Following Radiohead's Haiti show tweets with all the other geeks

It's Sunday night, and I am officially a geek.

How else could I characterize myself after spending a perfectly good weekend evening sitting in front of my computer following people's Twitter updates?

Damn Radiohead fixation.

It's the only way I could cope with the fact that I'm not one of those lucky (rich) fans with enough fortune to have attended tonight's Haiti benefit show at the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater in Los Angeles.

So instead of rocking out with my favorite band, here I am following the tweets of people at the show so I can learn of the setlist in real time.

Just like all of the other Radiohead geeks.

Sure, reading about what's happening at an event doesn't even graze the ass of attending the real thing, but it's still a way to feel some connection to it.

Let's just hope I don't get to the point of joining the message board world -- but with a band like Radiohead, there are no limits to one's dorkdom.

Radiohead setlist, Jan. 24, 2010, The Music Box Theater

1. Faust Arp

2. Fake Plastic Trees

3. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi

4. National Anthem

5. Nude

6. Karma Police

7. Kid A

8. Morning Bell

9. How to Disappear Completely

10. Wolf at the Door

11. The Bends

12. Reckoner

13. Lucky (lucky 13, ha)

14. Bodysnatchers

15. Dollars & Cents

This is where took a request: Just or Airbag?

16. Airbag

17. Exit Music (For a Film)

Encore 1

18. Everything in Its Right Place

19. You and Whose Army

20. Pyramid Song

21. All I Need

Encore 2

22. Lotus Flower

23. Paranoid Android

24. Street Spirit

If did pay the minimum $475 ticket price to get in, would I have sacrificed my own experience to provide constant updates to the ladies and gentlemen at home?

I think timmayb sums it up well:

"While I am thankful and living vicariously through y'all, I cannot understand the need to tweet during a Radiohead show."

Amen.

But in all seriousness, even though us fans at home couldn't afford to support tonight's good cause, there's no reason to complain about it -- not when hundreds of thousands in Haiti are dead, buried, injured, homeless, hungry and grieving.

So stop your bitching, bitches.

I'm thankful there are famous faces out there willing to use their talents, or celebrity, or position to convey important messages to masses of people, to entice the more well-to-do folks to part with unneeded cash.

The sum of Radiohead's efforts tonight: $572,754, for those who really need it right now.

Show review: Thom Yorke Band, Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, Oct. 4

Standing ovations typically come at the end of a performance, but Thom Yorke was greeted with one before he even launched into his first song Monday at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. Needless to say, this was no ordinary concert. Yorke drew a mega-sold-out crowd of eager Radiohead fans, some with Hollywood faces, to the debut show (after a warm-up gig Friday at the Echoplex) of his new, non-Radiohead backing band formed to realize his solo material live and possibly/probably/undoubtedly collaborate with otherwise. ??????, as the marquee out front deemed the group without a name, pairs Yorke with bassist Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck/dozens of bands' drummer Joey Waronker, Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco, and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich "on everything else," as Yorke put it. With such a stellar batch of musicians up on stage, it wasn't surprising that the show's execution proved to be as exciting as its concept. The band ran through Yorke's 2006 album The Eraser in its entirety, each song getting a face-lift of sorts: the soft electronic glitchiness of the record was replaced by more rhythmic, carnal sounds in this live incarnation. Tracks took an altogether different shape under Yorke's beefed up rhythm section. “The Clock” lost its urgent ticktock and morphed into a menacing amalgam of bass and percussion; “Black Swan,” still retaining all of its despondent glory, fell under a spell of Refosco's tribal beat; and “Skip Divided" made the biggest transformation of all, with Yorke's ominous hum on the album replaced by Flea's melodica for a mysterious Middle Eastern feel, the song stripped to its barest of parts. Just before the latter song, Yorke prompted the crowd to stand. After all, The Eraser was intended to be a dance record and what, did the audience want to continue to act as if it were at the cinema? It seemed as if Yorke couldn't stop dancing. As he alternated between jumping on the piano, jumping on the guitar, and just plain jumping, he flitted around the stage like a madman infected with some sort of can’t-keep-still bug, even slithering his hips like Elvis during the more grooved up parts. And Flea was Flea, which is to say that he was rocking and bobbing onstage the entire time and a total badass on bass, breathing life into songs like "Harrowdown Hill" and the new Yorke track "Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses." As if the show wasn't special enough, what with the surprise backing band, the performance of The Eraser album, new songs and a rendition of Radiohead B-side "Paperbag Writer," which Yorke dedicated to Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood sitting in the audience, Yorke also played three new tracks on his own during the encore, two of which, "Open the Floodgates" and "Super Collider," Yorke played back-to-back on piano. The peak of the show came at the beginning of the encore with "Lotus Flower" a.k.a. "Moon Upon a Stick" (Yorke hasn't decided yet), a chill-inducing piece Yorke has been working on with Radiohead. Just Yorke's beautiful melody and an acoustic guitar, the song harkened back to Radiohead B-side “Follow Me Around.” Here's a pretty high-quality video of "Lotus Flower" shot by YouTuber Methanosktrr at the following night's show: Monday was a special night - for Yorke, Flea, Waronker, Refosco, Godrich, and most of all, the audience. Setlist The Eraser Analyse The Clock Black Swan Skip Divided Atoms For Peace And It Rained All Night Harrowdown Hill Cymbal Rush Yorke solo encore: Lotus Flower (Moon Upon A Stick) Open The Floodgates Super Collider Encore with band: Paperbag Writer Judge, Jury & Executioner The Hollow Earth Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses

