Review: Radiohead London

Thom Yorke 'terrified', but on top form

24 June 2008 - A few weeks ago in Dublin, Thom Yorke and co. took to the stage for the first night of the European leg of their world tour. It was a fantastic evening, as many of the fans who left comments on our Fan Review Blog proved - rainbows and all, it was magical. Something about, what can only be described as, the 'vibe' of the band themselves: confident and comfortable.

However, tonight in Victoria Park, Thom Yorke seemed nervous as he thanked the crowd half way through the show, saying "I was f**kin' terrified". The band had chosen a set list that included very few sing-along hits, lots of electronic, mellow material from Kid A and Amnesiac, and almost all of In Rainbows. There was little from OK Computer - which had got the crowd bopping in Dublin.

Punters were obviously enthralled, but took time to react, with the loudest cheers from the fans at the very front. Or was this because they could actually see what was happening on the stage? A major drawback at Victoria Park is the lack of a slope towards the front, so if you are not six foot tall it's very hard to see, but they still sounded fantastic.

Someone is now going to hit this drumkit, me  - Thom Yorke

The band's first ten songs were mainly from In Rainbows - opening with 15 Steps and Bodysnatchers (then a brief "Hi" from Thom), moving onto All I Need, The National Anthem for Kid A, Pyramid Song from Amnesiac and then back to their seventh album In Rainbows for Wierd Fishes/ Arpeggi and Nude.

A little later the crowd gets a "Thank you very much" from Thom, as it slowly gets dark and their expensive, carbon friendly, amazing light show finally pays off. The crowd pleasers tonight were Just, which drew the biggest sing-along, There, There, Bodysnatchers and Nude.

Ever one for the political statement, Thom had the crowd chanting "Free Tibet, Free Tibet" around half way through the show, as he introduced a song about "Love and Peace" - Everything In Its Right Place from Kid A. One of the final songs of the evening was Bangers + Mash from the In Rainbows bonus disc. The crowd roared as Thom Yorke took to the drum kit to thrash out the relentless beat.

Radiohead are one of the few bands who can getaway with not playing all the hits to a huge crowd like this. There were a few disgruntled geezers muttering about not hearing Paranoid Android, but all in all these fans were more interested in the Radiohead of now, not of yesteryear. As one said to me afterwards: "Radiohead are experimental, they always have been, what were people expecting?". Quite right.

Full set list:

15 Step
Bodysnatchers
All I Need
The National Anthem
Pyramid Song
Nude
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
The Gloaming
Dollars And Cents
Faust Arp
There There
Just
Climbing Up The Walls
Reckoner
Everything In Its Right Place
How To Disappear Completely
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Videotape
Airbag
Bangers + Mash
Planet Telex
The Tourist
Cymbal Rush
You And Whose Army
Idioteque


Ruth Barnes