Sure, we got shut out of NYC. But with the City of Brotherly Love’s warm embrace but a few hours away ($10 on the Chinatown Bus, people; get involved), we made it our business to give it a go. Joining the teeming ticketless masses, milling about Upper Darby’s Tower Theater, hoping for our miracle. By the luck of the ‘gum, it came. We didn’t even have to be this asshole’s date.
It may be passe to claim that you’re an uber-fan (I mean, like, isn’t everybody?), but tell that to the 3,099 other Radioheadheads cramming their way into Tower Theater last night. At a bit over half the capacity of Theater at MSG — with none of its acoustic issues — the intimate venue’s stage was set for a religious experience. Instead, it was merely an above-average Radiohead show: better than most bands on their best days, less than we’ve had from them in the past. But it was a treasured glimpse at the band’s impressive new tunes. And they were impressive.
Looks like you can expect something different each night this tour. In contrast to Thursday night’s opening dramatics, last night Yorke and Co. walked right out into the bright blue stage lights. Ed and Jonny pounding on toms, Thom pounding out the rhythmic riff of “There There.” “Lucky” followed, one of a few OK Computer stand-outs played on the night. By-the-numbers performances, all classic tunes.
Throughout the show, the fragmented shards of screen that lined the back stage wall offered sepia-toned projections of our heroes’ faces (as if seeing Yorke’s anguished face mid-melody wasn’t theatrical enough), while the bright strobe light panels on the stage floor raised the epileptic-fit factor a few notches. Aside from these accoutrements, though, we were left with the band.
And with that two-tune primer, we were on with the new. “15 Step” kicked it off, sounding like Radiohead-gone-calypso, with Ed’s off-beat hand claps and Thom’s snarl and stage-wide shimmy. “Arpeggi” followed up and came off well, with a three-piece suited Selway offering his humanized break beats under a smoldering verse. Ed provided spot on background wails as the song morphed into a delicate, cymbal-rolled chorus.
The rest of the new tunes were mostly hit, little miss. Thom was definitely feeling ‘em, dancing with abandon to anything over 75 BPM. Seems he’s added some running man and hip waggle to his spasmodic shuffle.
There were slower songs that worked, like the cadential piano ballad “4 Minute Warning” (soundtrack fodder for sure) and the sparse, Yorke-driven haunt of “Nude.” But on the tepid “House of Cards,” scared to leave the complacent course it sets for itself, we call foul. A tad staid, Thom.
The remainder of the set was a romp through OK Computer, Kid A, and Amnesiac. “The National Anthem” was killer, with its fuzzed-out bass and bridge-based cacophony. “Let Down” was epic. But the Bends tunes (title track in particular) were most welcomed by the fist-pumping testosterone set. And those songs’ arena-moving muscle were a reminder that the new material — despite the guitars — is still no return to their accessible, Brit-rock past. This band ain’t ready to turn around just yet.
Unlike the night prior, the band ended the second encore after just one song, a furious “Idioteque,” with Selway’s sped-up sample battle and Thom’s cathartic fits. They couldn’t have left anything more on stage. And they couldn’t have left the stage on a higher note.
Radiohead bears comparison only to Radiohead. That said, we got a good show, with expected moments of brilliance, and maybe some dips through the new. But this tour isn’t about perfection, and it isn’t about polish. It’s the songs, stupid. And they’re fucking great. Welcome back.
Setlist:
1 There There
2 Lucky
3 15 Step
4 Arpeggi
5 Kid A
6 Dollars and Cents
7 The National Anthem
8 Nude
9 Go Slowly
10 Paranoid Android
11 Spooks
12 The Gloaming
13 Bodysnatchers
14 4 Minute Warning
15 The Bends
16 Everything in its Right Place ["After the Gold Rush" intro]
17 How to Disappear Completely
Encore 1:
18 I Might Be Wrong
19 House of Cards
20 Black Star
21 Let Down
Encore 2:
22 Idioteque
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As a person who saw Radiohead at MSG in 97,01,and 03 I just want to say how pissed I am that I did not get tickets for them in 06. Fucking douchebag bandwagon fans have totally bogarted all the tickets!!!!
