Doors 630
Concert 730
Estimated Radiohead appearance 9ish
The obvious thing to do was leave my house at 6, hoping that we would make it by 7 (it should have taken only 30 minutes) since it was raining pretty bad. Well, what could have been an hour drive turned into a 4 hour death fest. Traffic was INSANE, there was a detour once you got to Nissan Pavilion that wasted about another hour. Cars were being turned back, Roads were flooded and car accidents abounded.
Radiohead went on at 9pm and my car turned into what I thought was the entrance to parking at 9:45. Realizing there were 100000000 cars ahead of me still waiting to park, and even if I persisted I wouldn’t have gotten in until 1015 or 1030 at least, I turned around and went home. Seeing the last 30 mins of their concert would not have compensated for the Rage inside of me. I wanted to punch someone in the face.
Waste of $50, 4 hours and a lot of gas and energy. I know this show was rain or shine, but seriously. There were flood watches and shit all over the county. Cars were falling into muddy ditches. There has to be a backup plan for weather this bad.
I’ve stood in mud filled concerts before. I’ve survived camping at Roskilde twice in inches of mud with storms for days. I saw Bjork in a thunderstorm with my clothes utterly soaked and Iggy Pop while shivering and delirious. But this was just the absolute worst.
I am a huge Radiohead fan. They are the only band I really really enjoy that I haven’t seen live yet. This was disappointing on so many levels. F U rain.
Did anyone actually make it inside???? Was it any good standing in the torrential rain?
(DISCLAIMER: actual review by Aaron and photos by Joel and Rachel coming right up later today. This one just goes out to all those who, like Christina, felt cheated out of their Radiohead love)
Christina
At least you didnt feel like you were in the trenches during WWI. Jeans, shoes, coat, shirt, blanket, wallet, phone, everything soaked.
We left during 1st encore. During Karma Police, no less.
May 12, 2008 at 11:59 amI feel your rage. Left the district at 5, parked my car at 9 in the very back lot of Nissan. Walked through a one mile obstacle course of water and mud, ruined my phone. Stayed for about 3 songs and decided to leave before I got stuck again the back of the parking lot (at Coldplay concert a year ago i was stuck in the back lot for 2 hours after concert ended). As we left cars were still pulling in at 10pm. Mark my words, I WILL NEVER GO TO NISSAN PAVILLION (A.K.A. HELL ever again) !!!!!!! But i still love you Radiohead.
May 12, 2008 at 12:03 pmAMAZING SHOW! Rain was a total bummer, but Radiohead played an amazing set.
All I Need
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Lucky
15 Step
Nude
Pyramid Song
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Myxomatosis
Idioteque
Faust Arp
Videotape
Paranoid Android
Just
Reckoner
Everything In Its Right Place
Bangers + Mash
Bodysnatchers
Encores:
Like Spinning Plates
Optimistic
Karma Police
Go Slowly
Planet Telex
—-
Fake Plastic Trees
The National Anthem
House of Cards
What a fucking mess. My condolences.
May 12, 2008 at 12:28 pmI’ve never been so thankful for pavilion seats in my life. After the hour of sitting waiting to park, walking a mile in the torrential downpour to the front gate, (all while hearing the strains of “Jigsaw Falling Into Place”), trying to remain calm and remind myself i wasn’t in high school anymore so not to get too disappointed, i finally made it to my seat. But seriously, that venue sucks. And if you walked to the top of the stairs where the lawn was, it was like you were reaching the peak of the Himalayas but were missing all your survival gear b/c it got washed away in the river halfway up on the climb. Only to reach your seat with your freezing $10 24oz beer (wtf) and find you couldn’t muster any strength (or funds) to get a second. Radiohead sounded great. Those stage roadies have a workout, moving a piano out for 2 songs, then moving that off to make room for a thom yorke size drum set, then all the guitar changing and such. I thought the stage setup was great. It kind of reminded me at times of Supermans hideout in the north pole or whatever. Thom didn’t talk much but he did thank everyone for sticking it out to see the show….considering the conditions. From where i was it even looked like the rain was being blown on the stage at times. But again….Radiohead=Classy, hope to see you around again……Nissan Pavilion=Frustrating, never going there again.
May 12, 2008 at 12:46 pm-6:30pm: Left College Park
-6:30-10:15: Sat in traffic.
-10:15pm: Made it to Nissan…using my SUV “off-road” for the 1st time, I maneuvered between boulders to dive through the mud and park illegally.
-10:15 and 10 seconds: DRENCHED and MUDDY (Not even in side the gates).
-10:20: Caught the last 1/2 of last song from the set, while trying not to slide down the mud on my ass.
