JIMISRV:
Submitted on: JUNE 20, 2006 18:27:43


Great show, of course! They came on a little after 8. The place went nuts. Opening with Airbag blew my mind. I got chills. Then 2+2...fantastic. I have to say I didn't even recognize Kid A. I really liked all the new stuff. I hadn't listened to what's floating around the Internet before the show, and I still loved the new ones...can't wait for the album/song release. Before "All I Need", Thom said something like, "We just worked this one up earlier, we like it...hope you do". Have they played that one before? Also really liked Thom by himself on "I Want None of This". Then right into National Anthem...really good rendition.

Before each encore, people were stomping on the floor so hard I thought the balcony was going to come down. Seriously, the building was built in the late 1800's.

Airbag and The Bends were definite highlights for me. Loved it...I wish I could see it again...soon hopefully.

MAN:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 03:11:17


cue the battle cries, but i was unimpressed by the majority of the show last night. they are undoubtedly one of the greatest live bands in the world, but to me it felt like they were calling in the performance. at least to some degree.

technically the sound was impeccable--the auditorium theatre has some of the best acoustics in the country.

highlights were everything in it's right place, iron lung, the bends, and thom's solo song. most of the new stuff i wasn't too crazy about, but it's new, unfinished and i'm sure takes repeated listenings to fully appreciate.

i was lucky enough to have scored a main floor seat (through ticketmaster nonetheless) and maybe it was a different show from up there in the balconies.

maybe my expectations were too high. i had a good time, but i left the theatre grateful that i didn't pay a ludicrous amount of money for a seat like most of the people around me did.

CHICAGOSTEVE:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 04:10:42


OK... having seen only one other radiohead show (when they played in Grant Park here in Chicago a few years ago) I do not have a great frame of reference.... but having easily seen 200 plus other shows (Audiloslave to Zappa).... over the last 20 years I think I can voice a resonable opinion.... With out a doubt this was one of the greatest and technically superior shows I have ever witnessed. The venue was beautifully sublime.... from the 18th century arcitecture to the oilpaintings of operatic tragedies and wooden landscapes... it has been deemed "acoustically perfect" and if you were present you know what I mean..... the sound quality was superb..... beyond what I could have ever expected... All that aside radiohead played their souls out. I like the new material a lot and love that it seemed a bit wild and raw.... they flew us through a sea of turbulance and planted us gently on a quiet island... with the waves of 2500 fans literally moving the house with thundering hands and stomping feet...... waking the ghosts of that old opera house seemed to be enjoyed by all... including the band.....

CHARLES LANE:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 04:58:26


Great show. I really enjoyed how much new material they played. I saw them at Bonnaroo and that was totally incredible as well, but comparing the two shows would be futile. 80,000 people versus a few thousand in Chicago is a completely different experience. I was seated in the very front section - third row right in front of Ed and it was mesmerizing to say the least. It was really intimate and the sound was great.

I Want None Of This was a wonderful surprise as was My Iron Lung. 15 Step was super awesome, once the audience got the clapping down, it was funny to see Ed try to get a girl in the front row to get the clapping correct, he literally was looking at the girl at clapping for the first minute of the song. Also when Phil messed up an entrance it was great to see the unified reaction on all of the band-member's faces. When Thom introduced All I Need it was funny to watch the band work together to pull off the debut of the song. The eye-contact between the members was amazing, just watching them all make sure everything was working on the new song was great - you could sense the anxiety within all of them. Thom's cues and constant head-spinning to make sure Phil and Colin were on the same page was awesome, it was like watching the band playing one of their first shows ever together and trying to impress the audience (except way better and way more professional, but I think you get the idea).

