February 12, 2008
Radiohead to Play Nissan Pavilion on May 11
As you may have already noticed (look left), Radiohead announced their first batch of U.S. tour dates today (for real this time!), ending months of speculation as to where and when the band will play on its 2008 tour. Looks like Oxford's finest will bring their legendary live show to the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Virginia on Sunday, May 11th. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10 am via Live Nation and range from $35 for lawn seats to $55 for assigned seating. If you're a W.A.S.T.E. member, rumor has it that you'll have a crack at snagging some tickets early during a Valentine's Day pre-sale.
Not to look a gift horse in the mouth or anything, but the Nissan Pavilion seems like an odd choice for Yorke and company. As many of you will remember, the band pledged to keep their 2008 tour as eco-friendly as possible by attempting to play venues that are accessible via mass transit. And, well, the Nissan Pavilion doesn't exactly fit that criterion. It's also a little odd to see the band working with Live Nation, given their reluctance to work with big companies such as Clear Channel in the past. To their credit, however, it's not as if there is an abundance of Metro-accessible, independently-operated venues inside the Beltway that are capable of accommodating a band of Radiohead's popularity. And at least it's a Sunday, so traffic shouldn't be too bad. Get those refresh-clicking fingers ready, folks.
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fuck.
why all the way out in virginia, thom, why???!??
fuck.
that said, i need to work on scamming me some tickets.
Ugh. Virginia. Only reason to go across the river is for Korean Food & Stores. Blah.
Why can't they play my backyard? Better yet, why can't Greenwood play in my bedroom?
To quote Pitchfork: "So those of us who don't like supporting monstrously huge music industry corporations might have to choose between our ethics and Radiohead."
and I predict tickets will start showing up on Craigslist in 3 ... 2 .. 1 ...
0! Nice MikeB, I was with ya but checked, nothing yet...
Nissan Pavilion? For a Live Nation event?
No.Fucking.Way.
Radiohead is a great band that puts on a good live show, but there's just no way I'll be heading out that godforsaken Route 66 (5 out of 7 chance it will be on a weekday at rush hour) to see an event set up by a company that's trying to rape the citizens of MoCoMd in order to get a free building to make more $$$. And NP really sucks donkey, to boot.
I heard you get to decide the cost of the concert ticket....
1. Why do Brits think Bristow, VA = DC? They said they'd be playing DC. Nissan is not in DC.
2. Live Nation *is* Clear Channel with a new name. Clear Channel just spun it off as a newly named entity because of the bad rap its name has. Same devil, different name.
1. Why do Brits think Bristow, VA = DC? They said they'd be playing DC. Nissan is not in DC.
2. Live Nation *is* Clear Channel with a new name. Clear Channel just spun it off as a newly named entity because of the bad rap its name has. Same devil, different name.
Dodgecitydave. At least the show on a Sunday. Otherwise, I'd be looking for shows in Philly or NYC. I hate driving out there. Or rather, hitting up friends for rides out there.
Of course, that presumes I get tickets *knock on wood*
Not even Radiohead can make me want to drive at least an hour out to VA to get in that mess. Ewww. I'll just watch a couple of youtube videos.
I'm sort of torn b/c I've never seen Radiohead live but I don't really want to support their hypocritical tour (also on the environmental issue, they're coming to the US then back to Europe then back to the US, I can't imagine that's very fuel efficient)AND I didn't even like In Rainbows that much.
you all need to get off your high horses and appreciate the fact a decent show is coming this summer rather than having to go to V-fest and sweat it out for 2 days to see 15 mins of a relevant band.
I agree with the critics. Nissan blows. Radiohead are hypocrites. In Rainbows eh. Everyone should boycott this show.
That will make it easier for me to get tickets. :)
F! Big fan! But Bristow, VA? Where in Gods country is that? Oh, it's in Gods country.
RFK. Metro-able. Reduced "black cloud" above everyones heads.
Is there some reason they couldn't book Verizon Center? It doesn't get more Metro-accessible than that.
Grrr now I'll need a DD.
I'm a member of W.A.S.T.E. and haven't seen anything about the sale. Where are the details for that?
Nissan sucks to get to by car (especially during rush hour), and it's unfortunate that there is no mass transit route to get there, but once you're there it's a REALLY well-designed outdoor venue. It's much nicer than Meriweather Post, and only slightly more inconvenient, and probably the best place Radiohead could have selected for this show.
To all the gripers: where would you put this show? Indoors at the Verizon Center? RFK? This area is somewhat lacking when it comes to venues that are large, acoustically sound AND conveniently located next to a Metro line . . .
I'm a member of W.A.S.T.E. and haven't seen anything about the sale. Where are the details for that?
I think I'm a member and I haven't seen details either. But their web site has a link to ticket sales.
http://radiohead.com/tourdates/
Why do Brits think Bristow, VA = DC? They said they'd be playing DC. Nissan is not in DC.