-10:45: Listened to “fake plastic trees” in the pelting, cold rain… wanted to cry… or punch someone in the face!
-11:00: Show was over.
-11:00-11:20: Wandered around in the rain in mud searching for my car.
11:20-12:00: Waited in traffic to get out of Nissan.
Aside from getting insanely wet on the way to/from the car, our experience was pretty good. Left the District at 4:45-ish, got to Nissan well before Liars even went on, and afterward we were able to exit the parking lot in about 10 minutes and got home around midnight.
Words can’t convey how badly I felt for the people on the hill. Radiohead themselves took time out toward the end to give an extra round of applause to the crowd, knowing what everyone had gone though to see them.
Oh, the show? Kicked ass. Nothing’s going to top that Bonnaroo set they did, but this was a solid second out of the many times I’ve seen them.
May 12, 2008 at 12:53 pmI am going to smash nissan’s face into a jelly.
May 12, 2008 at 12:57 pmWord from my intern who had seats and showed up early: “I don’t think I can ever enjoy another concert again, nothing will ever compare”
May 12, 2008 at 1:06 pmwe had exclusive photo passes so watch this space for trips down water soaked memory lanes a little later today.
May 12, 2008 at 1:07 pmmy roommate went through the same problem. im so sorry!
May 12, 2008 at 1:11 pmHoly hell Nissan is a joke. But you know what? everyone knows that and we still keep showing up. I was on the lawn for their entire set and they blew me away. Can’t imagine what kind of night it would have been had the weather cooperated. Seriously though how does that storm not let up one iota???
May 12, 2008 at 1:15 pmif you tried to get there last night and FAILED to get into the venue/lot cuz of nissan’s shitty traffic management and the torrential flooding, please call Ticketmaster customer service, ask for a supervisor, and demand a refund. (301) 808-2405.
also, call Nissan Pavilion to compain and ask them to authorize a refund settlement with TM. 703-754-6400.
never going there again.
May 12, 2008 at 1:47 pmBest show of my life. Bar none. We too waited in non stop traffic to get there. The detour at the Pavillion was insane. We were soaked before we even got to the steps to the lawn. But my buddy had his rubber Outward Bound geer on and was happy to be there. Then my other friend pulled out the deflated air mattress. So we huddled up under my huge umbrella, got into survival mode and I had my first religious experience in a long time. Even sitting in the parking lot for 2.5 hours without moving couldn’t dampen my happiness with life. It was hard watching poor souls circle the lot looking for their lost cards for hours at a time. Nissan Pavillion I hate you. But nothing can compare to the unbelievable show watching Radiohead throw down sound waves from space. We finally had to leave when the core temperatures started going down. Many thanks to the seal who slid down the entire steeply sloped lawn backwards on her back legs at 90 degrees as we were walking down the endless staircase on the way out.. Classic and surreal.
May 12, 2008 at 2:01 pmdo you know what’s weird? I seem to remember the same rain/flood situation happenening at a Radiohead show in 2002 at Nissan. strangeness.
May 12, 2008 at 2:02 pmParked in front of gas station about 1 mile from the stadium… left the show a bit early…around 11:30pm and people were still in line trying to get in! Redic… the only reason I would ever go to Nissan again is for Radiohead. We all could have gotten there faster in a kayak.
May 12, 2008 at 2:13 pmseriously, It’s nissan. It sucks with or without rain. you must GO EARLY! THis leaving at 5 stuff to get there won’t ever work, even for simon and garfunkel. Get real for your precious $50 tickets. I couldn’t even find one.
May 12, 2008 at 2:20 pmBEST. CONCERT. EVER.
WORST. VENUE. EVER.
(awesome pics despite rain.)
Back in 2001, Radiohead was due to play in the field at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, Virginia. Two nights, mind you. Both nights were canceled (the first night was postponed, then canceled, as the opening band was ready to go on) due the severe storms that came in. Not just rain, lightning, and a tornado watch, but flash flooding in the field where the show was to be. The water was over eighteen inches deep in several places. Many car engines flooded and had to wait to be towed out. Radiohead, of course, didn’t get to play.
They have only had something like six canceled shows in their entire career; all the other canceled shows were rescheduled. Not the Bull Run shows. Two canceled shows two nights in a row; absolutely terrible weather; absolutely zero music; and absolutely no rescheduling.
At least Radiohead got to play last night and some people got to see them. Yes, you got soaking wet and were stuck in traffic for a long time, but these things happen. Either suck it up for the music, or go home and shut up. And next time, plan your departure time and supplies according to the weather and venue and not according to your desires. (Plastic rain jackets are allowed but not umbrellas, wear rain boots instead of sandals, pack a sweater for the night time chill that comes on when you’re wet, and bring entertainment for the long wait in the car.)
