Radiohead Fans Upset Over Nissan Pavilion, VA Concert

by Guitar Bassman

Radiohead, who played a show at Bristow, VA’s Nissan Pavilion on May 11 have drawn criticism from fans for deciding to play in heavy rain and flooding conditions.

The Washington DC area has been experiencing abnormally heavy rain and flooding in the past week.

“The D.C. market was faced with monsoon-like conditions around the show, with an estimated four inches of rain and flooding forcing road closures and maddening traffic conditions. Apparently a significant number of fans — hundreds or thousands, depending on who is estimating — were extremely late or unable to get into the show for a variety of reasons.

As such, many fans have taken to the Internet to vent their dissatisfaction, with neither the venue, the promoter nor the band being spared. One area blogger offers this headline: “Radiohead @ Nissan: You Both Suck.”

“Nissan Pavilion owner/operator Live Nation has offered fans that were turned away tickets to an Aug. 12 show at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, N.J. (near Philadelphia), or tickets to a show of their choice at Nissan Pavilion (subject to availability).

Adding fuel to the fire is Radiohead’s self-stated intention of making its summer tour as environmentally friendly as possible. According to one fan post, “One-third of the concert-goers that night were driving around in circles, burning fossil fuels all the while. This is your save the Earth tour … and yet you play in the middle of nowhere with no public transportation leading there. You owe us!”

I have to admit, if indeed thousands of people were turned away, the show should’ve been post-poned. Someone in the bands management should have had the foresight to realize the weather conditions would not allow people to get to the show easily or at all. Also, since the venue is outdoors it could be dangerous playing music in those kind of conditions, with power adapters and guitar cables outside and exposed.

Furthermore, it seems like Radiohead has good intentions with their attempt to make up for the carbon footprint they’re putting on the earth. The problem is most likely that the bands booking agency/agents choose the venues with little regard for this or anything else besides tour-routing convenience, perhaps the band should try to step in and take control of that more, especially if they really are attempting to reduce carbon emissions.

Source.

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