While Kanye West played in the Triangle Friday night, alternative rock's biggest band played a sold out show in Charlotte at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.Radiohead took the Queen City by storm. (Literally. Just ask the people on the lawn who saw lightning flashing overhead.) The band played a two hour set that was heavy on In Rainbows. The band played 7 songs from their most recent album as well as two songs from disc two of the infamous In Rainbows discbox. The song "Bangers and Mash" featured dual drummers. Thom Yorke played a small drum kit wheeled out on stage. "Bangers and Mash" is a great live song. Other highlights of the night included "Myxomatosis," "Exit Music (For a Film)," "Sail To the Moon" and "Idioteque."
The biggest crowd reaction came when the band broke out a few classics. "Planet Telex" from The Bends was phenomenal and "Paraonoid Android" was as intense as ever.The only downside of the night was the lack of many older tunes. "Planet Telex" was the only song from The Bends played all night, though the song "Talk Show Host" is from that era (it was a b-side for "Street Spirt (Fade Out)." As someone seeing Radiohead for the first time, it would've been nice to hear a few more older songs.
Thom Yorke is truly a sight to behold. The energy and passion that he exudes while on stage is amazing. As he dances and flings about throughout the night, I found it hard to take my eyes off of him. The whole band seems to truly love being on stage and that made the show even better.In the spirit of staying green, the band's on stage lighting consisted of florescent and LED lighting that's energy efficient. The lighting did not suffer though. The lighting and use of five screens on stage behind the band only enhanced the music.
If you have a chance to see Radiohead live, do it! They are one of the best bands around.
On a political note, before playing "Sail to the Moon," it sounds like Thom Yorke endorsed Barack Obama. He dedicated the song to "the good people of North Carolina" and then said something about Obama. Check out a video here, where there are numerous interpretations of what he said.Setlist
All I Need
There There
Airbag
15 Step
Nude
Sail To the Moon
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Myxomatosis
Idioteque
Morning Bell
Videotape
Optimistic
Where I End and You Begin
You and Whose Army?
Everything In Its Right Place
Bangers and Mash
Bodysnatchers
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Go Slowly
Talk Show Host
Exit Music (For A Film)
Planet Telex
House of Cards
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Paranoid Android
Reckoner
5 comments:
"Go Slowly" is also from disc 2 of the In Rainbows discbox. I was also excited to hear "Bangers and Mash". They played it LOUD.
I thought the live version of "House of Cards" was beautiful.
Arguably one of the best concerts I have ever been to and I've seen a lot. The crowd was loud and into it and the band just fed off it and put on a great show. Thanks to Radiohead and all in a attendance for a great time.
It was an AWESOME show! I agree that I would have liked to have heard them play some older stuff. For me, I think the highlight was Optimistic,one of my favorite Radiohead songs.
What was up with their opening band though, Liars? They sucked!
Amy - Couldn't comment on the opening band. We were stuck in terrible traffic (it took 1.5 hours to go 3 miles down Tryon!) getting to the venue. We missed Liars and the first song of Radiohead. I'm still a little bitter about it!
Traffic DID suck, Optimistic WAS great, and more older songs would've been nice BUT...
Weird fishes, Myxomatosis, and Idioteque was like getting slapped in the face with money three times in a row. The highlight of the night in my opinion. The energy from each song of these three to the next was unbelievable.
The problem with seeing radiohead now is that they have such an extensively great catalog of songs to choose from. No way to please everyone. Most bands would kill to be in this position.
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