May 12, 2008 at 2:24 pmYou will never remember this show, advantage Radiohead! Back in 2003 there was horrible traffic trying to get to Merriweather Post Pavilion (then it was a heatwave, not 2001-style wall of rain and lightning) and a lot of people were pissed.
Katey’s got it right, if you love Radiohead, go make out with your beloved in the rain, waiting in line at the gate at 3pm
(in 2001 we swung by the 930 club and found a line of 20 people at 1pm post- cancellation, when asked who was playing that night there, responded “Radiohead.” Little did they know the 930 was reportedly flooded too!)
May 12, 2008 at 3:04 pm“The obvious thing to do was leave my house at 6, hoping that we would make it by 7 (it should have taken only 30 minutes) since it was raining pretty bad. Well, what could have been an hour drive turned into a 4 hour death fest.”
You’re lucky if you get to Nissan in an hour without an artist playing there…the poor decision was your’s…
May 12, 2008 at 3:24 pmI was at the show at Nissan. I must say, I will never see another show there again. I will never give Live Nation another dime of my money. I am sorely disappointed that Radiohead did not play at Verizon in DC. After spending 4 hours in the down pour, the 3 hours in the parking lot sitting still was just a slap in the face. Disorganized and extremely rude staff. No shelter whatsoever to provide respite from the storm. We left before the concert ended and still had 3 hours in the parking lot. Yes Nissan and Live Nation suck! True always has been, chances are as long as people keep handing over their money for that kind of abuse they always will suck. However, Radiohead although sounding fabulous, denied we already soaked fans on the lawn the wide screens so we could see what all the torture we were putting ourselves through was for. Since Radiohead’s name is on the Marquis I hold them responsible, for the terrible parking, the rude staff and the people who were turned away and never got to see any of what they paid for. They should not act like they were powerless to help our situation. They should share the equal blame with the rest of the dismal performance of the venue.
May 12, 2008 at 3:29 pmI didn’t go, but have heard similar horror stories. FYI - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34329901280&ref=mf
May 12, 2008 at 3:44 pm@ George Towsend
–sounds like you weren’t stuck in traffic for 4 hours so you can’t really talk…
–yea our car got turned away too after leaving DC at 6:30 and getting there after 10..
everyone should get some sort of compensation for this..
May 12, 2008 at 3:56 pmWe left DC at 4:45, made it to Nissan in time to see several songs from the opening band, but it was sooo cold and wet, I think I may have pneumonia. I stuck it out for an hour or so of Radiohead before going back to the car, where I sat in the parking lot from 10 until 2 - they weren’t letting anyone leave. Radiohead put on a fantastic show, but echoing others, I will never go to Nissan again.
May 12, 2008 at 4:02 pmCheck out this petition to Nissan to refund the tickets: http://www.petitiononline.com/rhva08/petition.html.
May 12, 2008 at 4:53 pmWow - someone please call the whambulance. Since when is an outdoor venue supposed to make amends for not providing adequate shelter for people who buy lawn seats, refund Rain or Shine tickets when they obviously don’t control the weather, and take the blame for shitty traffic. If it was all the venue, then I’m sure it would’ve been mentioned in the glowing reviews (no pun intended) of Kanye et al’s show the night prior. Save the bitching for parking situation at Pimlico for the Virgin Mobile fest in August :)
May 12, 2008 at 5:14 pmI was there & have to agree w/the “Radiohead great, Nissan blows” consensus. Saving grace was that the tickets were inside the pavilion & free.
May 12, 2008 at 6:26 pmLet’s add more fuel to the fire!
http://www.colonelkspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/rain-down-rain-down-radiohead-at-nissan.html
I wish I had sprung for pavilion tickets so I could’ve enjoyed seeing Radiohead. Standing in the cold rain and wind sucked, not to mention the screens weren’t being used so I couldn’t even see Radiohead on a tv screen. I can’t blame Nissan for that at a “rain or shine” show when I chose to get lawn tickets… but “rain or shine” implies they’ll accommodate everyone when it RAINS. it’s absurd people were lied to and turned away. and of course I won’t get into the absurdity of playing at Nissan during an “environmentally friendly” tour… but anyway, it was a huge waste of money and time. I’m not going to complain too much because I didn’t catch much traffic getting there but it did take me 2.5 hours to get out of my parking space… I’ll just never ever go to Nissan again– if it wasn’t worth it for Radiohead I don’t know what it would take.
