David Sinclair
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Given the phenomenal critical and commercial success of their latest album, In Rainbows, Radiohead have good reason to feel a sense of righteous satisfaction as the band approaches middle age.
Without having made the slightest concession to populist convention, the same five men who began the band in 1991 have become the only stadium-sized avant-garde rock group. And having made a career out of playing hard to get, they were not about to change tack last night, as they played to 40,000 fans on the first of two nights in Victoria Park, at the start of the British leg of their current world tour.
Arriving on a giant stage that was dressed to look like a cage with bars apparently made out of tubular bells, they began with 15 Step, the first of many songs from In Rainbows. With the bearded Thom Yorke’s voice sailing over the top of a gently coruscating rhythm, they settled in to the task in hand with a sense of studious dedication.
The mood turned more brutish as they moved on to Bodysnatchers, Yorke yelling about the vagaries of life in the 21st century in a manner that was curiously redolent of Mark E Smith of the Fall. There were no introductions and hardly any communication of any sort between songs. And while there were artful bursts of light, and some split-screen visuals that gave a vague impression of what the musicians were up to, there was certainly nothing to interfere with the aloof, almost austere delivery of the songs.
Hits were few and far between and the show contradicted the laws of big concert performances in so many ways that you wondered at times how they were getting away with it. Discordant, dislocated, deconstructed and physically distant, they still managed to mesmerise the huge audience.
“I get eaten by the worms and weird fishes,” Yorke crooned in an atonal drone as the fast, twitchy drum beat of Weird Fishes/Arpeggi gave way to the skittering electronica of The Gloaming and a ghostly green light enveloped the stage. Faust Arp had a more lilting feel, but proved equally impenetrable. Only when they moved on to There There did they begin to build a bit of conventional momentum, as Jonny Greenwood took off on a marvellously angular guitar solo.
This was followed by Just, the song recorded by Mark Ronson, and a stark reminder of the brilliant musical legacy of their early years. But it was only a brief respite before a return to the strange, doomy electronica of Everything in its Right Place.
Victoria Park, June 25; Glasgow Green, June 27; Old Trafford, Manchester, June 29 2008
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I really enjoyed the gig, but the venue felt too big for them. I would have preferred a smaller, more intimate gig.
The band were excellent, and seeing them perform 'in rainbows' was fantastic. It's a shame that half the crowd didn't know the album. Radiohead are not a greatest hits band!
joe, liverpool, uk
For a minute there, i lost myself.....
Luke, sheffield,
I think that the reviewer is way off. I went to the gig and I thought they were amazing. I don't see why if people want to hear the same old tracks they would pay £40 to see them. Those people can just stay at home and listen to the album.Relying on hits from over 10 years ago is just not radiohead
Liz, Witham, UK
Truly brilliant, awesome and mesmerizing.
Ken, london, uk
25/6/08: from where i was, central,between the stage and the mixing desk, the sound, light show, performance, set list, atmosphere, interaction was spot on. exactly what i wanted to see and hear, great gig, thanks. anyone know the stuff that was coming over the PA pre-show ?
phil T, swansea, wales
I know people wanted to see more of the "hits" but that just seems quite a fan-boy remark to me. It was the In Rainbows tour so they were bound to play a lot of tracks off that. I think another reason for that set list would come down to the mood of the day and evening.
Harry, York, England
The only reason they sold the 40-50K tickets was on the strength of the mid-90s albums and they should have been more heavily featured. Pre-encore very few people around me even bothered to applaud. If they're not careful, all they'll soon have left will be their hard core fans. Nice food though.
Gary, Chelmsford, UK
There seem to be two types of Radiohead fan. Those that love their early stuff and dislike or even resent their later work, and those that love Radiohead pre and post-KidA. People in the 1st group need to recognise that Radiohead are constantly evolving. No LP is regurgitated because it worked.
Marios, London, UK
I thought the set list nigh on perfect, from Just, Planet Telex, through Airbag and The Tourist and into the Kid A/Amnesiac material (the best of the night (IMHO) and of course the sublime In Rainbows stuff.
Would have loved them to play more but as Thom put it "pumkin time was 10:30".
John, Luton, UK
A massive "fan" of Radiohead I was - it would seem. The music is still fantastically constructed, and the sound is awesome, but from where I was standing (about 2/3 back), it did not work. The crowd were not smiling or dancing - more looking around in bewilderment. Why not play some more classics?
Graeme , London, England
Terrible self indulgent nonsense from start to finish. One of the worst gigs I've ever seen by a bunch of over hyped middle aged sixth formers. And what were the "ethics behind the gig" Claire? Didn't you see strewn garbage over the roads leading from park to tube stops? Way to save the planet!
Graham, Chippenham, England
'Avant garde meets the masses...'
Michel, London,
If you would rather they had played Creep than Pyramid Song then your clearly not a real fan of Radiohead. This gig was absolutely mesmerizing form start to finish! If you want dated predictable "Hits", stay at home and listen to the fake "best" of released by EMI. Thats not what Radiohead are about
Joe, London,
It was amazing - but it was 20-odd bits of amazing stuck together rather than a whole. Didn't have a problem with the setlist per se - anyone expecting lots of early stuff hasn't really been paying attention for the last ten years - but it could have been structured a bit more strongly
Tom, London,
I was out about 10 rows deep. The reviewer did not notice the way people were moshing to Just. If they would have continued like that, it would have been difficult -they really controlled the crowd by putting up a "Peace and Happyness" song afterwards... Best performanec by a mile!
Spoos, Abingdon, UK
Incredible. And a gig for the fans in every sense. That's because the fans want to hear new material and new takes on old material and not just a load of tracks from the Bends which, lest we forget, is 13 years old.
Daniel, Croydon,
I felt very let down by this gig. Despite the perfect performance there was no engagement at all and this was entirely due to the dreadful setlist. Dullars and Cents? Cymbal Rush as a second encore?
I've rarely felt so disappointed. Would the band play this set at Glastonbury? Nope.
Martyn, Poole,
The was some amazing music being played last night. A fantastic set and a performance including a brilliant rendition of 'Banger and mash'. Yes it lacked some of their big anthems but their music is so much more than that.
Rob, Colchester,
I'm amazed that even now I can feel let down by Radiohead when they produce something new. I feel that they have lost sight of what makes us tick....and then with each listen the music hooks.
Last night I left feeling empty from the experience and today 'In Rainbows' sounds a little different.
Phil, London, UK
Was a bit disapointed at the play list as Creep or Fade Out were not included, but still an awesome set and the ethics behind the gig were enough in themselves to blow you away!
Claire, London, England
The success of last night, lies with the skill to control, move, manipulate an audience of this scale so vastly.
I was there. I "mosshed" for my life to "Just" and hypnotized and paranoid by "Climbing Up The Walls." If you want Karaoke go to your local. I want to experience music being made.
Nick Meadows, London, UK
Clearly not a fan-- I've seen them & it blew my mind-- their music craft is 2nd to none.I don't want to be chatted at by Thom; I don't need to feel I like the guy(s) to like their music.Discordant-- you're way off-- they were tight in every sense bringing their impossible recorded music to the stage
Mitch Ward, Chester, England
yes ok , but what of the venue ?? was it well organized ? a good spot?? what time did they go on?? how long they play for ?? was there anyone else there apart from the reviewer ?? come on ??
paul, london, london
As a fan of Radiohead both past and present, it was odd to feel so detached. The sonic scope & musicality was stunning, but a lack of engagement left me feeling cold. Setlist was poorly structured & too self-indulgent for a gig this size, & ignoring all the 'hits' appeared somewhat petulant. A pity.
KF, London,