Radiohead
May 9, 2008
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
The Deal: Radiohead performs for two-hour, In Rainbows-focused set.
The Good: If you’re a fan of the new album, you’ll be in heaven on this tour as the band is performing nearly every song from In Rainbows. They’re also tossing in a bit of the older stuff and simply putting on one helluva show. The stage is set up with long light tubes that almost resemble rain leading to one of the best light and visual shows I’ve seen since Pink Floyd — the peak was during “Planet Telex” in the encore. Thom Yorke appeared to hit full stride on stage during “Myxomatosis” as he flailed about — knocking over his microphone stand. He was all over the place on “Idioteque” before settling down behind the keyboard on “Morning Bell.” He also made his way behind a smaller, second drum kit for “Bangers & Mash.” The entire band remained basically still as Yorke swayed, twitched and rocked about. Two encores were offered, the highlight coming in the second one with “Paranoid Android.” Yorke introduced it by saying, “This is a nasty little bastard, this one… Hope you like it.” Those in the sold-out crowd loved every minute.
The Bad: Looking online, Bristow, Va., on May 11 got the best setlist so far with the addition of fan favorites “Karma Police” and “Fake Plastic Trees.”
The Verdict: The band sounded great, appeared to have a blast on stage and showed why so many people see them as the alt-rock kings of the moment.
Setlist
All I Need
There There
Airbag
15 Step
Nude
Sail To The Moon
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Myxomatosis
Idioteque
Morning Bell
Videotape
Optimistic
Where I End and You Begin
You And Whose Army?
Everything In Its Right Place
Bangers and Mash
Bodysnatchers
Encore 1
Go Slowly
Talk Show Host
Exit Music (for a film)
Planet Telex
House of Cards
Encore 2
Paranoid Android
Reckoner
This article appears in May 7-13, 2008.
The Atlanta show was better than Bristow. I saw both and wow, the traffic management (or lack thereof) at the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow was stupefying. Sure, the setlist might look better at Bristow but consider this: Atlanta was threatened with rain and treated to light showers but in Bristow it rained hard, constantly, with high winds, and temperatures plummeting throughout the show. People waited in traffic for hours to get into the parking lot and many were turned away due to washed out roads, or just because by the time they got there the show was already over – Thom dedicated Fake Plastic Trees to those who did not make it to the show. The band soldiered on, but the crowd energy was not there as anyone on the lawn (and fully exposed to the elements) was subjected to two hours of indescribable misery that would have to be witnessed to be appreciated.
We had seats, and we got there early enough to get parked and see a bit of the opening act. We slogged the mile or more from our car to the gates of the venue, and watched one of our favorite bands, but shivered with drenched clothes and shoes the entire time. After the show, it took us 2hrs and 15 minutes to get out of the parking lot. Bristow makes Lakewood look like the Fox. The Atlanta show was a great, fun concert. The Bristow show was a test of the limits of both human stupidity (Nissan Pavilion, this means you) and human endurance set to a wonderful soundtrack.