(reviewed by Andrew McQuillan)
I had the fortunae of seeing Radiohead a few days ago. It was fucking good. Anyways, before the show, some cops dumped some kids' Molson Canadian out, drawing boos from the people waiting to get in. I didn't really watch Beta Band but they sounded like Coldplay a bit. I was mostly getting food then and I really didn't want to watch because there was too much glare toward the stage. They were decent, what I heard. Between sets they played some cool music. I was rapping 'Still D.R.E.' in the line up for the port-a-potty. The show started soon after I was done pissing. The wait between sets wasn't too long let's just say. One of the only bitches I have is that the Headzone segregates people when usually at Thunderbird, when a show is General Admission, it means General Admission, and not just up to the soundboard. In a wait it was like the heart at the U2 show I saw but with out the walkway or heart shape.
Radiohead opened with The National Anthem, complete with some really wicked fuzzy bass. The sound at Thunderbird is really the best you're going to get for an outdoor show. Morning Bell (Kid A version) followed and then a couple of the OK Computer songs, Lucky (with muted guitar for the airplane sounds) and Airbag. Airbag was scary because a dude in front of me and my pal Jesse, collapsed and a circle of people crowded around him and called for paramedics while the song was going on. His eyes were rolling back in his head. Scary shit.
The view from where we were from the first four songs was getting old so we moved over to the other side of the soundboard for the remainder. In Limbo and Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box was next. Exit Music (For A Film) was fucking excellent as the sun went down and that's one of the best songs Radiohead has done ever. You and Whose Army? I didn't really recognize due to the fact I probably haven't listened to Amnesiac as much as I should but that was a wicked version of that song, especially near the end when the piano and drums get louder. No Surprises was perfect and then Dollars and Cents, Knives Out and a new song I didn't recognize, Permanent Daylight, followed.
The next song was a treat, a great surprise because it was Just, and they hadn't played that in a number of shows. They played the first two chords and stopped and then played the whole song. I rocked out to that. Pyramid Song was neat because my friend got stung by a bee. I don't know, it was funny though because the bee unnoticeably flew into his shirt and then when the song got quiet, my friend asked paramedics who walked by if he had a bee sting and they said yeah, so he kept holding the back of his neck and keeling over. Paranoid Android was fucking great and Idioteque was bumpin'. Everything In It's Right Place was eventful because as Radiohead left the stage, they let their equipment ring out and then they came back for the encore with I Might Be Wrong. I really liked Street Spirit. Climbing Up The Walls was a big surprise and then they played the magnificent acoustic, How To Disappear Completely. They left the stage and I think a lot of people thought the show was over but then the encore break got to a point where everybody knew there would be a few more songs.
Apparently some people held a sign that said 'Play Nude' so Thom decided to pull up his shirt. I don't remember that, we were a bit away from the stage. They played Big Ideas (aka Nude), granting those peoples' wish. I didn't recognize that song and they played Talk Show Host next, which I also didn't recognize because I haven't really listened to the Romeo And Juliet Soundtrack. That was highlight for my friend though. The closer was Karma Police with Thom telling everyone to take care. Anyways, it was really fucking great even for the lack of Bends and no Pablo Honey material. Speaking of which, if anyone asks me if they played Creep, just like asking me if the Smashing Pumpkins show at Summersault 2000 (which I don't plan on reviewing because it was a big big letdown. Playing too much Machina when you only have an hour is a big big mistake.) was any good, you will get a resounding "FUCK NO".