The fact that the theatre was so small was a really good sign that everyone there was there to see the music and enjoy a great band. I feel like it was a good audience and the people really enjoyed the show. At Bonnaroo, on Saturday evening they played 28 songs and a majority of old songs, almost an equal amount from every album, save Pablo Honey. Last night it seemed almost evenly divided between new songs and old, which was really great. Highlights for me were (again) My Iron Lung, I Want None Of This, How To Disappear Completely, 2+2=5, Kid A and I Might Be Wrong, Nude, Videotape and 15 Step. It was a great experience and I can't wait for them to come back to the midwest next year and blow us all away again. We've all got ventriloquists.

- Charles Lane, Chicago Ill.

WILL:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 05:13:39


Truely awesome show! Much different atmosphere than the Grant Park show a few years back, but great to see them in any setting. The acoustics in the venue were again fantastic. I was fortunate to see the Tool show at the same venue a month prior.
Highlights for me were National Anthem, Street Spirit, The Bends, 2+2=5, and How to Disappear Completely. The new songs were interesting and I feel will get better with further listens. I'd love to get a copy of the show if one exists. I just wanted to encores to never end. Great show, can't wait for more..

ADAM:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 06:05:57




I saw Radiohead a few years back at Alpine Valley from the pit proboly a good 15 feet from thom; dead center. He even spoke to me during the show. Lemme break it down for you.

As is typical for Radiohead they were playing around in between songs and they started to play one and everyone started clapping and cheering and then they just suddenly stopped. My response to Thom was, "AH, YOU GOT ME!". and Yorke says directly into the microphone and looking right at me, "Oh, did we?". I just looked around for a second not knowing if it actually happened. Then my friend who was standing right infront of me turned around and said, "Holy Sh*t dude! Did he just talk to you!?"

It was amazing.

I was lucky enough to be with in 100 feet of Radiohead at bonnaroo on Saturday and it was incredible. Bodysnatchers may be my new favorite song. I caught their next 2 shows in Chicago (exhausted) and going from such a big place to an intimate one with incredible sound was really something special. To see the two sides of a band and how they handle every performance defferently (and very professionally) was truly awe inspiring. I wish i didnt have a job so i could go to Cali this week to catch the last 6 shows.

Z:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 06:16:56


I agree with Man. I love the band, like the new songs, the sound was excellent. But:

1) it seemed like the new songs created lulls in the show and the setlist wasn't as strong as other shows they've played on this tour. (just my opinion).

2) there were a fair amount of idiots yelling things like "we love you Thom", "radiohead", "idioteque", and of course "woooooooo."

3) the whole idea of the "fake encore" irks me. I shouldn't know in advance that there will be two encores (first four songs, then two songs). If it is planned in advance, then it is not really an encore.

All in all, not the best Radiohead concert I've seen. Maybe I just had myself too hyped up for it. Would I pay $40/ticket to see it again? Absolutely. Would I pay $250/ticket like some people did? Absolutely not and good thing I didn't.

CHARLIE:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 09:19:06


Alright, all I have to say is that the show last night was yet another flawless performance. I went Monday as well and I would have to say both nights were amazing. However, the inclusion of Airbag and My Iron Lung on Tuesday may have been the differentiating factors that made Tuesday night a better show.

Lastly, why do people like "Z" have to be so negative about people who are yelling wooooo or Thom. Give me a break, seeing radiohead is a truly magnificent experience, excuse me if anyone feels the need to yell, and show their support. You don't have the God given right to Radiohead concert etiquette. For all you happy screaming Radiohead fans, enjoy yourself and don't worry about the critics. On a positive note, the two Chicago shows were a spectacular mix of intamacy, energy, and perfection that Radiohead has only gotten better at with age.

NOOBS:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 09:53:08


Man and Z are right. This show was underwhelming. The band was not nearly as tight or energetic as the other times I've seen them. There were many more miscues than I've come to expect from a Radiohead gig (including one particularly embarrassing one from Phil), and Ed has never looked less enthused.

