this is my fav. tv on radio track..... i really love this band.. like they kinna try to imitate radiohead but they hav their own cult..... in my mind im drowning butterflies.....
that may be the best performance i've seen on letterman followed by their performance a couple of years ago. and i'm not even a huge fan. who cares about the crowd? they're there to say they saw the letterman show after waiting 10 years for the free tickets. amazing lyricist. i'm impressed.
Oh hey, I was in this crowd! Let me defend ourselves slightly/explain the weird vibe. The crowd is made up of older tourists they get off the street for free. I'm 18 and in town with tickets to see other TV shows, but most are middle-aged or older, probably fans of Letterman or seeing celebrities in general, and maybe glad to get out of the muggy weather. So Lance Armstrong and Kristen Wiig are interviewed, and people know there's a band to finish the show. Suddenly, everyone's asked to grab their things and leave through the side doors. There's no explanation, but staff aren't panicking, so... seems the show's just over? It's 6pm, and I hear people shrug and start making dinner plans. Then the crowd trickles out from the air-conditioned theater and discovers the street is fenced in. The whole crowd's now standing, shoulder-to-shoulder, in the humidity. People see them setting up instruments on the fire escape and realize the band will play, probably in a few minutes. Cut to some time later, almost 7pm. Still nothing's been explained, but seems the show was waiting for the sun to set? The older people are audibly hungry and grumpy about standing in the sweaty crowd, but aren't sure if they'll miss more Letterman show if they push their way out of the crowd and leave. Finally, the band plays--and you literally can't hear them. Looks like there were big speakers outside? I had no idea. The professional sound mix on TV was different than what you heard in person, which was mostly drums and some trumpet drowning out the rest. So this crowd doesn't know who the band is, have unexpectedly stood in the heat for most of an hour, and now they can't even enjoy the music. And then the band ends, and there's no fanfare, staff just move the fences and tell people to go. For what it's worth, I went home, watched the episode, and then checked out the band myself. So at least one person in the crowd was converted.
It's amazing that this band isn't very well known considering the amount of praise they've received throughout the years. Dear Science was ranked highly within Top Albums of 2008 lists on a wide variety of magazines, and same with some of their previous records.
@DarwinDiabl0 exactly, i don't get why people are constantly commenting on the crowd for this performance...for all we know, they were probably told during the commercial break before the performance to not shout out or act totally crazy and act as if they were in the tv studio during the performance and maintain composure!
@RichardBLongly Hehe. Dave calls just about every guitar-driven band that plays his show a "rock 'n' roll band." These guys seriously need to give a full concert on a fire escape just like this. I would love to see that.
I'm pretty sure TVOTR were scheduled to appear earlier that week, but the show ran long and they were re-scheduled later in the week, so maybe this crowd didn't sign up to see them in the first place? I don't know how that works. If I was there I'd be movin', lemme tell ya.
@dropkickhuie seriously..if these late night audiences aren't getting to see the latest teen pop star lip-syncing, they're sitting on their hands. They don't fucking deserve to see this band live.
I'd imagine theres nothing more depressing for a performer than an audience with no energy. It really just feels likes your own energy is bleeding away. I'd rather see a bad band with a lively audience than my favourite band with a bad audience.
i wonder do they pay to see them, or they jus happen to be the band playin for that night of letterman so they stick around and dont even actually know who they r, never play for host show ppl.
oh my god..the audience are not even moving..like..standing stilla t a tv on the radio show..and the song is call dancing choose..but i guess they choose not..sniffsniff..saddness..boohoo to cold audience peeps!
It's a little off... it seems like they were nervous and sped up the tempo... but I do agree with everyone, the audience sucks. it's like theyre performing at a retirement home..
What the heck are they singing about??? They doesn't even excite the rats in the alley! Can't beleive they are on the Letterman Show. What is this world coming to. Todays "music" sucks.
how did the crowd NOT get pumped up with this amazing performance?!
"Foam-injected Axl Rose"
Best. Line. Ever.
