I won’t be seeing Radiohead (screwed by Ticketmaster)

Posted on April 12, 2008 by Spencer

I got my ass up early today to get tickets for Radiohead. I generally have good ticket buying karma – I like to think it’s because I don’t steal music. Anyway – I kept track of the atomic clock, and promptly refreshed my browser at the right second – it actually took a second refresh to see an order form, but I was in! I put my order in, and got a message that no tickets were available – this was at ten o’clock and twenty seconds. I put a second order in, same thing. Finally the third order goes through and I’m on the fucking lawn. The fucking lawn! Who got reserved seats if twenty seconds is too late? I’ll tell you who – Stubhub – because they have plenty of great seats selling for $150 and up (more than twice face value) And don’t tell me that this is the way bands make their money because Radiohead makes none of that profit. Want to bet one day we find out that Ticketmaster is somehow making money off of Stubhub sales?

And what of Radiohead’s pre-sale? At fucking ten A.M. on Wednesday when I have to be in a meeting. I know it just wasn’t meant to be. Why are all these pre-sales during the work day, when people have to work?

I tell you, I kind of miss the days of going to a venue at five A.M. to wait in line at the West Coast Video – because that seemed to be more fair. As I sit here in a t-shirt and boxers, I realize buying tickets over the internet is insanely easy and convenient, but at the end of the day, is no more than a lottery, and winning means you don’t have to pay a surcharge to scalpers if you really want those tickets.

At least I’ve been lucky enough to see Radiohead five or six times in some really ridiculous venues (at the Trocadero opening for Belly for instance or a couple of years ago at Tower Theater), and seeing them a seventh time would be solely a luxury; I feel bad for the person for who this show would have been their first time. The system doesn’t work in your favor.

I know come August 12, I’m going to be annoyed when I’m sitting at home instead of watching my favorite band, but I’ll live. Oh well.

Radiohead Scotch Mist Concert Video

Posted on January 5, 2008 by Spencer

You can watch the concert below. They play the entire album In Rainbows (iTunes). The cd version was released this past Wednesday.

WPvideo 1.10

Radiohead reminder – a free New Years Eve Webcast

Posted on December 31, 2007 by Spencer

I wish I could watch, but I’ll be out drinking and eating (and drinking).

Anyway – Radiohead will be performing at 7 PM EST at Radiohead.TV.

Enjoy it (and someone record it for me please).

Happy New Years every one!

Radiohead – In Rainbows (Amazon)

A Rubber Door’s Top albums of 2007

Posted on December 24, 2007 by Spencer

Here’s my top 18 albums from 2007. Why 18? Well I keep listing albums until I feel there are no more that deserve to be mentioned. I’d love to hear your comments – and if you have your own list, put it in the comments section and I’ll keep a running list of best of 2007 around the blogosphere. For the most part links will link you to iTunes (except for Jay-z and Radiohead).

1	Spoon – Ga ga ga ga ga – For some reason this album got middling reviews. For me every time I heard a song from it I couldn’t believe how good it was. Easily the most accessible of their releases. My Favorites: Don’t Make Me a Target, The Underdog
2	Foo Fighters – Echoes, Patience, Silence, and Patience – I love Foo Fighters but hadn’t liked anything they’d done recently. This album is the best they’ve had since The Color and the Shape. My Favorites: The Pretender, Home
3	Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha - This album is truly amazing. I’ve described it as a more tuneful Sufjan Stevens album. And it holds together better than a Stevens piece. My Favorites: Fiery Crash, Darkmatter
4	Radiohead – In Rainbows – This album will be remembered for the unique, name your own price, distribution method. It should be remembered as classic Radiohead. My Favorites: Bodysnatchers, Falling into Place
5	Peter Bjorn and John – Writer’s Block – I couldn’t get the whistling song (Young Folks) out of my head all summer – which was like torture since I can’t whistle. Get past that and this some kick ass jangle rock. My Favorites: Objects of My Affection, Young Folks
6	The Apples in Stereo – New Magnetic Wonder – I waited to get this because it’s a double album and took a lot of my eMusic downloads. Stupid. Some people won’t like it because of it’s experimental takes, but it includes a ton of great songs. My Favorites: Energy, 7 Stars
7	Travis – The Boy With No Name – Travis hasn’t been the same since 12 Memories but they still kick Coldplay’s whiny ass. My Favorites: 3 Times and You Lose, Closer
8	Mark Ronson – Version - All I have to say is Ol’ Dirty Bastard redoing Britney Spears’ Toxic. Just one of an album full of great covers – done so differently you forget the original. My Favorites: Toxic, Oh My God
9	Feist – The Reminder – Thanks to Apple’s ubiquitous nano ad I bought this album. 1234 is the catchiest song of the year – but the rest of the album holds its own. My favorites: 1234, I Feel it All
10	Amy Winehouse – Back to Black – Listening to this album, you should have been able to see the train wreck coming. That doesn’t make this into a novelty act – Winehouse (and producer Mark Ronson) update the 60′s girl sound – without making it trivial. My favorites: Back to Black, Love is a Losing game
11	Okkervil River – The Stage Names - This one will surprise you, demanding repeat listen after repeat listen. My favorites: Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe, John Allyn Smith Sails
12	John Doe – A Year In the Wilderness – John Doe does what I would want to as a singer/songwriter – work with unique voices such as Kristen Hersh or Kathleen Edwards. His song The Golden State (with Edwards) is one of the best examples of songwriting I’ve heard this year. My favorites: The Golden State, Unforgiven
13	Albert Hammond Jr. – Yours to Keep – Maybe The Strokes should let this guy write because this is better than any of their albums. My favorites: In Transit, 101
14	Crowded House – Time on Earth – I didn’t expect to like this album as much as I did. It’s been 14 years since their last release and this sounds like an older Crowded House – but I’m an older me, so it works. My favorites: Silent House, Nobody Wants To
15	Jay-Z – American Gangster – So much better than his last album. This one is fierce and sounds like it has a purpose. My favorites: Roc Boys (And The Winner Is…..), American Dreamin’
16	Kristin Hersh – Learn to Sing Like a Star – Kristin keeps on cranking them out, and she keeps getting better. My Favorites: In Shock, Day Glow
17	Trances Arc – XOXOX – I have a sneaking suspicion this album will keep rising and rising the more I listen to it. I didn’t get it until recently and it’s already made an impression as one of the best pop rock releases this year. My favorites: Peace of Mind, New Style
18	Mark Olson – The Salvation Blues - The former Jayhawks lead singer sounds like he hasn’t skipped a beat. This could have followed up Tomorrow the Green Grass. Some might call that nostalgic; I’ll call it timeless. My favorites: Clifton Bridge, Tears from Above