Certainly not all bad, though. The setlist was satisfying (opening with "Airbag" was a highlight for me), the sound was good (if a little low-end heavy), and Thom did some adorable dancing. The crowd wasn't even that obnoxious; they were still obnoxious, just not as bad as they've been at other, larger gigs.

Overall, a good show, but easily the weekest RH gig I've been to.

Q:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 12:04:00


Well I do not have a reference point to compare the show to as it was my first RH show, so naturally I was pretty impressed. That said though, the band did seem kind of low energy for most of show, mostly standing in place and not seeming all that into it. But then again I am fairly familiar with their catalog (including the new stuff) and I really enjoyed the song selection and thought everything was very well played ... maybe I was checked out at the time, but I did not even notice Phil's flubb. I did see Thom glare at him at one point and then Johnny at another which was kind of funny.

For me the highlight was the first encore ... besides having songs it seemed like the band finally woke up and got rolling. Plus Thom's dancing during Myxomitosis was great. Can't wait to hear both nights and hopefully I will see them whenever they're in the states again.

CHRIS YOUNG:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 16:31:04


What can I say? How do you write about one of the most amazing experiences in your life? This was the best concert I have ever seen. My girlfriend and I drove from Ohio for it and it was the first time for both of us to see Radiohead. I walked into the Audiotorium Theater in the middle of the Black Keys first song. I have seen the Black Keys (there are from around close to home) before and they are great performers. I was impressed by their live show once again. Their set was quite short (I believe it was a 1/2 hour) and then came what seemed to be the longest wait of my life. I sat and watched the guitar techs prepare the equipment for the show. Radiohead has so much gear I don't know how they keep up with it! The house music seemed to play forever (right before they came on the song from the strip club scene in Lost in Translation came on). At around quarter after eight the band came on the stage to 5ths. I was expecting either You and Whose Army? or The Gloaming as the opener. I was then welcomed to a night of suprises with Airbag! The ancient theater erupted with excitement as the band played very tightly. I was in awe of Jonny's "Sonic Youth-esque" solo as he worked his Whammy pedal. Right after Airbag ended the electronic beat to 2+2=5 started. As soon as Thom yelped "because" the audience was hooked in and there was no letting go. I could go on and on about every song but instead I will make a list of personal highlights: 1) Ed getting the crowd involved during 15 Step and the odd device he used to make the Kaoss Pad like reverse sounds 2) The reworked tight version of Kid A 3) The shimmering lights on the screens during Arpeggi as well as the closing 4)VIDEOTAPE, one of the most impressive songs live 5) The heavy part of Climbing Up The Walls where the lights turn red and Ed's feedback at the end 6) Watching Jonny play the synth line and arpeggio on guitar at the same time during Street Spirit 7) The debut of All I Need with Ed's whale like volume swells and tight groove weaved by Colin and Phil 8) Jonny sitting down on stage during I Want None of This 9) The hilarious radio bits that were featured during The National Anthem (something about losing seven pounds and with checking and cashing) 10) The arabian guitar line during Bangers 'n Mash and Thom drumming as well as the hypnotic screens 11) The sampling done by Jonny and Ed during Everything in It's Right Place 12) Phil coming in to early during My Iron Lung and Thom glaring at him (Thom had come in to early on a song in the set but I can't remember what one) 13) Jonny's guitar nonsense during The Bends 14) Thom dancing to Myxomatosis (it seemed like it had an extended outro) 15 How to Disappear Completely was beautiful 16) Jonny's drumming during Down is the New Up 17) The excited look on Colin's face everytime he stepped on the stage (he applauded to the crowd a lot) 18) Jonny waving up to the gallery and the rest of the theater after the Tourist These are just a few of the many moments that stick out in my head. I can honestly say it was one of the greatest events I have ever witnessed.

P:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 17:21:02


Dear NOOBS, Z, and MAN:
i pity you for feeling like you have to go to a Radiohead show with a critical approach. If it is a superiority issue that you must differntiate yourselves from other fans who you see as lesser by contrasting their positive remarks, then get over yourselves. I was at the show and it was the most expressive i've seen Thom and Johnny for a long time... every note, every beat, and every lyric was executed with conviction... and when is Ed ever all that enthused? Even if i were a smug fan, the show was historical in the introduction of "All I Need," a beautifully melodic tune that I imagine will be highlight of the new album and a staple of their catalogue in upcoming tours. And the new songs were "a lull" in the setlist? You are obviously not a musician, and if you are, you are not a respectable one, because any musician worth their salt would recognize the sheer innovatoin of the new tunes... they utilize computer technology in an almost paradoxically organic way. Their ability to continually provide fresh material that is so dynamic and beautiful, it is comprable to the Beatles' sustained careers and ther many eras of music that they offered. To you critics... I suggest that you fuck off and die, because from the sounds of it, you have missed what Radiohead's music (and all music for that matter) is all about. And what is life worth if you can't truly ENJOY and EXPERIENCE music.
P, Kansas City, KS

U2BEATLES:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 18:46:18


Radiohead was incredible last night. Opening with Airbag, the first song on Ok Computer and ending with the Tourist, the last song on Ok Computer was awesome. The setlist overall was awesome. They managed to fit in some new songs, including the debut of All I need, which was great, but managed to find room for classics like I might be Wrong, and Street Spirit (Fade Out).

Highlights for me were 2+2=5, Myxamatosis, and the National Anthem. Even though the setlist was awesome, there were some noticeable omissions that were disappointing to say the least, especially since that was my first radiohead show, including idioteque and There There, but even the absence of those songs couldn't put a damper on the night.

Despite a rather noticeable mistake by Phil in My Iron Lung, which was more funny than harmful to the performance, Radiohead was on the top their game last night.

JOEY YOUNG:
Submitted on: JUNE 21, 2006 21:40:10


listen, for any of you who are not quite convinced that radiohead is the best band in the world, go see them live...truly an uplifting experience, and i CANT WAIT FOR THE NEW ALBUM! new stuff sounds cool, different but still within radiohead boundaries (favorites include arpeggi, nude, videotape, down is the new up, 15 step, bodysnatchers). they played some classics as well, opening with airbag (how perfect). They rocked my iron lung, i think i temporarily lost all sanity when they played it. other highlights; i might be wrong, climbing up the walls, street spirit (fade out), i want none of this, how to disappear completely, and where i end and you begin. ending with the tourist was also pretty perfect (ok comp begins with airbag ends with tourist just like the concert). surprisingly only one amnesiac song was played, but i don't think they could have chosen a better one...i love when they speed up i might be wrong and johnny tears it up on guitar. great sound quality and acoustics at the auditorium theatre, really not a bad seat in the house. any song i wish i could have heard was played on the first night, so the full experience would probably have been seeing both shows....but, seeing as how i had to sacrifice my first born child to get a ticket, i don't think i could afford to go both nights. would have been way cool though. RADIOHEAD=GOD motherf*** the critics and haters

ERIKA:
Submitted on: JUNE 22, 2006 14:31:22


Tuesday night's performance was amazing but I think we can all agree it's never enough to see just one Radiohead show on any given tour. It's just never enough. You're always left craving more. I miss them already. *sigh*

BRENDAN:
Submitted on: JUNE 22, 2006 20:25:20


Last night was a great show! I think that everyone that is saying the show was "underwhelming" thinks that way because the band played new songs for almost a 1/3 of the show. Granted, you aren't going to get into brand new song like you would for a songs that brings you back throughout the last 10 years, but you have to love the fact that you are hearing new radiohead songs live that 90% f radiohead fans won't hear until the albulm comes out. This show will never match my fist time seeing radiohead but it will be a memorable day and one to talk about for the ages!

