In 2006, my friend Brenna and I had talked about going to see Radiohead if they ever toured America, no matter the distance we had to travel. Two years after that conversation, Radiohead announced their 2008 In Rainbows tour. They were to play in Dallas May 18. Lucky for us, that was not too far from either of us. I lived Oklahoma City and she lived in Denton, Texas.
I called Brenna to tell her the news. She was ecstatic. At last, we were off to see Radiohead.
This might sound silly, but Radiohead has always been an important part of our friendship. And it was more than just good music. Any Radiohead fan knows that if you find someone else who likes Radiohead you are instantly on the same wavelength. Truly appreciating Radiohead takes a certain temperament, a temperament that both Brenna and I had. I am convinced you can tell a lot about a person whether or not they like a certain band or musician, in this case, Radiohead.
Tickets did not go on sell until the first part of April. By that time, my brother Bryan had found out Brenna and I were going, and he wanted to go too. So, I agreed to let him come. He asked to bring a friend I didn’t really know. So, I bought four tickets and warned my brother his friend better not flake.
Two days before the concert, his friend inevitably did just that. But that was okay, because my brother had a backup plan. He said his girlfriend, Amy, was now coming. Sure, she had only heard one Radiohead song, but my brother was determined to make her an expert by the end of the concert.
And so there were four. Come May 18, Bryan, Amy, and I ate at a burger joint in Oklahoma City and headed south, listening to In Rainbows and OK Computer for the duration of the trip. We met up at Brenna’s at about 3:30 - long before the concert actually started. It was then that we realized that we were painfully, awkwardly early.
It was awkward because we didn’t know each other, except for me knowing Brenna. She gave us a tour of the house, and then we sort of stood there in the living room for ten minutes with her roommates. Bryan and Amy didn’t really know anyone there, not even Brenna. At this point, they must have been thinking coming was a mistake. I was starting to think the same about bringing them.
Article comments
1 - jorge
You dont have to believe me if you dont want, but i woke up this morning with suicidal thoughts, i even search google for suicide methods because of yesterday issues... and then i read this (i'm a big Radiohead fan too).
those last words you wrote there are very significant to me, i appreciate your point of view, and thanks for sharing it.
"The lesson is that it's important to cherish what we have, while we yet have it. And I think that was what that night was really about."
thanks.
2 - Kyle
Hey, no problem. I'm just glad to help in any way.
I've had suicidal thoughts before, too, and more people than would admit have had them also. It's important to remember that no matter where we are in life, others have been there as well. As humans, we all have the same struggles and feelings. It's just a matter of being open about them, which you seem to have done.
I'm happy that what I've written inspired you, which really makes all the work I put into this piece worth it!