May 13, 2008 at 12:26 amI was in the pit up front, best time I’ve had in a year! Sorry for you folks in the lawn.
May 13, 2008 at 10:26 amThis was Nissan Pavilion’s response to my e-mail complaint about not being able to enter. They apparently are blaming concert goers versus their lack of organization. No refunds, offering tickets in NEW JERSEY!? That is ridiculous.
**Email from Nissan Pavilion Customer Service***
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for contacting Nissan Pavilion regarding your experience on Sunday night. Due to the torrential rain storm, multiple road closures and a late-arriving crowd led to delays for some music fans entering the parking lot at Nissan Pavilion. While we have no control over Mother Nature, we certainly are disappointed that some fans did not make it to the venue.
As a consolation, we would like to offer you complementary lawn tickets to Radiohead?s performance at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ on August 12th. We apologize for any inconvenience you experienced Sunday night and hope that this free ticket offer helps to make up for it.
May 13, 2008 at 3:45 pmAccommodations in case it rains? What the fuck? Who expects that? Oh, right, entitled people.
May 13, 2008 at 4:06 pmWait… that’s pretty awesome they’re offering anything let alone free tickets. I empathize with people who missed out, but seriously, I don’t think you can blame Nissan Pavilion for flooding roads.
May 13, 2008 at 4:38 pmDidn’t realize the venue “closed off roads and parking lots and how we were re-directed around the venue for 2.5 hours.” Withdraw my last statement.
May 13, 2008 at 4:42 pmStephanie, I just got the same offer. But wait, I had reserved seats for DC, not lawn. But, the NJ show probably won’t take as long to get to as Nissan Pavilion since it’s just across the river from Philly.
May 13, 2008 at 5:11 pmnissan called me back after i turned down their offer. they will be providing refunds to those who send in unused/unscanned tickets. at least they are doing the right thing though it still sucks for those of us who couldn’t get in/can’t make it to philly in august.
May 14, 2008 at 2:11 pmI’m sorry, but I’m with Dave. I’ve been watching this entitlement complex bullshit for the past couple of days. You are expecting refunds, rebates, pats on the back because you fucked up and had piss poor planning. It normally takes an hour and a half to get to the general area of Nissan Pavillion on a normal day. 29 miles = 29 minutes hasn’t been the norm in this area since the 1960s. The weather report was also very clear (wait, you did check the weather before going to a concert outdoors, right?) - they said very heavy rain beginning in the late afternoon and lasting overnight and well into Monday. The few reports I heard were for at least 4″ or more of rain on Sunday night.
So let’s see: Nation’s worst traffic + 4 inches of rain + tens of thousands of people trying to get into ONE SPOT AT THE SAME FUCKING TIME + Knowing that spot sucks = people owe you?
Seriously?
Note: Before everyone turns their whiny rage on me, this isn’t for all of the posters here, but some of you really are some elitist entitlement motherfuckers who aren’t owed shit, no matter how “professional” you think you are in your crappy cube job. Get over yourselves. It rained, you didn’t plan far enough into the future to foresee it would be a gigantic clusterfuck and no one owes you because you screwed yourself over by assuming you could just drive right up and sit right down and maybe be inconvenienced by a quick little shower.
May 14, 2008 at 2:29 pmyou need to control your rage and if not then just end your life.
May 14, 2008 at 3:14 pmi am confused over what happened for everyone else. my travel experienced sucked, esp on the way out, but it wasn’t the end of the world. i left arlington at 5:30 pm and reached nissan at 6:30 pm. my friend and i went and ate and had beers for an hour and a half at a restaurant about a mile away, and then drove right into the parking lot. yeah, it was rainy and somewhat trafficy, but we didn’t have any trouble finding an open parking spot or making our way into the parking lot itself.
May 14, 2008 at 3:20 pmSumeep - was that comment directed to me? Trust me, just because I can write as though I’m angry doesn’t mean I am angry anymore than Stephen King writing about some crazy batshit murderer means he is a crazy batshit murderer. It’s just the sign of a really fucking good writer (meaning me, not King - pats self on back).
I just wanted to call some people entitled who desperately need to be made aware of their situation.
Not that they’ll give a fuck.
May 14, 2008 at 3:46 pmI had a great time on the lawn…leaving took forever, but it was worth it.
I’m not going to protest going to the Pavillion. Planning goes a long way.
May 14, 2008 at 6:30 pm
At the exit we veered off and went to Sheetz - THE PALACE OF GAS STATIONS. We ate slim jims, cried, and tried to recount all the dialog from Temple of Doom, hoping the rain would end.
May 12, 2008 at 11:58 am