Mile End, September 23rd, 2000.

I should begin this review with an apology to all non fans of Radiohead – for this review is going to be a tad too gushing for most to take. But I cant help it, because after five odd years of fevered gig going I never need to see a band again. Because last night was about as good as it gets.

Too many gigs I’ve been to in the past have had at least one thing wrong with them – be it poor sound, over crowding or a terrible venue in general – but last night, those boys got everything right. A huge marquee in the middle of London, perfect sound, a light show that constantly took your breath away, and five thousand odd people with the same expression of joy on their faces. Well, most of them anyway.

When a friend saw the band earlier this month in Wales she complained that the fans took everything too seriously – but this was not the case in the nation’s capital. Despite signs asking for no crowd surfing or moshing, the crowd danced from time to time as if it was at either a Slipknot or Fatboy Slim gig. For this is not the same Radiohead that we last saw a few years ago on these shores. This is the brighter, crazed, manic Radiohead, one where Thom Yorke is able to dance like a demented teenager and get away with it. One where beats and loops are part of the music, but only part. Sure, on a fair tunes Radiohead have gone dance, but only in the sense that they’ve just learnt to incorporate even more in to their music than was there before.

So on to the actual gig….Gates opened at six, Clinic appeared by about six forty five, were an adequate support, warming up the part of the crowd who weren’t circulating around the beer tent, and then the waiting began. Because Radiohead are one of those bands that it doesn’t matter how long you wait for them. The anticipation is almost as enjoyable as the event itself. The crowd were already cheering/screaming for ten minutes before Thom and co. casually walked across the stage, and launched in to one of the tracks from the new album (alas Mr Yorke spoke very little throughout the evening, so names of tracks played aren’t yet known) to a rapturous response from the audience.

As for those who thought that the fans might not like the bands new(ish) direction, well, the dance tune created the biggest reaction of the evening, as the crowd danced and applauded for ages. And from song to song, instrument to instrument, influence to influence, they were just simply beautiful. It’s time to switch of that cynical voice in your head and just appreciate what these five men from Oxford do. And do with such passion.

All too quickly they walked off stage, but two encores followed, including a cutting version of The Bends and ending on Karma Police, where the crowd quietly sang ‘This is what you’ll get, This what you’ll get if you mess with us’ to menacing effect – a response no one could have ever predicted. If this gig proved anything it was that Radiohead inspire a ridiculous love for the band, that they are truly appreciated, and that the fans are prepared to follow the band down any new direction road that they wish to take. So, after Kid A, who’s up for new-grave-romo-dance-nu-metal-cheesy pop? Because if any band could succeed in doing it well, it would be T’Head.

So here we are at the end of a gushing review in which I haven’t even mention yet that it was the best gig/concert/live show I’ve ever seen. A spine-tingling evening of beauty. The band of the nineties proving that unlike so many, they’re only getting started.

Alex Finch.

Advertisement