Been looking forward to this gig since I was lucky enough to get tickets, 6 hours on a pc refreshing my screen like some sort of monkey-butler.
I was on a roll that day I tell thee!! No call from the head of state though…….
Anyway what can be said that hasn’t already said about this band. This Oxford quintet have come a long long way, of epic proportions, since starting out as “On A Friday” and making their
first demo in 1991 called Manic Hedgehog, changing their name to Radiohead (after a Talking Heads track)and bagging a 6 album deal with EMI. Forward 15 years and you have a band that can live up to the tags of genius and beyond great. Those labels are too easily and cheaply doled out these days.
From their commercial explosion with “Creep”, they were in danger of being labelled a one trick pony, especially in the US. But that couldn’t be further from the truth, they are more like an Olympic dressage show. Clocking up hits both in the album and singles chart they have tasted success here and all over the world. With 3 UK number 1 albums, and a 1, 2 and 3 spot in the US charts, and Grammy awards for OK Computer and Amnesiac, the band's grip around the neck of the musical pretenders just gets tighter and tighter. I don’t think they have played “Creep” live since their own mini-festival in Oxford’s South Park in July 2001. In which Thom was Lord of the Elements, belting out “rain down, come on rain down on me” during the song Paranoid Android. It then proceeded to piss down.
The band comprises of Thom Yorke, moody, misunderstood and has such a haunting story-telling voice. He leads the band admirably, in only that he is most of the vocals. But it doesn’t stop there, Thom also plays rhythm guitar and piano, he is seen as one of the key creators of the band. On drums and percussion is the unruffled unsung hero of the band Phil Selway. Ed O’ Brian is the resident gooner in the band and also is on guitar, percussion, and backing/harmonising vocals. The remaining two are the brothers Greenwood, Colin and Jonny. Colin being the older more mellower out of the 2, never one to be phased in front of t.v cameras and the media, he is the bands bassist and gets behind the keyboard sometimes. Jonny leads the way with his armoury of instruments, lead guitar, viola, keyboards, electronic gizmos and gadgetry, harmonica and even the Ondes Martenot, he is seen as another major driving force behind Radiohead’s musical inventiveness and creativity.
As Radiohead grow ever more gargantuan, it is obvious that all members of this group each chuck their fistful of ideas into the working cloth cap. Each bringing there own forte to the table.
This is why the whole idea works so well. Never to be dictated to, they have had and still do, the musical freedom of invention that so many bands would give their Dollars and Cents for. Slashing through genres and stereotypes like a Samurai on Speed. Never wanting be pigeon-holed as a “rock” band etc.etc, they have produced some works of restriction free aural art.
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From there debut album Pablo Honey, and uptight album with some self loathing a pity chucked in. The Bends was a guitar rock monster, if there was any, OK Computer bought us new ideas of electronica and a certain air of ambience to a musical dinner plate, then cam the whole eclectic switch, with the Kid A and Amnesiac releases. The knives were definitely out and a lot of criticism was cited by fans, for the reasons of “abandoning" their origin of guitar based music etc.etc.”. It was down to some people don’t like change!! It was an awe inspiring and brave move to change paths and not just do a diluted follow up to OK computer, which would have been the easier option in my opinion. This band have never been afraid to take risks or push the boundaries, join the musical dots as it where, (cheers for that one Gilles).
Their first “live” album was released called “I might be wrong” which does exactly what is says on the tin, live tracks recorded at various gigs, with only one unreleased track on it. With there 6th and final album of the record contract, Hail to the Thief was definitely an amalgamation of the Kid A/Amnesiac sessions and their early guitar-thronged sound.
This gig was an opportunity for Radiohead to give something back to the fans, not that they owe anyone fuck all, but a chance to showcase new songs and old gems.
As they have no current record deal, they are not promoting an album, just a bunch of great new songs, 9 in total were played out tonight, with some real beauts!! Bangers n Mash sees Thom get behind a small drum kit, and have a proper thrash about. “Fifteen Step” is on par with “Idioteque”, a delightful meld of dance electronica: Thom proceeds to dance around like a leper in a wind-tunnel to both of these.
The whole gig was an experience in itself. With tracks like “Paranoid Android”, “Black Star” and “Lucky” being played with such aplomb, I reckon they could do these numbers blindfolded. The band have such a colossal arsenal of songs now, they can undeniably afford to leave out other classic tracks such as “Just” and “Fake Plastic Trees”.
Radiohead have clearly set the bench mark full stop!! Whether it’s in the studio or on stage, I doubt there is band who ranks alongside them in the world at the moment.
Now with even more freedom ahead of them, who knows what’s next for this diverse, kaleidoscopic band.
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