Great review. I agree with you that “House of Cards” is a little too simple for its own good.
Disappointed we didn’t get “Videotape”. I thought we had a better chance after they didn’t play it for the Thursday night crowd. Ah well.
oh awesome. sorry i missed it, but thanks for the words! can’t wait for the new album.
Hey Amrit, they had very rarely played Let Down in the past, it’s a treat…
And House of Cards is soul magic, it’s a beauty, give it a chance!
Glad you made it to our fine city. Next time you’re in town, give us a call. I’m glad I caught both shows – they were incredible. I agree that they just killed “National Anthem.” Thanks for your review.
Yeah, but how was Willy Mason?
When did Radiohead play MSG in 97?
… and to be fair, they’re playing the theatre at MSG, not MSG proper like they did in ’01 and ’03.
radiohead sucks bollocks
my bad, In 97 I saw them at irving. I’ve been deprived of ever hearing Letdown live. How do they pull off the two unsyched thom voices?
no ‘creep’?
lame…..
Sold Out Willy Mason sounds like a euphamism
I tried to buy tix to this show, got up at 10 and everything on a saturday morning, but stil no go. Weak. At least now I joined w.a.s.t.e.
I tried to buy tix to this show, got up at 10 and everything on a saturday morning, but stil no go. Weak. At least now I joined w.a.s.t.e. Flaming Lips and Sonic Youth are now playing at the Allentown Fair, however, so I’m getting over missing Radiohead.
No Karma Police??
Waaaaaaah!
Nice review – you have a way with words, Stereogum, that makes you feel as if you are there with you. Now that we know how the concert was, fill us in on the bus ride
i am soooo old…i saw them in 93…btw, i’m 100 years old….
i saw them in 93…btw, i’m 100 years old….
sorry. double post. i don’t know how
Last time I saw Radiohead… the venue staff was snatching all cameras at the gate. Does anyone know if this is the case with this tour? Like to grab some shots of the show tonight in Boston.
They were letting you take all the pictures you wanted as long as you didn’t use a flash or take any video.
decent phone cam shot. http://www.flickr.com/photos/the700level/159101365/in/photostream/
UPDATE (for those who care): I called Bank of America Pavilion and they said that cameras are not allowed. I’m sure they won’t take your cellphone camera, but I saw that happen on the Hail to the Thief tour….
for the philly shows, ateasers who supposedly called the venue ahead of time were told “absolutely no cameras.” i took a chance with my digital elph in back pocket, and ended up walking right in – no frisking/patdown/wanding – and saw many others do the same through the other entrances.
when i got to my seats, the usher made a very cordial announcement to our section: “welcome everyone to the tower theater. feel free to take pictures, but please turn off your flash or i will have to ask you to stop. thank you and enjoy the show!”
was an epic show… philly crowds always add to the excitment of the show
gotta say, it was worth the fight over the ticket on ebay and the pricetag of $177…by far the best concert i’ve EVER been to in my entire life..and that beats out Bowie and quite a few others high up there in the ranks. I had never seen Radiohead before as per usual, sold out within 10.2 seconds of tickets going on sale. So thank goodness for ebay and perfect timing on a single ticket auction bid (2 seconds before it ended, i sniped the high bidder, i’m so bad:-P!)
Being the sentimental girl that I am, I couldn’t help but shed a tear as There, There kicked into full gear…and again during The Bends as I never expected to hear that live.
There is something poetic and absolutely beautiful about a room full of PHILADELPHIANS singing along to Paranoid Android. It’s hard to get Philly folk to let you in on the highway let alone join in sync in-song.
This just left me dying for the next time around and the new album.
As soon as I find “House of Cards” my MP3 version of the show will be complete!
Awesome review by the way.
Props on the review…Tower Theatre is my favorite place to see a concert so far in my live music experience, I might be biased with it being in my neighborhood but love the intimate setting, great sound, should be more places like it and appreciate Radiohead playing a place of its size, can’t wait to see Young Neil there this weekend. But with that said I was wondering if anyone could help me find a recording of this show, I would greatly greatly appreciate it. Thank you keep listenin to good music!.