Radiohead last night...

Because we're located in the economic leper village of the country, no acts come here anymore but Radiohead did last night after 15 years away.

Very good.

If I was 20 I would say it changed my life (but what the F do you know when yer 20 ?)

As a grumpy old man of 48 I'd say that my first show was KISS in 1977 and between then and now I've seen hundreds of nights of jazz, blues, rock, ethnic, square dance, etc

Radiohead last night was in the top 5 shows I've ever seen and these days that's saying a lot because :

- I rarely put them on

- am hardly familiar w/ most of their material of the last 6 or 7 yrs

-hate (hate) arena shows

-hate all crowds of people

-not a big fan of leaving the house

-always thought that lighting/staging was poofter crap that the untalented used as a crutch and a distraction or was something old PBS-watchers raved about while 3 overweight Celtic gals crooned Enya-lite or 20 guys in vests beat the stage w/ push brooms


If you went back in time to the Avalon Ballroom in 1966 and grabbed the guy who did lights/oil emulsions behind the Dead and took him to the show last night he would say "That's what I always saw in my head but I never thought it was possible..."

Unlike the Dead, their new second drummer only added to the sound - and he could keep time (Mickey Hart ?:roll:)

How Radiohead could have a bench that deep with all members being wildly proficient on their instruments and not have it end up like Return To Forever or fusion/jam band crap I don't know.

Wait - I do know.

They all serve the song, they all listen to each other, no one's a grand-stander and, when some of the best moments of the night are when one of the most wildly talented guitarists of the last 30 yrs (Jonny Greenwood) isn't even playing guitar - you know it's something extraordinary - in the truest sense of that word.

If your into traditional, old skool country music even a little, Brad Paisley puts on a hell of a show.

Totally agree with you. Radiohead are in a league all their own.

Radiohead last night was in the top 5 shows I've ever seen...They all serve the song, they all listen to each other, no one's a grand-stander and, when some of the best moments of the night are when one of the most wildly talented guitarists of the last 30 yrs (Jonny Greenwood) isn't even playing guitar - you know it's something extraordinary - in the truest sense of that word.


Cool, I'm going to see them tomorrow night in New Jersey!

Because we're located in the economic leper village of the country, no acts come here anymore but Radiohead did last night after 15 years away.

Very good.

If I was 20 I would say it changed my life (but what the F do you know when yer 20 ?)

As a grumpy old man of 48 I'd say that my first show was KISS in 1977 and between then and now I've seen hundreds of nights of jazz, blues, rock, ethnic, square dance, etc

Radiohead last night was in the top 5 shows I've ever seen and these days that's saying a lot because :

- I rarely put them on

- am hardly familiar w/ most of their material of the last 6 or 7 yrs

-hate (hate) arena shows

-hate all crowds of people

-not a big fan of leaving the house

-always thought that lighting/staging was poofter crap that the untalented used as a crutch and a distraction or was something old PBS-watchers raved about while 3 overweight Celtic gals crooned Enya-lite or 20 guys in vests beat the stage w/ push brooms


If you went back in time to the Avalon Ballroom in 1966 and grabbed the guy who did lights/oil emulsions behind the Dead and took him to the show last night he would say "That's what I always saw in my head but I never thought it was possible..."

Unlike the Dead, their new second drummer only added to the sound - and he could keep time (Mickey Hart ?:roll:)

How Radiohead could have a bench that deep with all members being wildly proficient on their instruments and not have it end up like Return To Forever or fusion/jam band crap I don't know.

Wait - I do know.

They all serve the song, they all listen to each other, no one's a grand-stander and, when some of the best moments of the night are when one of the most wildly talented guitarists of the last 30 yrs (Jonny Greenwood) isn't even playing guitar - you know it's something extraordinary - in the truest sense of that word.
Mike, glad to hear you had a great time, I am going to see them in Berlin in August, what set did they play-all new album or older stuff too?

Cheers Dave

They have a 2nd drummer?! I haven't been keeping up.

Dave - they did 3 songs from OK Computer and (in my opinion) just walked through Paranoid Android.

Others that were with me raved about it but really ? They just kinda did it - like "here - we like that you love it and we'll do it for you"...

Even the lights were very low-key during that song - and the lights/screens ?

They were like a 7th member last night.

Crazy ground-breaking stuff.

Mike,

Thanks for that, I am so looking forward to the gig. I went to see them in the same arena in Berlin last year, it is an old purpose built ampithetre in the old East Berlin, located in a forest. It is such a cool venue and such a cool band!!!!

Thanks again

Dave

My GF saw them this past weekend at Bonnaroo. She said many of the same things you did. I'll have to check them out sometime.

Excellent review Mike.

I wish I could get to one of their shows. The last time tickets went on sale for one of their shows around here, they sold out in about 30 seconds. I hate the internet because of that.

I saw Radiohead last night in Camden, New Jersey. They are absolutely incredible. I was in the pit and the view was great. It was almost like being in the show. I experienced such sensory overload that I didn't realize that they did "There, There" until I looked at the setlist below after the show. I saw them on the "In Rainbows" tour from a different vantage point further away from the stage. The show was great in both cases. I knew what to expect from Thom Yorke, and he was right on it last night. IMHO he has the best voice in rock music. His stage prescence is right up there with Bowie, Plant, and Jaggger. From the vantage point that I had, however, I was particularly impressed with Johnny Greenwood. He is great. I'm a long time fan of Radiohead, but I think that I have underestimated his contribution to the total Radiohead sound. He's more than a songwriter and lead guitar player, he is a freakin' sonic architect. I love the way he occasionally hugs his Tele with both arms! I would have substituted a couple of songs that I like better than a couple that they did, but isn't that the way it always is when a band has a deep catalog of great songs like Radiohead? Those of you that are going to see them in Canada and Europe, brace yourself, especially if you haven't seen them before. They are a truly great band, they're great musicians, and they are into it fully!!! Camden, New Jersey 06/13/12 setlist below...