DANNY:
Submitted on: JUNE 23, 2006 11:05:56


This past Monday, my girlfriend Jenny and I took the train downtown to see Radiohead at the Auditorium Theatre. I was a little nervous about finding the venue in an orderly fashion but my fears were allayed as we were walking down Congress Parkway and I began to see people 'like me' trailing along in pairs. Closer to the venue we began to see people holding one finger aloft, meaning that they needed a ticket, and asking us if we had "extra tickets."

We got through the door pretty easily and showed an usher our tickets; she told us our seats were four flights up, in the gallery. So we climbed and climbed and climbed and climbed the stairs and made our way to our seats. Once there, at a dizzying height from the stage, it was dark, opening band the Black Keys were blaring away and some young couple was sitting in our seats. Another usher had to figure out why they were there and where they should be sitting, which took an extremely long time. Eventually we got to sit down and the Black Keys stopped playing. Jenny went to pee. The bathroom was two flights down.

The show began with Thom Yorke crouched in darkness at a piano performing "You And Whose Army?" as his image, filmed from a camera mounted on the piano, was being projected on a dozen screens behind him. Jonny Greenwood stood directly behind him with a guitar, quietly strumming along; the full band slipped out for the loud ending of the song. After this, the gimmicky entrance out of the way, was a blaring run through "The National Anthem." Next was my favorite of the new songs being debuted on this tour, "15 Step," which is built around "Sucker M.C.'s"-sounding programmed drums; the main refrain goes "You used to be alright. What happened?"

After this was "Morning Bell" (the Kid A arrangement not the inferior Amnesiac arrangement). And around this time I finally began to chill out about the shitty view and acoustics from our seats. We were so high up that if you held your hand about six inches from your face you'd completely obscure your view of the band. And much of the sound, naturally aimed toward the back center of the room, was being lost on us; it was like we were watching Radiohead perform at the bottom of a well. Still, I had to just abandon any expectations and surrender myself to the absurdity of it all. Plus things continued to gel nicely; the next song was "Exit Music (For A Film)," with Thom in spotlight alone, playing an acoustic guitar and singing the quiet start of the song as audience members interrupted with excited shouting and other audience members, incredibly, were shushing them. I carefully watched the band through a pair of binoculars that I've only ever used one other time: when I saw Radiohead at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin on August 23, 2003. It's weird to own a pair of binoculars that will only ever be used to view five English guys.

Next was "Open Pick," a new song that begins with frenetic open picking and can really get stuck in your head. When they started playing it this dude a couple rows up pumped his fist and was like "Yes!" – I guess I'm not the only area dork who's downloaded bootleg recordings of all the new songs Radiohead is debuting on this tour and has even already picked his 'favorite.' Other new songs played were "Videotape," a paranoid number built around an urgent piano crescendo that steadily increases in tempo; "Down Is The New Up," which starts, improbably, with Thom Yorke beat-boxing and ends with Jonny Greenwood drumming along with Phil Selway on a tiny, toy-like kit; "Nude," a slow song that used to be known as "Big Ideas" and has been around for a decade but never recorded (or at least never released), which the band recently decided to return to; "Bangers 'N Mash," a dumb, punkish song that again features the tiny, toy-like drum kit but with Thom playing it while singing; "Spooks," an equally dumb instrumental song that sounds like surf music and that I seriously doubt they'll ever record (or at least release); "4 Minute Warning," another midtempo number that saw all the members of the band gathered closely around Thom's piano, perhaps in a concentrated effort to nail the song (a recording I downloaded of a performance of it from earlier in the tour has a false stop in the middle and Thom is heard saying "sketchy...sketchy mother" after the song's conclusion); and "House of Cards," a breezy, slow song that would remind me of Jeff Buckley if I listened to that type of thing.