The same reason everyone uses Nissan as a DC tour stop. There are no large amphitheatres within the District, so bands must play Merriweather or Nissan.
Sure, RFK would've been a much better venue, but that's not what they chose, so deal with it. Eco-friendliness notwithstanding, Nissan is the most logical place for a large band to play to the DC market (in the summertime, at least).
If you can't stand the thought of traveling so far into Virginia to see a great live show, don't go. It's that simple.
I would go see them if they were playing in 1997.
the comment from raydyohed: "rather than having to go to V-fest and sweat it out for 2 days to see 15 mins of a relevant band" shows they must not have gone to the Virgin Festival.
I've been there both years and the headliners play full sets - an hour to an hour and a half long. It's like getting to see all your favorite concerts back to back for 5 bucks each.
Nissan is awful - even on a Sunday it can take 2 hours from the exit to the parking lot. At least you can get in and out of Merriweather without aging.
the comment from raydyohed: "rather than having to go to V-fest and sweat it out for 2 days to see 15 mins of a relevant band" shows they must not have gone to the Virgin Festival.
I've been there both years and the headliners play full sets - an hour to an hour and a half long. It's like getting to see all your favorite concerts back to back for 5 bucks each.
Nissan is awful - even on a Sunday it can take 2 hours from the exit to the parking lot. At least you can get in and out of Merriweather without aging.
MWP: "There are no large amphitheatres within the District"
i was going to say "what about carter barron", but i guess it depends on what your definition of large is.
quick browsing of wikipedia numbers:
nissan - 25,000
merriweather post - 16,500
carter barron - 4,200
i still say they should have played RFK
WTF? First, Radiohead makes such a big deal about passing over the major labels and releasing their new album on their own, but then they promote their tour through Clear Channel-owned Live Nation and schedule their "D.C." date at hands down, the worst fucking large outdoor venue in the United States. Seriously.
And seeing how they're an advertiser on this site, I am shocked that we're even allowed to comment.
http://radiohead.com/tourdates/11may_bristow.html
Here's a carbon neutral comedy bit for you: "We strongly encourage you to carpool if you must take your car."
Of course you must take your car. I ain't hitchikin' tuh Bristow again, I declare. You don't want to know what they do to us city folk once you get past Manassas.
(P.S. RFK has a afternoon Nats game on May 11th. Oh wait, new stadium. Nevermind.)
[snip]To all the gripers: where would you put this show? Indoors at the Verizon Center? RFK?[end snip]
Ummm... YES & YES!!!!! Hell, put 'em at Ft. Reno and truck in some PortaPotties. Anywhere other than Nissan, and with no CC/LN extortion--er, "promotion."
So other than the occasional DC United game, RFK will be sitting empty? How lame. RFK is a great place to see a concert. When there's no lightning, that is.
i heart dc, i really do! seriously people, wake up, stop whining and be thankful for once. i know it hurts your sordid souls, but please try. pretty please?
this city has so much potential to be a spectacular society but with attitudes like these, we're destined to be another San Diego!
how the hell are we whining? we would like to see a world-class band hold the show in our (we hope someday) world-class city. not out in the sticks.
and don't compare us to southern california. please.
Huh. This show is the day after I graduate college. I suppose it would be a decent graduation gift to myself.
Also, I live in Bristow (when I'm not at school), so I guess I'm pretty darn lucky. But for everyone else, getting to this show does seem like a real bitch. And even though I like less than 2 miles from Nissan, the post-concert traffic usually means it takes me 30-45 minutes to get home sometimes, rather than 3.
This is where DC can actually DO something instead of whining. They were upset that the PG county National Harbor project will draw folks away. Why don't we build a mid-size venue a la Nissan on the metro, maybe off New York Ave station or even near the new ballpark? If the venue size is what's holding us back, then build it. I'm sick of this complaining (from DC govt, not DCist readers) and lamenting of everything happening outside the district, but then do nothing to attract that business inside the district line. What am I missing here...
Seriously y'all man up. So the show's out in Buttscratch, VA. Big whoop. Gather up some friends and make a mini-road trip out of it. Book a hotel room and drive back the next morning. Or don't freaking go. They are supposed to be playing Philly later in the year so maybe you can wait for that. And pretty much every major band does come through DC and actually plays IN DC (it's called Verizon Center) it's just that this particular world class band chose not to. Deal with it, go or don't go.
Put them at Fort Reno? What kind of indie crack are you smoking?
Last time r'head came through, they played Merriweather, which is equally bitchy to get to. They need the Nissan capacity. I guess Verizon can seat 20K, but they've never come there before... they were supposed to play the Bull Run Amphitheater back in '02 or so but got rained out, and you know what, I didn't give two craps that the show was out in the sticks because it was Radiohead, and I got mad when the show got rained out, because I like Radiohead and don't choose to waste my time complaining about their choice of venue. The LiveNation thing, I won't touch because I don't really care.