last monday evening inside los angeles’ hollywood bowl, radiohead‘s thom yorke and jonny greenwood acoustically performed live tell me why, a cover from neil young’s classic 1970 album “after the gold rush”. previously over the years, radiohead has enjoyed covering other neil young work such as on the beach (acoustically in 2003 on british radio), cinammon girl (live in paris, france in 2001) and after the gold rush (from thom’s 2002 bridge school benefit show on neil’s very own piano.)

it all started with a stumble and i get old and i get humble
the sky cracked a million ways, making me blind
and as the trees grew higher and higher and the fish began to fly
i went and stole some wings, and thought “why can’t i?”

after seeing radiohead live and sitting in a post-haze of non-moving traffic for over 2 hours, what do you really listen to? when brooklyn’s yeasayer‘s debut album all hours cymbals began to play, it worked perfectly from start to finish, beginning with the tribal harmonies, pounding drums and underlining simplicity of sunrise.

standing up at the top of the hill, looking down upon radiohead, the amazing set with these daggers of light that created their very own design and color with each different song. complimentary in rainbow shades of blood red, hazy purple, velvet green, the highlighted stage together created almost the religious look of a church with its v-shaped effect of three chandeliers that reflected lights of burning candles, above its black shadow of an invisible choir that turned into demon like ghosts that seemed to crowd around all together as if they were they there to watch over us, the band and everything else. the dirty guitars twisted and turned into brand new directions progressing into comforting levels that seemed perfectly fitting to thom’s angelic vocals that radiated more and more further into the show. the audience’s reactions seemed to only be able to just laugh at how good the performance was and at times, it seemed the only thing we could do was close our eyes and lock it in deep inside for ourselves. those in different parts of the venue had their very own wonderful visual perceptions but from my own personal view, in the middle of 20000 people, singing along to every single radiohead word for two hours, it was evident we all were there for the same reasons and had something in common.

radiohead // comcast center // mansfield, ma
august 13, 2008 thankyou to atease.

highlights included all i need in its red entirety, the fast intensity of the national anthem, the hand claps in everything in its right place, the way the crowd uninhibitedly sang in karma police “for a minute there, i lost myself, i lost myself”, the purple and green static electricity strobe lights used for the gloaming, thom and johnny performing faust arp acoustically and after encore 2, thom walking onto the stage alone and playing the eraser’s cymbal rush silently on the piano.

Setlist:
01. Reckoner
02. Optimistic
03. There There
04. 15 Step
05. Kid A
06. Nude
07. All I Need
08. The Gloaming
09. The National Anthem
10. Videotape
11. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
12. The Bends
13. Faust Arp
14. Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi
15. Everything In Its Right Place
16. Exit Music
17. Bodysnatchers

Encore 1
18. House of Cards
19. I Might Be Wrong
20. Paranoid Android
21. A Wolf At The Door
22. How To Disappear Completely

Encore 2:
23. Cymbal Rush
24. Karma Police
25. Idioteque

:: download the zip ::

images thankyou to cole kinser
recording thankyou to sensitiveeyes of ateaseweb

[on june 06, 2006, this radiohead post was created about the bank of boston pavillion show. now two years later, in honor of my excited anticipation of being able to attend the in rainbows tour this evening with my friends, it feels important to relive my adoration, words and the beauty of taking it all in, listening to the live music all over again. the tracks below especially stand out even more, as they showcase the new songs in a completely different light and yet still within my heart, my feelings for radiohead are just as pure as they were when this was officially written and will forever remain the same.]

my friend petrina called yesterday from boston to let me know she went through a life changing experience. she was afraid to tell me. afterall, she just saw radiohead.

in awe, petrina explained how amazing it was to go from sitting in her bedroom listening and obsessing over kid a, ok computer and to be there spontaneously that sunday night seeing and hearing them perform live in front of her. with no hesitation the reviews were in reminding that the whole show went perfect.. thom was in a great mood, making jokes, dancing and the band was right on. some fans say the june 4, 2006 boston show is one of the best so far of this summer’s tour.

back when tickets went on sale for the boston and nyc radiohead shows as well as tool, i tried so hard for tickets and had no luck, it was rather traumatic. its always been such a pleasure going to see one of my very favorite bands perform. to be apart of something special that doesnt happen very often and when it does, when every little thing about the lights, the sounds, the people, the feelings around me come together… i live off of that. there is nothing like it, comfortably surreal.. i get emotionally inspired, visually motivated and always want more.

so for today anyways, im reliving the experience vicariously through my friends. there is always a warmth in boston when radiohead performs. even though you have those who may not get it, there truly are the ones that do. you can feel them inside this show and i know, with all my heart, i truly wish i was there.

radiohead // bank of boston pavillion
june 4, 2006 thankyou to atease.