Songs from other albums performed were "Bones" from The Bends, which I hear is rare for them to do; "Lucky" and "Paranoid Android" from OK Computer (I'd hoped they wouldn't do the latter, if for no other reason than that it inspires lame behavior in the audience, like the raver kid in front of us who stood up and sang along with every word but moved his hands and his body around as if he was rapping the words; but my Radiohead fan boy elitism was soon defeated as Jonny Greenwood thrillingly nailed his solos); "Idioteque" and show closer "Everything In Its Right Place" from Kid A; "Knives Out" and "Like Spinning Plates" from Amnesiac, the latter of which was played by Thom alone on piano; and "The Gloaming," "There There" and "A Wolf At The Door" from Hail To The Thief.

"A Wolf At The Door" was the first song of the first of two encores, and was dedicated, by Thom, "to the people way up top; I don't know if you can even hear us" (when he said that Jenny turned to me and asked "Is he making fun of us?"). It was fitting that this was dedicated to us, because it was one of two songs on my two-song personal wish list of songs I wanted them to do (the other being "Black Star," which they never did). I wanted to see them do this song in particular because it seems like such a complicated, studio-bred animal that it'd be hard to perform live; it has a complex melody that bring to mind Abbey Road-era Beatles (in fact the start of the song seems almost lifted from the start of "Sun King") but the dense lyrics are basically rapped before switching in an instance to a swooping chorus. Nevertheless, they pulled it off, with Jonny Greenwood playing guitar and playing keyboards with the headstock of his guitar at the same time.

Once the show was over, we climbed back down to the lobby of the theater and left, took the train back home, went to sleep, in the morning I went to work, then went home, we ate a quick dinner and then took the train back downtown for the Tuesday show. This time Jenny and I knew not to go straight to our seats and instead had some overpriced drinks in the second floor lobby. I was in the long line in the bathroom before the show and this guy moving past me to dry his hands looked really familiar. I asked him "Didn't you used to be on E.R.?" He said yeah. I added "And Parker Lewis Can't Lose?" He said yeah again. It was this guy. I couldn't think of what else to say so I said "cool." He said "enjoy," and walked out. These guys around me while I was then peeing were like "Thanks dude, I would have been wracking my brain about that all night."

We made our way to our seats, again way up in the gallery (Jenny had to kick an Asian guy out of her seat). Then this dude hobbled up and sort of announced to the section we were sitting in that he had broken his foot recently, so he was going to need help getting to his seat. He handed his drink to a girl in our row and we let him in, and he sat down right next to me and quickly found a way to initiate a conversation and casually throw in that he'd been at the Bonnaroo festival last weekend, where Radiohead had performed. I said "Oh yeah you were at Bonnaroo last weekend?" and he pointed at a bracelet on his wrist that read 'Bonnaroo,' with an air about him that said "You should have already noticed this." I said "You went to that with a broken foot?" Bonnaroo was where he broke his foot.

Eventually Radiohead came out and started the show with a noisy, sloppy version of "Airbag." After that was "2+2=5," followed by "Where I End And You Begin," both from Hail To The Thief. They did "15 Step" again and then "Kid A," which they also did when I saw them in Wisconsin and I was surprised by both times; Thom sings it without the vocoder he uses on the recorded version while playing a drum pattern on a small keyboard. Once it was over the Bonnaroo dude turned to me and said "Someone should yell out 'Bonnaroo.'" I stared grimly ahead and said nothing.

After that was "Arpeggi," the new song that has caused the most fuss in recent months; it's their new epic, sometimes orchestral song in the vein of "Paranoid Android" or "There There." They hadn't done this the previous night, so I was waiting for it. I was also waiting for the perfunctory run through "Fake Plastic Trees" and was psyched when it never came. There weren't that many repeats either, just "Videotape," "Nude," "Bangers 'N Mash," "The National Anthem," "Everything In Its Right Place" and "Down Is The New Up" appeared again. Songs from other albums performed were "Street Spirit (Fade Out)," "My Iron Lung" and "The Bends" from The Bends (on "Street Spirit (Fade Out)," Jonny again played guitar and played keyboards with the headstock of his guitar at the same time); "Climbing Up The Walls," and "No Surprises" from OK Computer; "How To Disappear Completely" from Kid A (which was awesome to see; I used to wonder if I'd ever get to see them do that song); "I Might Be Wrong" from Amnesiac; "Myxomatosis" from Hail To The Thief; and "I Want None Of This" from a charity compilation released last year called Help: a Day in the Life. They also debuted a new song called "All I Need," which made no impression on me at the time but YouTube of it was already posted on Pitchfork the next day; it's another slow song based around a Close Encounters Of The Third Kind-sounding tone pattern, at least initially.