Don't tell grandpa: Radiohead to perform on Grammys

Mark your calendars, kids, cuz Radiohead will play the Grammy Awards ceremony this year, making for an astonishing addition of talent to an otherwise bland lineup of live performances from the likes of Coldplay, Carrie Underwood, the Jonas Brothers, Kenny Chesney and Katy Perry (and the very unbland Lil Wayne and Jennifer Hudson, too). The Grammys, live from lalaland, will air Sunday, Feb. 8, sometime in the early evening on channel whatever. Along with potentially scoring in the Best Album and Best Alternative Album categories for In Rainbows, Radiohead's Best Rock Song nominee "House of Cards" is up against Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie and Kings of Leon (who, with "Sex on Fire," have the most rocking song in the category in my semi-humble opinion, though you won't see me revolt if HOC takes the prize):

Rant: The Grammy's - beggers can't be choosers; or can they?

So maybe I shouldn't bitch about the Grammy nominations announced today because a) my favorite band is up for five awards and b) I don't give a shit about a Grammy. But I have to admit my panties did bunch up when I saw that the Radiohead song chosen for nomination in the Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals category was "House of Cards." Amazing song, and In Rainbows is up for Album of the Year. But it also makes me wonder: Why "House of Cards" of all tracks when there's "All I Need," or even more worthy, "Reckoner." Don't tell me that this has something to do with the song's use in NBA playoffs promo ads earlier this year. Or maybe I just told you. Suspicious Grammy nomination No. 2: Would M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" be up for Record of the Year if it hadn't been played in those Pineapple Express trailers all summer? How much does a song have to be crammed into the public consciousness via commercials and other advertisements before it can be nominated for a Grammy? Call me a cynic, but it's hard to take awards shows like this seriously. I do, however, get a slight kick out of the fact that a Grammy is awarded for Best Album Notes. All right, album notes writers. And how about that mouthful of a category, Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals? I think I'll nominate that lengthy moniker for Best Worst Short Awards Category Name. Take that, Grammys.

Radiohead covers Portishead, debuts new song

To further cement Radiohead's standing as the best band around (aren't they the best?), they've gone ahead and covered a song from the best album released this year: "The Rip" from Portishead's Third. They soundchecked this track before a couple U.S. shows in May but never actually played it live. But loverly them, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood recently recorded the song in a backstage green room, and Colin Greenwood kindly posted it on Waste Central for us Webheads. And oh, it's a strawberry ice cream sundae: The band --well, Thom Yorke on solo piano -- also debuted a new new track, which fans are dubbing "Super Collider," at the Dublin show last week. Raw footage, yum:

Start spreadin' the news: Radiohead West Coast dates revealed

On your marks ...

