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THE
RADIOHEAD CONCERT
by Paul Z
October 17th, 2000
Toronto---This was my first Radiohead show, although I've been a fan
for a few years. The band's and especially lead vocalist Thom Yorke's
persona have always been one of clinical yet clever neurosis in my mind,
a mix of depression and paranoia. The band's latest CD, Kid A, two long
years in the making, which I loved, was a step further into the world
of moodiness and self-obsession, musically and lyrically. So, I expected
moody, I expected self-obsessed. However, from the moment they took
the stage until the last note, I can't remember a band looking happier
and more satisfied and relaxed as artists. These guys were having a
blast.
And so
was the rest of the audience. Toronto crowds are typically restrained
and relatively joyless compared to other cities. And while there was
little singing along, clapping or arm waving, even when encouraged by
the band, the audience was clearly in heaven. "I can't believe
I just saw Radiohead!" was all one girl behind me repeated as we
left the Air Canada Centre. In general, the entire crowd were so enraptured
by the presence of their music superheroes, the band could have played
paddy-cake on stage for three hours and they would have been cheered
back for several encores.
But Radiohead
truly put on a wonderful show, and noone in the crowd of 5,000 could
have expected more. Even those fans still unfamiliar or not yet acclimated
to the new album, had a lot to be happy with: a healthy 24 song set
left lots of room for songs from Radiohead's massively successful first
three albums (okay, the first album Pablo Honey was neglected tonight
but that has been the case in Radiohead's live performances for a few
years now.) The new songs, despite being technically difficult at times
(due to heavy syncopation and use of heavily programmed techno equipment)
were pulled off superbly. A lot of running around from instrument to
instrument for Thom Yorke and guitarist/synthist Jonny Greenwood to
get the album's tracks authentically duplicated but that only added
to the charm of the stage activity.
Not a whole lot of interaction with the audience, although I predicted
that the extensive corporate signage that is obnoxiously and comically
plastered all over the interior of the Air Canada Centre arena would
get a comment from the notably anti big business Yorke. But there would
be no pontificating, the band was having way too much fun. Instead the
jolly leader started right off chuckling "This next song is brought
to you by Labatt's", Airbag was "brought to you by Ford"
and so on as he tried to spoof each of the dozen corporate names that
he could see from the stage.
As I said
at the beginning, I had not seen Radiohead in concert before, but based
on tonight's energetic form, these guys are at the top of their game
and will further bolster their status as the hottest band on the planet
over the next few months as they start touring in Europe.
Easily
the best concert I've seen in a long time...I have to give it a whopping
10 out of 10.
Expanded article coming!
Also, Paul Z and Julia D interviewed Radiohead members, Oct 18th. HERE
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