During "No Surprises" I went to pee, and noticed how easy it would be to sneak into other sections of the theater. Also, when I went back to our seats I noticed the Bonnaroo guy was gone, and surmised that the communal vibe of his experience at Bonnaroo made the boundaries created by the tickets meaningless to him, so he'd gone off wherever he pleased in the theater. So, following his (imaginary) lead, during "The National Anthem" we snuck down to the front row of the lower balcony. Suddenly the sound was much better and we could see great – my binoculars were no longer necessary. During "Everything In Its Right Place" we snuck all the way down onto the main floor; everything in its right place, except us!

Five songs went by before we were kicked out during the mini jam session at the end of "Down Is The New Up" by an angry usher who I could have sworn was a black man but Jenny says was actually a really unattractive black woman. We went back up to the front row of the lower balcony to watch them close the show with "The Tourist." While they were closing the show with this same song in NYC the week before, one of the Bush daughters caused a minor scuffle by going to leave in the middle of the song, leading the Secret Service to manhandle an audience member and a fight broke out. The band noticed the activity in the audience and, when they found out what it was caused by later on, Thom Yorke posted a comment about it on Radiohead's blog:

i dont know if we should be

A. honoured
B. amused
C. bemused
D. ask if she had a valid ticket
E. object belatedly on moral grounds
F. ask again if she had a ticket and question whether this really what our gigs are about
G. dont blame the daughter for the father
H. shutup and smile

***

The band's behavior throughout the two shows was more or less uniform (I think they were wearing the exact same clothes each night). Thom Yorke was often doing his little monkey dance when not singing during the songs, which Jenny thought was really cute. He played an acoustic guitar, a Rickenbacher, his usual modified Telecaster and a smallish piano that was pushed on and off for him when needed. Ed O'Brien sang backup and played a wide variety of guitars when not sitting on the floor in front of an enormous bank of effect pedals, doing something or other. Colin Greenwood kept back on the stage, carefully playing with the drummer, like a bass player's supposed to do. Phil Selway was wearing a pinstripe suit both nights and appeared to move little other than his arms as he played the drums. Jonny Greenwood alternated between his usual Telecaster and a bunch of different keyboards and electronic devices, including an Ondes Martenot. He often produced weird noises that would purposely interrupt the songs, prompting the other musicians to appreciatively grin in his direction, but it annoyed Jenny; when he was doing it during "Morning Bell" she wanted to go down onto the stage and shush him.

So now I've seen Radiohead two more times than the one other time I saw them. The binoculars are back under my bed. I wonder if I'll ever see them again. Somehow I doubt it, but then I doubted it after I saw them three years ago. Anyway, I hope they finish their seventh album soon, because the songs sound good so far.

TEEBEE:
Submitted on: JUNE 23, 2006 15:04:42


Great photos and review of this show here:
http://www.concertlivewire.com

RIKKI GATES:
Submitted on: JUNE 25, 2006 00:15:12


Ok, so we didn't have tickets, but I have to say thaT I have seen then close to 13 times and every show gets better then the last. It is really truly an honor to see them.

With that said. We sat in the 'free seats' and I noticed that I really didn't care. And that I could hear a pin drop on stage, the sound was impeccable and the lights we insane. I loved every minuet of it and next year when they get here I WILL see them and they will smile and be happy to play for us.