ON A FIRE ESCAPE!!! AWESOME!!!
All live band performances should be on fire escapes.
tv on the radio....
one of my favourite bands
and great performance!
R.I.P Gerard Smith, thank you for the music.
i was completely blown away when i saw them live. they were amazing!
one of the coolest locations/stages i´ve seen
Dave Sitek's just effortlessly badass.
wawawawawawawa
that's the most incredible thing I've ever seen.
thats nice that they put on a concert for the deaf
Wow, such a lively crowd!
Fantastic. Who needs studio albums? Every one of their albums should be live recordings. :D
Pure genius! Seeing them live tonight, so excited.
Spettacolo *___*
this is my fav. tv on radio track..... i really love this band.. like they kinna try to imitate radiohead but they hav their own cult..... in my mind im drowning butterflies.....
that may be the best performance i've seen on letterman followed by their performance a couple of years ago. and i'm not even a huge fan. who cares about the crowd? they're there to say they saw the letterman show after waiting 10 years for the free tickets. amazing lyricist. i'm impressed.
Hes a news paper man!
Moooooooove people...mooooooooove..
Incredible performance.
Sweet.
Oh hey, I was in this crowd! Let me defend ourselves slightly/explain the weird vibe.
The crowd is made up of older tourists they get off the street for free. I'm 18 and in town with tickets to see other TV shows, but most are middle-aged or older, probably fans of Letterman or seeing celebrities in general, and maybe glad to get out of the muggy weather.
So Lance Armstrong and Kristen Wiig are interviewed, and people know there's a band to finish the show. Suddenly, everyone's asked to grab their things and leave through the side doors. There's no explanation, but staff aren't panicking, so... seems the show's just over? It's 6pm, and I hear people shrug and start making dinner plans. Then the crowd trickles out from the air-conditioned theater and discovers the street is fenced in. The whole crowd's now standing, shoulder-to-shoulder, in the humidity. People see them setting up instruments on the fire escape and realize the band will play, probably in a few minutes.
Cut to some time later, almost 7pm. Still nothing's been explained, but seems the show was waiting for the sun to set? The older people are audibly hungry and grumpy about standing in the sweaty crowd, but aren't sure if they'll miss more Letterman show if they push their way out of the crowd and leave.
Finally, the band plays--and you literally can't hear them. Looks like there were big speakers outside? I had no idea. The professional sound mix on TV was different than what you heard in person, which was mostly drums and some trumpet drowning out the rest. So this crowd doesn't know who the band is, have unexpectedly stood in the heat for most of an hour, and now they can't even enjoy the music. And then the band ends, and there's no fanfare, staff just move the fences and tell people to go.
For what it's worth, I went home, watched the episode, and then checked out the band myself. So at least one person in the crowd was converted.
dude this is fucking kool i wish i was there should tour the uk when they get back togeher!
It's amazing that this band isn't very well known considering the amount of praise they've received throughout the years. Dear Science was ranked highly within Top Albums of 2008 lists on a wide variety of magazines, and same with some of their previous records.
WOO, you go girl
this is SICK!
this is awesome!! I love TVOTR and where they are performing at haha its great!
Watch their performance on the Colbert Report. Amazing!
best band around atm!
They are like the indie version of Bad Brains..
dave is silly. i like how he calls them a rock n roll band too. B\
@DarwinDiabl0 exactly, i don't get why people are constantly commenting on the crowd for this performance...for all we know, they were probably told during the commercial break before the performance to not shout out or act totally crazy and act as if they were in the tv studio during the performance and maintain composure!
bought a sweater for his weimaraner too.
funny stuff
@dropkickhuie that crowd just has no clue .. maybe they were just in awe
dude i totally want the lead guitarists job and play what he plays all day
what a weird setup. awesome somg!
