Don't Get Any Big Ideas...

I just took a very exciting trip to Montreal to see my favorite band, Radiohead, the other day, and aside from being fucking amazing, there are other noteworthy aspects of the trip and concert that I feel need to be documented before they're lost from my mind sometime next week.

-On the way to the show, Marissa and I stopped in Old Forge and stayed the night on Fourth Lake with my parents. We had a wonderful evening full of kayaking and tubing and drinking many, many drinks with my parents and my sister's friends Maurice, David, Phil and Kelly that were also vacationing nearby. That night, by the campfire, my parents learned what a 'blumpkin' was.

-Since we got to Montreal about five hours early, we had nothing to do but sit on ass and wait for them to open the doors. Should have checked the tickets a little closer, but on the plus side, we did get a stellar parking spot. Anyway, we heard the band's soundcheck. They played on and off for about a half hour. It was a good warm-up for Radiohead and the fans.

-Waiting for the opening act to start, there was little to do standing in the crowd but mingle with those next to us (Jon and Sylvia, who turned out to be pretty awesome) and smell the weed of those around us.

-When the rain let up a little during Grizzly Bear's set, a rainbow emerged from behind some clouds. This is significant because the name of the most recent Radiohead album is 'In Rainbows.' News of this passed through the crowd like a wave, causing much hubub. I noted that just about everyone in the audience is having the same conversation (some in French) regarding the rainbow. "Dude! It's a fucking rainbow! You know, like that album and shit, man. Right? I'm pumped!" and so on. I also noted that of the 80,000 people present, some were even pointing out what I just said. That's a lot of people.

-During 'The National Anthem,' fireworks from something nearby began going off. It was an impressive display and seeing as how I had yet to see any this summer, it was nice to have them with the band. They were very distracting though, and threw off Thom during one of the songs. The fireworks went on for about 40 minutes and I have to say, they were cool and all, but I like Radiohead more. After like ten minutes all the fans pretty much lost interest.

-I should also note that the light display was as impressive as the band itself. I can't even describe to you the amazing shit we saw. It was unreal.

-For those actual fans of the band, here's the set list:
15 Step
There There
Morning Bell
All I Need
My Iron Lung
Nude
Wierd Fishes/Arpeggi
The Gloaming
The National Anthem
Fake Plastic Trees
Reckoner
Like Spinning Plates
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Lucky
Optimistic
Idioteque
Bodysnatchers

Encore 1:
Faust Arp
Videotape
Paranoid Android
Bangers and Mash
Karma Police

Encore 2:
House of Cards
You and Whose Army?
Everything In Its Right Place

-After the show, everybody walked through the mud like overcrowded cattle in stockyards and we reached our car fairly quickly (remember, I did have stellar parking). We got to the car, cracked open a few beers and urinated. I noticed some people eating burgers and commented, "Those look delicious." A French accent replied "you want one?" I said, "What is it?" He said it was "A beef burger." I offered him a beer for it, but he said not to worry and he had plenty. I returned victorious to our car and even though Marissa claimed to be craving Wendy's, she wanted nothing to do with the cold mystery burger. I ate it in very few bites, and though it was luke-warm and had obviously been sitting for a while with cheese and mayonnaise...it was the most delicious thing I have ever eaten. We then settled into our makeshift bed in the backseat and slept for four hours then drove straight home.

The end.