exhaust.

Some moron in the car next to us thought it would be clever to start a car horn honking symphony, which blessedly died off after ten excruciating minutes. Mouth-breathing dudes in neighboring vehicles tried to flirt with us, while we watched a nonstop parade of lost and wet folks trying to find their rides. The MGB idled in the rain for far too long.

We shouldn’t have been surprised when the car started billowing steam, just before the exit to Ikea. Did you know that is Kent, not Renton? I know that now, after we spent a good long time on the roadside, before managing to get the car to a gas station. The radiator was spewing water, through an impressive crack in the front. It was the first time we’ve ever had trouble with that little orange tiger.

It was almost 3:30 in the morning by the time Yellow Cab dropped us off at my place. Nikole was already planning on staying the night, since she would not have power restored until the following day. I made her crawl into my bed, while I prepared a nest on the couch. It took me over an hour to fall asleep.

I am not kidding when I say it was the best show I have witnessed in my life thus far. Nothing could impair its excellence. I still feel high from it, and remain absolutely convinced that Radiohead is comprised of some of modern music’s most talented artists. They very clearly still enjoy making music together, and the results are astonishing.

Sometimes, things really knock you out. I am lucky to have it happen more than it probably should, and I will never not be grateful for such good times.

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Tags: best show ever, radiohead