Well, here’s news that I’m sure will delight all… I’ve had a couple breakthrough moments concerning Radiohead in the last couple days. ‘So what!’ you may scoff, but never do I get any stranger looks on peoples’ faces as when I inform them kindly that I don’t really listen to Radiohead. I think the popular assumption is that everyone does, so that would especially include me. But I’ve never really caught on to their brand of magic, although it certainly must be there (here’s where I’ll avoid saying ‘millions of people can’t be wrong’). I think the biggest factor was that when they were really blowing up after Kid A, it was a time right after I had discovered Krautrock, so when I heard Kid A, it didn’t floor me the way that it floored everyone else the first time they heard it. I had already been listening to way trippy electronica mixed with droning rock guitars. That said, I just kind of missed the wave when it was at it’s crest.
But a couple nights ago, I fell asleep near the beginning of Conan and awoke near the beginning of the musical guests’ live simulcast from England. It was Radiohead (who was the very first musical guest Conan had on Late Night when the show launched in ’93). I was captivated. It sounded beautiful. I must say I didn’t even know the name of the song, but I was in a sleepy trance. Well, I’ve got the full performance for you below. I missed all the stuff at the beginning with the ‘carbon emmissions’ and ‘dedicated to the **** who walked away from the Kyoto agreement’ and was happy to see it all on YouTube.
And before I play the projection for you, the other thing that put Radiohead in a nicer light for me was today when I was reading in Rolling Stone that Radiohead performs (or will perform) a different set list every time they play, so each show is different. I dig that. Anyway, come 2010, I may be headed for becoming a big Radiohead fan ten years after Kid A was released. That would be sort of typical for me… always dabbling in the old sounds!
Dig this…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccAiL6Klo0w&hl=en]
And I’ve got a few more links to throw at you at the start of your weekend, links that will shape your world…
- You must hear and see the new Animal Collective song and video, ‘Water Curses’, which will be the name of the upcoming EP release.
- New Eno/Byrne album and tour coming soon, although I would unpopularly say that My Life In the Bush of Ghosts was not a favorite of mine. The show will be fantastic though, I’m sure!
- Do you have time/interest to read a lot about African music and why white people should be outlawed from playing it? It’s a very well-written and informative piece with lots of great mp3 examples, but I do think Heart on a Stick is missing one very valid point.
- Van Halen is back at it!
- Cool video from the new John Varvatos at CBGB… now that’s punk rock. Or something.
- The 2008 Celebrate Brooklyn schedule is up.
- Daryl Hall in action at Live From Daryl’s House
What else is up?
I’m officially tired of winter and possibly SAD. I notice a certain complacency that I don’t have during warm-weather months. Luckily, I’m going on a cruise to the Caribbean next week with the family-in-law and it’s gonna be a blast! What will you be doing? Oh, sorry… sitting at your cubicle filing TPS reports. Hey, someone’s gotta do it…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32qcvbXFkBg]
Band I’m diggin’… Supergrass.
The ongoing saga of the RIAA v. Its Clients
R.I.P. to two excellent players… Buddy Miles and Jeff Healey
Van Halen tour postponed and possibly cancelled. Best wishes to Ed.
Best COLOR songs. Any more that are missing?
Download Toad.
I can’t wait to be on vacation in the Caribbean next week!
Well…what a week! Matt McCarthy‘s 40th birthday was on Saturday, Led Zeppelin‘s music finally became available through online digital services such as iTunes, I did my first volunteer project for NY Cares (which was planting bulbs in Ft. Greene Park), my brother’s birthday is Thursday (11/15) and my sister’s is Sunday (11/18), Paul and Jamie returned home from their long stay in L.A., the Bengals won a game on Sunday, I learned about the band Exmagma, I’m going to see the amazing Gabrielle Stravelli sing on Saturday night, and Cymbeline on Sunday afternoon. This is one of the gifts that Matt got on his birthday….
Indie Rock may not be so hip and underground as it thought it was. Or does this make it even hipper? I don’t know how these things work anymore.
Seen the new NPR music site?
Or the great NPR sub-blog, Monitor Mix, written by ex-Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein?
More on the state of the music industry at The Week Daily.
Super-cool douche, Thom Yorke snubs Paul McCartney. More reason for me to dislike Radiohead. If a Beatle wants to work with you…DO IT! Jeez! Come on…you gotta agree here.
Whoa! Just saw this on Hidden Track. The self-tuning Gibson guitar introduced.
More Van Halen shows coming in 2008!
And for you Phish geeks, Hidden Track also commemorates the 10-year anniversary of Phish Destroying America. You can download some killer cow-funk shows there too. I’m listening to Dayton 12-07-97 now!
The great slur-off. Winehouse vs. Dylan.
What else is up, ya’ll?
