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Radiohead in West Palm Beach, FL

Contributed By: McKay
Created On: Wednesday, 07 May 2008
Hits: 17

Radiohead

Live from West Palm Beach, FL, 5 May 2008. Radiohead, electronic-rock masters and DIY-music-marketing heroes, kicked off their US headlining tour Monday night (5/5) with a healthy mix of material and a mesmerizing light-show spectacle. For hardcore fans as well as casual listeners, this was one of the most-anticipated concert events of the year, and Radiohead did not disappoint. The band began their roughly two-hour set with "All I Need" from their famous 2007 release, "In Rainbows." In his usual sarcastic tone, lead man Thom Yorke announced that the band recently released an album that we may have heard about. Jokes aside, two Tibetan flags covered the group's monitors as Yorke explained that Radiohead supports human rights.

The 24-song set list meandered through B-sides, longtime favorites, and newer selections. A special, revved-up version of "Idioteque" prompted fans to clap, scream and dance along. Another audience hit was "Everything In Its Right Place," made famous by way of its inclusion on the "Vanilla Sky" soundtrack. The group performed a seemingly flawless set, except for a quick moment during "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" when they seemed confused, almost replaying the song. Although the set was well-rounded, the absence of "Karma Police" from 1997's "OK Computer," was an obvious disappointment among many here. Expectedly, 1992's mega-hit "Creep" was also left out.

Although not technically sold-out (some lawn seats were still available), the crowd of nearly 19,000 was close to maximum capacity. The biggest downfall for lawn ticket-holders was that the band didn't utilize the amphitheatre's large-screen monitors. Fans seated closer up may have had a better view of the band, but the stunning light display, created by several huge square panels and vertical shard-like beams, made for an awe-inspiring experience from wherever you were. Throughout the songs, live video images of the performance flickered on square boxes behind a wall of vertical darts of light, twinkling raindrop effects and vertigo geometrics.

Towards the show's end, Yorke got a little more personal, saying: "We spent three days at Miami Beach. Fucking hell, what's going on there--some kind of reconstruction? For once I was proud to be white, pale and English."

Tonight was a reminder that Radiohead is still one of the most thrilling live acts. Their sweeping, dreamy orchestral pieces and quirky digital sound effects are unlike anything else. When fans weren't gazing into space during the stoner, melancholy tunes, they were usually whole-heartedly singing and moving to the music. Alternating between musical moods of tranquil bliss and dance energy, Radiohead kept this audience enthralled, but wanting more--even after the two encores.

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