@dropkickhuie your right:(die sind ziemlich geil schade das es dass publikum verpasst hat
coolest place ever played on a latenight tv show. did they get special permits to block up a fire escape?
so cool
I love it how jay leno is like, this rock band and uhh dear science and uhh this is tv on the radio, lol his name isn't even jay leno
@RichardBLongly Hehe. Dave calls just about every guitar-driven band that plays his show a "rock 'n' roll band." These guys seriously need to give a full concert on a fire escape just like this. I would love to see that.
yeah you gotta give them time in my opinion but i think there
just
amazing
B\
Did the Letterman show give out free valium samples to the audience before this performance?
i want to perform like that! that'd be sick to perform on a fire escape
I'm pretty sure TVOTR were scheduled to appear earlier that week, but the show ran long and they were re-scheduled later in the week, so maybe this crowd didn't sign up to see them in the first place? I don't know how that works. If I was there I'd be movin', lemme tell ya.
So many members yet so little sound.
haha..it's like singing to mannequins
thats a pretty hot baritone saxophonist.
@dropkickhuie seriously..if these late night audiences aren't getting to see the latest teen pop star lip-syncing, they're sitting on their hands. They don't fucking deserve to see this band live.
Hopefully they were silent cause they were ya know ... blown away with their skill
god. Could the crowd have been any lamer? This song is made to be energetic to and they're just standing there. I love this song.
it's because the title has a comma, pretty confusing..
this just isnt the crowd for tv on the radio.. i see a lot of gray hairs..lol
Precisely. Doesn't help matters.
this crowd is an embarrassment :S
such a great performance put to such a waste tssk. love the stage :P
I'd imagine theres nothing more depressing for a performer than an audience with no energy. It really just feels likes your own energy is bleeding away.
I'd rather see a bad band with a lively audience than my favourite band with a bad audience.
Crowd Fail. It was like TV on the Radio was opening for Steely Dan.
Wow that crowd sucked. When I saw them in Dallas the crowd went crazy for every song. They deserve to be a lot more famous than they are.
Yea, it seemed a lot toned down, all separate like that. Cool concept though.
@dropkickhuie
They're too hip to dance around.
i'm pretty sure that's a baritone saxophone.
@tasteymuffins194 Ohh, your comment makes me laugh so hard XD
i'm assuming they just simply don't get it.
@inski94 lol
@melmes03 he has really bad stage fright so he cant look at the crowd haha
They are an album band, the setup is cool, but their live soud is nothing compared to what they do in the studio.
why are a bunch of zombies watching TV on the Radio and I´m not
plus most of 'em look pretty old
What is the DEAL with the bassist?
...Silly crowd. Stop taking pictures and enjoy the song.
Average age of crowd member: 48 years old
That whas an album version. Not live.
uh that crowd doesnt deserve to be seeing them!
@sbutros Dude, why Steely Dan? If you're going to aimlessly insult bands, choose one that isn't talented.
i wonder do they pay to see them, or they jus happen to be the band playin for that night of letterman so they stick around and dont even actually know who they r, never play for host show ppl.
Just to echo what's already been said...horrible crowd! Great performance.
HAHAHAHA FROZEN IN AWE?
Come on, great performance but most of those people want generic guitar emo riffs, not Tv on the Radio
oh my god..the audience are not even moving..like..standing stilla t a tv on the radio show..and the song is call dancing choose..but i guess they choose not..sniffsniff..saddness..boohoo to cold audience peeps!
It's a little off... it seems like they were nervous and sped up the tempo...
but I do agree with everyone, the audience sucks. it's like theyre performing at a retirement home..
Yeah, I'll agree that I'm not sure this was the greatest choice for Letterman. It's a great song, but it isn't particularly accessible.
lmao , haters go back to chart music
these rule !
but tbh not a very cool crowd !
No wonder the crowd wasn't into it, the song was atrocious. They should've kept playing Stir It Up.
What the heck are they singing about???
They doesn't even excite the rats in the alley! Can't beleive they are on the Letterman Show. What is this world coming to. Todays "music" sucks.
lame
Great band, TERRIBLE crowd.