Here’s an iTunes iMix of My Favorites songs from the albums above

Radiohead: In Rainbows

Posted on October 11, 2007 by Spencer

While away last week Radiohead fired the shot heard around the music world. They have decided to release their new album, In Rainbows on their website bypassing the traditional label route. In true Radiohead fashion, this is no simple cash transaction. There are two options, a box set meant for die hard fans that comes with the release on vinyl, extra CDs, and artwork. It also comes with a $80 price tag. You can also just download DRM free MP3s from their site at a price you determine. That’s right, you name the price you’re willing to pay. I paid 4 pounds (about $7.60). A coworker of mine paid nothing. Want to share it, go ahead.

This could be a remarkable change in the way music is offered to listeners. Radiohead is the first major band to really go around the labels in such a significant way. Imagine acts like U2, Green Day, or Kanye West doing the same thing – the labels are dying as it is; and it’s about time. The labels operate by trying to resist consumer desires at a cost most consumers don’t want to pay. $20 for a CD? DRM on downloads? iTunes purchases only work on an iPod? All bullshit.

Put it this way, Radiohead could charge $2 for every download of the album and get what a label is willing to give them. The label would charge at least $10 for the same download on iTunes with a buttload of restrictions. And Radiohead can afford the risk. There’s nothing bad in this for consumers at all.

Here’s to Radiohead.

So what about the music? I’ve listened to it 4 or 5 times and can say it’s Radiohead. It’s along the lines of their last release, Hail to the Thief in sound – blending traditional rock sounds with electronic beats. I’m a Radiohead diehard, so it’s an A+ for me, but I feel it’s easily one of their more accessible releases – while still earning raves from me.

Anyway – support the shift in the industry. Pay a pound. Pay nothing. But go and download the album. Use the following link:

Click Here for Radiohead In Rainbow

Radiodread – Easy Star All Stars

Posted on September 5, 2006 by Spencer

Some good recommendations for everyone:

No better proof of how respected Radiohead is than the amount of tributes. string quartets, pianists, even lullabies. Radiodread is a dub style version of Radiohead’s OK Computer and it works phenomenally. A friend of mine says about tributes that they only make him want to listen to more Radiohead. Radiodread stands on its own as a CD unlike many of the other tributes. Look for the song “An Airbag Saved My Dub” – awesome.
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Radiohead thoughts on a bush daughter

Posted on July 10, 2006 by Spencer

Apparently one of George Bush’s daughters showed up to a Radiohead show last month. Some sort of scuffle ensued when she tried to leave and all six of her bodyguards barreled their way out. Found on Radiohead’s blog:

on the shitlist

this’ll make you laugh.

i was told yesterday that one of the daughters of the president came to NY show 2.
we were playing THe Tourist at the end of the show.. and yyes we did wander what the shuffling manhandling fighting was in the distance of the audience.
turns out it was her 6 bodyguards clearing the way for the first daughters exit. and some pour soul objected at being manhandled by the secret service. i think i would have to.

infact if i had known all this my objections would have been more forthright and extensive…if you know what i mean. which is perhaps why our lot chose not to tell me who was in the building before we went on. probably a good idea.

hmm
i dont know if we should be

A. honoured
B. amused
C. bemused
D. ask if she had a valid ticket
E. object belatedly on moral grounds
F. ask again if she had a ticket and question whether this really what our gigs are about
G. dont blame the daughter for the father
H. shutup and smile

A Rubber Door

music, politics, sports, etcetera

Tag Archives: radiohead