In August, it'll be official: my transformation (mutation?) into a full-fledged Radioheadhead - the kind of geeked-out superfan who follows the band around on tour. I'm sticking to just Cali stops for the oodles of superfun, but here are all those West Coast dates, announced Monday, for completists' sake: Tuesday, 8-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Thunderbird Stadium Wednesday, 8-20 Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre Friday, 8-22 San Francisco, CA - Golden Gate Park (Outside Lands Festival) Sunday, 8-24 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl Monday, 8-25 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl Wednesday, 8-27 Chula Vista, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre Thursday, 8-28 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl Some partially Aussi, fully badass dudes called Liars will open the shows ('cept Outside Lands - we wouldn't want to taint the $225 hippie stinkfest with another good band, would we?).

Get set ...

A presale through Radiohead's Web site is scheduled April 9, U.K. time - a.k.a. anytime my time, a.k.a. no sleep 'til presale. Everyone's five favorite performers (aren't they the best?) also recently recorded a spanky live version of "Bangers & Mash," unveiled Monday (but I still can't get into it; kinda sorta really the least developed track from the batch of new stuff that reveals they are, in fact, fallible). The performance was part of the launch of Pitchfork Media's foray into boob-tube territory, the new music video site Pitchfork.TV, which also aired a live performance from Liars, footage of Man Man lighting fireworks (and recording their new album) on the streets of Philly and an entire documentary about the reunited Pixies. So ...

Go!

ahead and rot your brains at Pitchfork's new site, updated daily with lots of goodies. Yum.

What in the world? Outside Lands Fest tix $199!

So Radiohead's inclusion in the Outside Lands Festival, the San Francisco megaconcert happening August 22-24 at Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park, makes my attendance nonnegotiable, nevermind the involvement of decaf rock 'n' roll surfers or Tom Petty. But $199 for tix? This aint Coachella, kids. I best be seein' some primetime lineup additions before I spoon over half my rent for a three day concert that'll only be cool for two hours; or at least have the option to buy a single day ticket. Look out for this great mystery to be solved come March 30 when tix go on sale. And betcha $1,000 that Underworld will make an appearance.

Radiohead give the thumbs up to ousting hippies from Golden Gate Park

After years of electroshocktherapy, self-hypnosis experiments and strawberry ice cream cones, my mind still swirls in a bog of childhood trauma. Oh, the flashbacks of Mom and Dad taking 12-year-old me to a Grateful Dead concert in Golden Gate Park, visions of hippie ganjarasta men peddling hastily Saran-wrapped vegan sandwiches, bread dirty like their hippie faces; tripped-out "old lady"s shaking asses out of rhythm in hippie dances as light rock less talk hippie music wafts through the pot smoke and I see hippies everywhere and their tie-dye and their hair, oh their hair, and the bare feet indecent on the grass and the soiled towhead children and the smells ... please, no more smells. But here come Radiohead to kiss my scarred memory and make it all better. The S.F. Weekly reported that the Outside Lands Festival, rumored to be the first nonhippie concert to ever stage at Golden Gate Park, will happen August 22 through 24 with Radiohead headlining. So it's not a done deal just yet, though most signs point to a go. While initially deflated because of my selfish need to see Radiohead play the smallest venue possible, I'm pretty amped that they'll be surrounded by so much lovely foliage whilst serenading me with "Weird Fishes" and "Bodysnatchers." And anything's better than the Shoreline. The full lineup has yet to be announced, but count Planet of the Apes football halftime show superstar Tom Petty in, as well as Coachella cockblock Jack Johnson. Yes, Jack Johnson again. Does he have to stink up every summer festival lineup? I envision more electroshocktherapy in my future.

Count.down.