01 there there * 02 2+2=5 * 03 lucky * 04 15 step * 05 arpeggi * 06 kid A * 07 dollars & cents * 08 the national anthem * 09 nude * 10 videotape * 11 paranoid android * 12 spooks * 13 the gloaming * 14 house of cards * 15 idioteque * 16 bangers & mash * 17 how to disappear completely * 18 airbag * 19 street spirit * 20 bodysnatchers * 21 everything in its right place * 22 4 minute warning * 23 my iron lung * 24 karma police

After the Jump presents Fiasco, this Saturday June 21st, for After the Jump Fest in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, performing during the early evening on Galapagos free noise stage at 5:30pm.

Listen :: Rod Ferrell

MIA: Musically, how did the band form, what past experiences do you carry with you?

LUCIAN: Musically the band formed because we all liked hardcore punk. We were all in this other band where the 4th member didn’t really like punk music, so we formed the band just to get it out of our system. Our first show was essentially just 80′s hardcore covers.

JONATHON: I think being in a band together since we were all 12, 13 has been a really important experience; writing original material (as crappy as most of it was) and playing out at that age has allowed us to grow musically more and more, which is great.

MIA: Describe the feeling of living and making music in New York, feel free to share a memory or a certain place (bar, restaurant, record store) that makes you feel like home.

LUCIAN: It’s nice making music and living in New York because there’s a great music scene going on. Pretty much everyday of the week there’s a show with some bands worth going to, which is nice because you have sources for inspiration all around you.

JULIAN: Making music here is awesome. There’s such a large scene and a ton of people go to shows. Also there are a lot of really good bands that we love to play with.

JONATHON: New York, especially Brooklyn, has such a great and supportive musical community, and just from walking around parts of Brooklyn or NYC or going to a show or whatever one can get a sense of how unique New York really is. Living here has been awesome for all of us, it’s more or less all we know.

MIA: How does the band like to get ready for a live show? Is there a favorite song that you enjoy to perform live?

LUCIAN: I personally don’t feel like i need to get ready to play. I mean none of us really like huddle and “clear our minds” or whatever. For me I’m just nervous or excited and then it’s like “oh time to play!”

JULIAN: We have some special rituals where we burn lots of candles and sacrifice large animals.

JONATHON: Some special favorite songs to perform live are about 30 seconds of either “Tij” by Battles or “Luxury Condos for the Poor” by Double Dagger, just for the fuck of it.

MIA: What are your recommended records so far of ‘08?

LUCIAN: No Age’s Nouns. It’s a really fun weird feel good album to listen to.

JULIAN: So far, my favorites are probably “All Aboard the Magic Pus” by Black Pus, “Nouns” by No Age, “Rise Above” by Dirty Projectors (was that 2008?), “In Rainbows” by Radiohead, every small High Places record, “Load Blown” by Black Dice, and probably a bunch more that I forgot. Also some of these may not be 2008, it’s hard to keep them straight.

JONATHON: In addition to all the ones above, I would recommend: Portishead- Third, Vampire Weekend – S/T, The Mae Shi- HLLLYH, Gnarls Barkley- The Odd Couple, Meshuggah – obZen, Devotchka- A Mad & Faithful Telling, Crystal Castles- S/T, Stephen Malkmus – Real Emotional Trash, Animal Collective – Water Curses, The Mars Volta – Bedlam In Goliath, Wu-Tang – 8 Diagrams, Health – HEALTH//DISCO, and Flight of the Conchords – S/T (seriously, they write good songs).

MIA: Name a visual artist or piece of work that inspires you

LUCIAN: Edward Gorey, Stephen Gammel, Salvador Dalí, Francis Bacon, anything out of the Dada movement.

JONATHON: Some of my favorite artists are Max Ernst, R. Crumb, Wassily Kandinsky, Walt Disney, Hieronymous Bosch, Pablo Picasso, William Steig, the Fleischer brothers, Roy Lichtenstein, Bruno Bozzetto, Dalí, Saul Steinberg, Dr. Seuss, the list goes on. They could inspire lyrics, but probably not music. A piece of art every person should see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuGaqLT-gO4

MIA: Please share a mixtape with a theme of your choice.

