Roadie #42 - Blog #130

27 April 2011 8:03 pm

#42 is busying himself for festival season

 

We had an email go around recently from our fearless new production manager (you’d bloody have to be…), Wob Roberts. It had the subject line “More changes - No change there”. Now, that could come across as snidey moaning, but given Wob’s unflappable nature, it’s clearly just the knowing wink of someone who’s seen it all before.

 

The process of getting a tour together, much like any creative endeavour, is something that starts with a blank sheet of paper (or in the festivals’ case, an empty field). The change from the empty field to the huge event doesn’t happen in one big lightswitch-like flick. It happens over the course of an incredible number of planning meetings, decisions, experiments, triumphs and trashings.

 

The entire journey is a procession of changes - some tiny, some huge, but all whizzing past you and altering the landscape at an alarming rate. When you first experience this, it can feel very uncomfortable. There is almost nothing solid to build from, because nothing stays the same for very long.

 

It never really gets any easier, you just get better at ignoring the voice in your head that is constantly screaming “run away”.

 

None of this is to say it’s any less unsettling. When one job is reliant on another being finished so that you can get started being ready for a third, things can soon get quite interesting. When the deadline for the thing you’re waiting on shifts a few weeks back and the thing you need to be ready for gets shifted forwards - you’re left needing to finish the job two weeks before being in a position to even start it.

 

Anyway, nobody likes a moaner and in reality, besides the workload, I’m looking forward to escaping from the studio for a bit.

 

 

The fellas themselves are on great form. Perhaps it’s the weather, perhaps it’s the idea of escaping from the studio and going outdoors to make a massive noise again, who knows? I’ve just come up the stairs past the ‘art room’. This often acts as a meeting room and a place to listen back to work in progress. The door was firmly closed. I always assume there are serious discussions and furrowed brows when the door is closed, but as I pass, I hear Jonny make a comment and Phil explode in genuine and joyous laughter. Sounds like the vibe is very up.

 

The greatest thing for me about the festivals, is that they’re a very solid framework for what’s coming up. Everyone knows where they’ll be and what they’ll be doing for a good deal of the summer - and in an environment where constant change whips you like the wind, having absolute certainty about something (or the closest you get to it in this game) is a very good thing.

 

Hope it stays sunny…

 

R#42

 

 

what is the thing on the microphone?

That thing that covers it?

^ a UFO :lol:

 

:|

Wob Roberts also worked on Robbie Williams' tours. Fyi, lol!

^ a UFO :lol:

 

:|

 

I thought something weird,related to the stage maybe :o

 

 

 

:laugh3:

what is the thing on the microphone?

That thing that covers it?

 

I don't know the specific name for it or anything, but it has to do with recording and quality, nothing to do with the tour itself, haha :lol:

:D Spit shield.

hahah :D

:lol: I should have KNOWN everyone was going to go crazy over every little blotch of color in that single photo. Coldplaying should win an award for "website that looks way too deeply into everything" :P.

 

So true!

First thing I thought when I saw that one single photo is that everyone will try to figure out what is written on it.

Reply

 

* predicts someone will try to zoom in / clarify the writing and lyrics on the papers in the picture *

 

I actually had a dream about this last night where the picture was zoomed in on and focused. The subject matter was supposedly in a Romeo and Juliet fashion, but I don't remember the words having anything to do with that when I saw the words. Hopefully they'll stay away from that particular story. . . . . .

The 20+ times I've tried to decipher the words on that picture, every time it looks like it says "Mild Story." It starts with 'M' and has two words but I'm very speculative as to whether they would call an album that.

 

I can't wait for the new music though! :cool: No matter how bad life gets, I always know I have Coldplay's magnificent and awe-inspiring music to look forward to. They're the one the band who NEVER disappoints me, only astounds me with every new direction they take. :D

"Milky Way" ...Makes more sense to me ;)

The 20+ times I've tried to decipher the words on that picture, every time it looks like it says "Mild Story." It starts with 'M' and has two words but I'm very speculative as to whether they would call an album that.

 

I can't wait for the new music though! :cool: No matter how bad life gets, I always know I have Coldplay's magnificent and awe-inspiring music to look forward to. They're the one the band who NEVER disappoints me, only astounds me with every new direction they take. :D

 

 

Congratulations, my friend. You just WON THE GAME with that statement (don't ask me how, you just did)! :cool:

 

Milky Way . . . that'd be a cool name (well, better than Magic Times, anyway:laugh3:)

Congratulations, my friend. You just WON THE GAME with that statement (don't ask me how, you just did)! :cool:

 

Milky Way . . . that'd be a cool name (well, better than Magic Times, anyway:laugh3:)

 

 

I agree with you about both statements :P

 

EDIT:

 

 

Yeah, Milky Way could be definitely right :thinking:

Looks more like

"Enilk / Milk

Stay / Fay / Toy"

Looks more like

"Enilk / Milk

Stay / Fay / Toy"

 

 

The last word looks like Jay with the big drooping Y, also the first word looks like it starts with a G:\ This is fun isn't it:)

Stay? Faraway?

 

 

So Close?

 

Up with the static and the radio?

I see "Milk Tray"

You guys are so bored. :laugh3::lol::laugh3:

Stay? Faraway?

 

 

So Close?

 

Up with the static and the radio?

 

Ha Ha Ha... Copying U2 Lyrics for Album title, Not a good move.

Quote

 

Stay? Faraway?

 

 

So Close?

 

Up with the static and the radio?

 

:laugh3: Very nice.

Interpretation

 

To tell you the truth, I took the photo, zoomed in and edited the quality a little bit, and it appears to actually say "Stray" for the second word. I think I'm going to go with that one.

Congratulations, my friend. You just WON THE GAME with that statement (don't ask me how, you just did)! :cool:

 

Thank you very much!! :D Although I'm not sure what game you we're talking about. (: lol I do appreciate it none-the-less.

 

 

"Milky Way" ...Makes more sense to me ;)

 

:o This would be truly amazing. An astronomy themed (or at least named) Coldplay album? Insanely awesomeeee!

lol, Milky Stray :laugh3:

:lol: I should have KNOWN everyone was going to go crazy over every little blotch of color in that single photo. Coldplaying should win an award for "website that looks way too deeply into everything" :P.

 

THAT would be RADIOHEAD AT EASE.

 

Trust me. :shocked2: It's madness over there.

^ part of the reason why I don't go there