Never before have I felt such an urge to visit Texas. Not even for South By Southwest. Not even to revel in the delight of hundreds of the latest and reputedly greatest bands, live. But here I sit, Indian-style and impatient, a preschooler with a naptime sugar high. Of course my lust for trekking to the land that spawned the antichrist involves Radiohead. What else? Following their announcement that a U.S. tour would commence in May; lukewarm on the heels of revealing the cities they'll play, which includes San Francisco; Radiohead finally gave their stalkers a reason to quit their jobs and cancel plans for the next three months by unveiling the first eight dates of their U.S. tour. Let the line-waiting begin: 05-05 West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre 05-06 Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheatre 05-08 Atlanta, GA - Lakewood Amphitheatre 05-09 Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre 05-11 Bristow, VA - Nissan Pavilion at Stone Ridge 05-14 St. Louis, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre 05-17 Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 05-18 Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center With Europe shows scheduled in June and July, looks like it'll be August before they come 'round San Francisco. Waaahhh waaahh. But I put my private-eye glasses on and deduced that since the named venues average about 20,000 capacity, the Bay Area stage they'll most likely grace is: Shoreline Amphitheatre. I might be wrong. Dallas and Houston aren't really that far away, are they?
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Radiohead and the singing ghost

"Scotch mist - You thought that you saw something; you didn't; it was a track of the light, a phantasm, a spectre." Radiohead left their breakdancing backup dancers and sequined costumes stashed in the closet on New Year's Eve with an offering of "In Rainbows" tracks in their purest form, live from their Oxford studio. One of the highlights was getting to see Jonny Greenwood play the rare ondes Martenot close-up on "Jigsaw Falling Into Place." It's a fascinating device, electronic, invented in 1928 by French musician Maurice Martenot (ondes Martenot translates to "Martenot's waves"). It was inspired by its instrumental brother, the theremin (I saw this played at a rock show the other day). The ondes sounds like a singing ghost, or an angel. Get educated: Greenwood also plays the ondes on "How to Disappear Completely" and "Pyramid Song."

Radiohead knows how to please a woman

I read some interesting bits about how Radiohead cooks up its live setlists in an interview with guitarist Ed O'Brien mentioned today on ateaseweb.com: “We usually play two nights in a venue so we can actually play different sets each night. So, that’s cool. Phil, Thom and I do the setlists. Before a big gig the setlist meeting can go on for about three hours. It can start like this: Thom would say ‘we’re not going to play anything of OK Computer. We’re gonna play all the hard stuff’. And you go ‘OK, Alright’ and then you have arguements like ‘Don’t be stupid. Of course you have to play Paranoid Android. Don’t be rediculous. 20,000 people. These poor people came all this way and then play some obscure songs from a b-side.’ There is actually an answer. You want people to listen and you want to push them a bit. And you want to reward them for listening. So, it’s about dropping the songs at the right time. And also, it’s about a flow. Those gigs, when there’s ‘the band and the audience’… you know those when the top of your head comes off. It’s almost religious. You’re trying to work towards that as well.” I attended one of those "religious" types of gigs O'Brien refers to on June 24, 2006 at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. Most magical setlist ever. Somehow the song choices of the previous night's show didn't add up to the same revelatory experience. Fingers crossed that they'll spoil me with two dates in the Bay Area on their May U.S. tour. Dates with Radiohead, ooh.

Mmmmm. Radiohead's In Rainbows bonus disc

Yesterday Waste e-mailed me stating that my Radiohead In Rainbows "discbox has been despatched (sic)," and that it would arrive anywhere between five and 15 days. Ooh, that's awhile. I couldn't wait so I sopped up the inevitable Internet leak of the bonus disc's eight songs. I found the tracks kindly at YouTube. Totally brief first impressions from a Radiohead fanatic: "MK1" picks up where "Videotape" leaves off. "Down is the New Up" had me dancing around my room right away - it's fantastic and haunting at the end. "Go Slowly" contains a slowed-down guitar riff from "There There." It's a grower. "MK2" transitions. "Last Flowers" has Thom Yorke vocals that shine as much as, if not more than "Faust ARP." "Up on the Ladder" is an angry medieval metronome song. "Bangers and Mash" lost the sped-up surf frenzy of last year's live version. This one will have to grow on me too. "4 Minute Warning" was my least favorite of last year's new live tracks but they reworked it, and this recording is so good that I think it will be regarded as one of Radiohead's best songs. "This is just a nightmare/Soon I'm going to wake up." Tropical comfort. Amazing! Hurry up, post office. It's genius. Get yours.