LUCIAN: the theme is that there is no theme

Fratres – Arvo Pärt
Drama In the Emergency Room - I Hate Myself
Things I Did When I Was Dead – No Age
Strange Lights – Deerhunter
Crimewave – HEALTH

JULIAN: this is music I listened to today and enjoyed.

Alice – Pogo
Hilli – Amiina
Only In America – Tone Tank
The Impossible Chicken - Animal
Love Astronaut – Murder Mystery

JONATHON: Eclecticism. (My 5 current favorite songs.)

A B-Boy’s Alpha – Cannibal Ox
Midnight, the Stars and You – Henry Hall
I Am the Emperor – Vijaya Anand
Gang Bang Suicide – Kevin Drew
IV. Finale Allegro Molto Vivace – Robert Schumann
[3rd String Quartet in A Major, Op. 41]

.image credits and thankyou to fiasco.

After the Jump presents Papercranes, this Saturday June 21st, for After the Jump Fest in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, performing during the day on the Main Street stage at 12:50pm.

Listen :: Treasures

MIA: Musically, how did the band form, what past experiences do you carry with you?

PAPERCRANES: Its been a long road to the current and most rewarding line up for Papercranes. We all have had and continue to have side projects that enrich and inspire the band as a whole.

MIA: Describe the feeling of playing in New York, feel free to share a memory or a certain place (bar, restaurant, record store) that makes you feel like home.

PAPERCRANES: It can be difficult at times, getting our gear to places in cabs, but the excitement of the city and it’s musical history is always worth it. We are fond of Other Music record store and Mercury Lounge as a live venue.

MIA: How does the band like to get ready for a live show? Is there a favorite song that you enjoy to perform live?

PAPERCRANES: Rehearsing at our drummer Dave Lebleu’s place in Long Island City is our go to, get ready for shows spot. He has roof access and we go up there to chat and look at the skyline between sets. We recently have most enjoyed rehearsing ‘warrior face’ from our upcoming record.

MIA: What are your recommended records so far of ‘08?

PAPERCRANES: Radiohead “In Rainbows”, The Besnard Lakes “The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse”, and Handsome Furs “Plague Park” to name a few. I like these records because they are interesting and exciting. These bands are trying things that are different from the norm while remaining satisfying and catchy.

MIA: Name a visual artist or piece of work that inspires you.

PAPERCRANES: There are too many artists to name just one. I do believe art influences art.

MIA: Please share a mixtape with a theme of your choice.

The theme is: Heavy Rotation!

All I Need – Radiohead [In Rainbows, 2007]
Handsome Furs Hate This City – Handsome Furs [Plague, 2008]
Did You See the Words – Animal Collective [Feels, 2005]
The Cowshed – Fionn Regan [The End of History, 2006]
Tequesta – The Mercury Program [A Data Learn the Language, 2002]

.images credits and thankyou to papercranes.

recently, radiohead released the best of radiohead :: special edition cd and dvd featuring a complimentary selection of songs and videos from their past 6 albums over the last fifteen years. the only album that’s missing is in rainbows, as that was created after their contract with label emi expired. although most fans already have every song created by the band, for those that are beginning the radiohead journey, this collection may just be perfect for the newcomer.

officially on april 28, portishead released third, their third studio album in eleven years. fans all over the world were in anticipation of what was to be revealed. most immediately spoke of the music as different, something to chill or sleep or make love to. however personally, portishead was always magical music to listen to alone in my headphones to escape to. bringing me back to thirteen years old living in the nineties, when to feel any type of sadness or feeling of emotion in anything seemed uncommon, through this type of sound it seemed important to feel it all.

in listening to the new album, the first track begins with a distorted voice speaking a portugese verse of the wiccan rule of three. after an epic two minute opening of pure driven electric guitar almost screaming against pulsating tribal drums and cow bell, beth gibbons tone of voice humbly breathes in a pure form of honest lyrics and thoughtful expression until it all abruptly stops and after a repeat listening, the message becomes well received.

be alert for the rule of three
what you give is what you get back
you only get what you deserve

silence
the rip [third, 2008]

guaranteed by the deepest thoughts of darkness, despair and inspiration, portishead blends into a brand new revelation. over a test of time, the sound becomes accustomed. favorite third tracks including nylon smile, we carry on, small and threads are held powerful to the highest degree, showcasing a real human connection of emotion, that needs to be given, appreciated and seen in an entirely different light.

.see radiohead cover portishead.