Radiohead @ The Greek Theater, Los Angeles

If one were to look at my record collection or browse my iTunes, one might think I was a big Radiohead fan.  I have all their records and a handful of bootlegs and live stuff.  I think they are incredible, but actually had only seen them once that was many many years ago after Pablo Honey came out.  I had another opportunity to see them a couple years back at the Field Day Fest, but the show got cancelled and rescheduled to Giants Stadium.  I chose not to go as I didn't really want to make the trek to New Jersey.

So, basically, last night was my first time seeing the band.  I hadn't been following the setlists, so I didn't really know what to expect.  We arrived at the Greek Theater a bit late and missed openers Deerhoof.  The people around me were not impressed.

Right before the show began, I was approached by a man named Michael who quickly told me that he snuck in to the show and was roaming around looking for an open seat.  He ended up sitting next to me for a while and right before the lights went down said, "I saw these guys at the Hollywood Bowl in 2001 and it changed my entire concert going experience.  I vowed never to see Phish again." 

If that's not a glowing endorsement, I don't know what is.  The show began and the entire audience was taken aback.  First of all, the sound at the Greek is incredible.  Even with my seats way in the back, I could hear Thom's voice beautifully and heard every bleep and bop like it was meant to be.  With each new song (there were 7!) the crowd was enthusiastic and excited to hear the new material.  Many of the new songs have been on YouTube or floating around the internet for sometime, but Thom Yorke said it best when he said: "This is another song you don't know.  And if you do, you are cooler than everyone else."

The highlight of the show for me was the fact that they played more than half of Kid A and a great live song "Follow Me Around".  "Follow Me Around" has been in their setlists for  years, but have never recorded it.  It sounded absolutely beautiful last night.   

While many people may disagree with me, I still believe that these guys are the best band in the world and last night played like it.  If you have the funds to beg and plead and buy tickets tonight, do it.  It will be worth every penny.

Setlist:
1 You And Whose Army?
2 The National Anthem
3 2+2=5
4 15 Step*
5 Morning Bell
6 Arpeggi*
7 Videotape*
8 Kid A
9 Dollars And Cents
10 Street Spirit
11 All I Need*
12 Nude
13 Paranoid Android
14 Bangers 'n Mash*
15 The Gloaming
16 Idioteque
17 Follow Me Around
18 Everything In Its Right Place

Encore 1
19 There There
20 Down Is The New Up*
21 The Bends
22 How To Disappear Completely

Encore 2
23 House of Cards*
24 Lucky

(Songs with * are new songs)

Comments

[Nick]

Thanks for that great review. I also went to that show, and had a great time. I have been to a handful of Radiohead shows, and wrote a sketch of my audience experience on our site.

Thanks for your Fortress of Solitude suggestions!

[Abercrombie fitch london]

I have always been reading and writing texts like this in blogs. .

I think people must first research before writing.
!

i like this website