Bloom / There There (The Boney King Of Nowhere) / Kid A / Morning Mr. Magpie / The Gloaming (Softly Open Our Mouths In The Cold) / Separator / Lucky / Like Spinning Plates / Identikit / 15 Step / Nude / Lotus Flower / Paranoid Android / Feral / Little by Little / Idioteque

First encore: Give Up The Ghost / Staircase / I Might Be Wrong / Bodysnatchers

Second encore: House of Cards / Reckoner / Everything In Its Right Place (True Love Waits intro)

They have a 2nd drummer?! I haven't been keeping up.

Yeah, it's Clive from Portishead. Apparently he likes "-head" bands.

It's one of the few 2-drummer set-ups I think is worth it, and not self-indulgent BS.

It's one of the few 2-drummer set-ups I think is worth it, and not self-indulgent BS.

They play really well together and the Portishead guy adds a lot. Phil and that bass player are already a hell of a rhythm anyway.

Saw them two weeks ago in Boston. I'd sworn off big shows years ago but made an exception for Radiohead. Fantastic. Absolutely.

Not only is the band great, but whoever runs their sound in arenas and amphitheaters is a true champion. Not an easy feat, especially with the barrage of sound that radiohead brings.

I saw Radiohead in Austin in March and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. I remember telling my wife "it's like seeing a rock show from the future," because the presentation and sound quality was so beyond anything else out there.
The last time I saw them was in Houston for the "Amnesiac" tour and the lights, sound and band performance were equally impressive.

The thing about Radiohead that sets them apart from there contemporaries is that the "whole package", art direction, sound, production, lighting and performance is uniformly excellent.
The show really reminded me of a Cirque Du Soleil production. The way the computerized video screens and lighting enhanced the performance was really mind-blowing!

Because we're located in the economic leper village of the country, no acts come here anymore but Radiohead did last night after 15 years away.

Very good.

If I was 20 I would say it changed my life (but what the F do you know when yer 20 ?)

As a grumpy old man of 48 I'd say that my first show was KISS in 1977 and between then and now I've seen hundreds of nights of jazz, blues, rock, ethnic, square dance, etc

Radiohead last night was in the top 5 shows I've ever seen and these days that's saying a lot because :

- I rarely put them on

- am hardly familiar w/ most of their material of the last 6 or 7 yrs

-hate (hate) arena shows

-hate all crowds of people

-not a big fan of leaving the house

-always thought that lighting/staging was poofter crap that the untalented used as a crutch and a distraction or was something old PBS-watchers raved about while 3 overweight Celtic gals crooned Enya-lite or 20 guys in vests beat the stage w/ push brooms


If you went back in time to the Avalon Ballroom in 1966 and grabbed the guy who did lights/oil emulsions behind the Dead and took him to the show last night he would say "That's what I always saw in my head but I never thought it was possible..."

Unlike the Dead, their new second drummer only added to the sound - and he could keep time (Mickey Hart ?:roll:)

How Radiohead could have a bench that deep with all members being wildly proficient on their instruments and not have it end up like Return To Forever or fusion/jam band crap I don't know.

Wait - I do know.

They all serve the song, they all listen to each other, no one's a grand-stander and, when some of the best moments of the night are when one of the most wildly talented guitarists of the last 30 yrs (Jonny Greenwood) isn't even playing guitar - you know it's something extraordinary - in the truest sense of that word.

Great review. It echoes things I've been saying for ages!:grin:

I'm going to see them in October, I can't wait..:shock:

Not only is the band great, but whoever runs their sound in arenas and amphitheaters is a true champion. Not an easy feat, especially with the barrage of sound that radiohead brings.

+1

First song in, about half way I said to my wife "Do you realize how good the sound is ?"

We were in a 20,000+ capacity arena.

Also - the stage was maybe 5 feet off the ground and people were right up against it.

Where was the "15 feet off the floor stage" w/ a 20 foot buffer of concrete and security ?

They do what they want - and it's all different.


Tip for anyone going to see them : you don't want to be too close.

We were about half-way back and could see/absorb everything and because of the great sound we didn't miss anything detail-wise.

+1

First song in, about half way I said to my wife "Do you realize how good the sound is ?"

We were in a 20,000+ capacity arena.

Also - the stage was maybe 5 feet off the ground and people were right up against it.

Where was the "15 feet off the floor stage" w/ a 20 foot buffer of concrete and security ?

They do what they want - and it's all different.


Tip for anyone going to see them : you don't want to be too close.

We were about half-way back and could see/absorb everything and because of the great sound we didn't miss anything detail-wise.

I've got a seated ticket, because standing had sold out. But the more I think about it, the more I'm glad I won't be standing.

I saw Radiohead twice. Both times at Red Rocks Amphitheater. I saw Pink Floyd at the Vet. Radiohead crushed Floyd. THE most amazing concert experience of my life.

Such a downer to hear of the tragic fatality at the Radiohead stage collapse in Canada, my thought go out to his family and friends

Totally agree with you. Radiohead are in a league all their own.

This is pretty much all that needs to be said about the band...

I always saw Radiohead as being a Prog rock band, a nineties version of Pink Floyd. I have yet to see them live but I always loved their stuff, from "The bends" on.

-_qMagfZtv8

Thom Yorke, man where do I begin? That man's voice, I don't know how to put it in words. When I heard "No surprises" for the first time I was shaken, that song just hit me.
u5CVsCnxyXg

I'd like to see them live but I have to wait until the summer festivals.