Cheers everybody!

ERIKA:
Submitted on: JUNE 25, 2006 18:19:21


RADIOHEAD, I miss you already :( Well, I drove from Detroit to Chicago for show #2. My friend & I had the strange luxury of enjoying Radiohead from the eighth row. It blew me away and as a result,I am headed to Amsterdam to see them again. lol!! I NEVER would have guessed I'd be doing this but Radiohead shows put you in a trance...a really good one. Anyways, my friend was able to capture some footage from the show. YouTube capacity minimized the footage somewhat but it serves as a really nice souvenir nonetheless. Also, if anyone would like me to forward them pics of Chicago show #2 feel free to email me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOUkTRM31GU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WkcU7A5jdY

Erika,

snaresparkles@yahoo.com

KNUCKLES:
Submitted on: JUNE 25, 2006 23:02:25


Five hour drive, no tickets, arrive 4:20, dressed in pink and orange we circle the block with yellow pages in hand calling ticket agencies and looking for scalpers trying to get tickets, as 5 minutes after 8 arrived with last resort being to sneek in or buy the security guard shirt of him. We were saved by our heros that arrived in a yellow chariot (taxi) we bought box seats ($100). As we high five the crowd outside reaching for ecstacy. Inside buy enough beers for us and our heros, we arrive at our seats as Airbag starts. By the way we are listening to "All I Need" on YouTube as we write this, it was an amazing show.
I felt a lot of saddness outside though with all the fans that could not get tickets. Screw all you guys on Ebay that were selling tickets. That is downright riduculus that you do that. I don't think that is any of you that are actually reading this, but shit. You could see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices, they were just completely disheartened. I feel so fortunate to have experienced what we all did inside. Thank you To Radiohead.

Z:
Submitted on: JUNE 26, 2006 08:20:19


Dear P:
I did not go to the show with a critical approach. In fact I went there prepared to be as blown away as I have been by them in the past. I studied the playlists from this site and I tried downloading the new songs as best I could so I would know what to expect. And, I think that was part of my problem; I was too hyped up and expected too much. As far as lulls in the playlist go, you are right, I am not a musician, maybe I couldn't appreciate it as much as you or other highly trained musicians could. I guess that is the reason I wrote these words "JUST MY OPINION." Would you kindly contact me before the next show so that I can get my opinion in line with yours. Also, maybe we can coordinate our sheep outfits.

I find it interesting that you wrote about me and implied that I am trying to put others down and differentiate between myself and others. You then proceeded to imply that you have a superior knowledge of music (and life) and then you tell me to fuck off and die. It kind of reminds me of a song I like by a band I like, something about glass houses.
Z.

OCHFISH:
Submitted on: JUNE 29, 2006 11:36:10


so i didn't have any internet access while i was in chicago for the 2 radiohead show so my review is a tad late. also i've used a week or so to reflect on all that i've experienced within the last 10 days or so... started off at bonnaroo which was an amazing set. the sets in chicago were a bit of a let down, highlights that i can recall were my iron lung and thom starting true love waits before everything in its right place. nobody has even mentioned it in any review and i even doubted it myself until saturday in berkeley he played true love waits right into everything in its right place. so out of the recent 6 shows i was in attendance for i'd rank them as follows,

1)berkeley 2
2) san diego 1
3) bonnaroo
4) berkeley 1
5) chicago 2
6) chicago 1

the auditorium is a very nice venue, however any seat above the floor the sound isn't that great. the acoustics retain more sound actually created in the balcony (clapping, cheering, screaming) so as the band's playing you really get to hear all of the idiot's trying to sing along instead of thom. would i go back? no. was the show worth the money? yes and no, nothing topped the berkeley sets but each radiohead is an experience all in it own and no live act is any where close to being as good as they are.

It’s been two days with no radiohead and I feel empty..