STAN:
Submitted on: JULY 29, 2003 03:24:20


I'm guessing pretty much everyone who saw them is still at the festival right now. My review comes from the coverage on BBC THREE and BBC2.
The Flaming Lips were on the Pyramid Stage (the main one) before Radiohead and I think they did a really good job of warming up the crowd ready for the headliners. In their usual style the Flaming Lips were on stage alongside many people dressed up in large animal suits etc which was quite ammusing.
Radiohead came on stage at 11 and opened straight away with There There and then went into 2+2=5. The entire crowd seemed to be jumping up and down throughout both songs which looked really good on camera. Radiohead covered material from all of their albums except Pablo Honey and Amneisiac, concentrating especially on OK Computer and HTTT. Amongst the set list were Lucky, No Surprises, Karma Police, Go to sleep, Morning Bell, Where I end and you begin, Paranoid android, Climbing up the walls, The national anthem, Talk show host, Sail to the moon, The gloaming and Backdrifts. The BBC's coverage wasn't perfect becuase they stopped showing the concert on BBC THREE and switched it over to BBC2 and then back over to THREE again with several interviews etc during the switch. Thom did a lot of energetic dancing, especially during Ideoteque and seemed to put a lot of energy into the performance which really made it worthwhile watching.

SHAUN MARRINER:
Submitted on: JULY 30, 2003 08:38:28


The gap between the Flaming lips and Radiohead lasted a life-time. In the time I had pushed myself to the fith row, so i had a great spot. When they did appear; Thom ran on and shouted "HI" to a massive crowd. They started off with the likes of 'There there' and '2+2=5' to which the crowd exploded in applause to.

A brilliant version of 'Talk show host' seemed to get the crowd going. Thom seemed very energetic all the way through doing his clubbing dancing to 'The Gloaming', which sounds so amazing live. Thom also did what seemed to be an impression of David Gray (the head bobbing every where with the body stood stiff)

Lucky was dedicated to REM's Micheal Stipe, which caused a great applause from the fans. Thom did forget the setlist as he went back to the piano after 'sit down, stand up' to play 'Sail to the Moon' when the rest of the band were supposed to play 'Go to Sleep'. Thom did have a mock stress fit when he was informed by Jonny, which caused lots of laughs from the crowd.

Songs like 'Climbing up the walls' and 'Sit down stand up' seem to sound amazing live. The band is certainly playing the best live music ever.

The 1st encore consisted of 'Just' and 'Karma Police'. The audience sung along after shouting for more before the band came back. Thom stayed on stage after 'Karma Police' to sing "Phew for a minute there i lost myself" with the audience, which created a buzz through everyone present. The second encore was 'Street Spirit (fade out)' which ended the show on a high.

After 8 years in the waiting; seeing Radiohead for the first time at The Glastonbury festival was one of the most amazing experience of my life. I went away on such a high. A great show.

The setlist was finished with the usual 'Idioteque and EIIRP' combo.

PAPERBAGWRITER:
Submitted on: JULY 30, 2003 12:24:44


After watching Supergrass and the Flaming lips in the glorious sunshine there was no better way of capping the day off than watching Radiohead perform, and what a performance! 114,000 people crammed forward, torch lights in hand to whitness the gig of the year !Amazing. Thom was on form looked excited to be there. He arrived on stage took to the mic and after seeing the crowd he shreeked, then the party was ready to begin. Jonny seemed like he wanted to rock out and produced some fine improvised stuff during there there. The strobe lighting used by the band on stage was wonderful, flashing to every beat of idioteque it really added to the atmoshphere. They also played the gloaming which saw Jonny on a laptop and Thom dancing like he'd taken something!! The last song of the first encore was Karma Police and Thom ended it alone by singing without music "for a minute there I lost myself" going hand in hand with the lost weekend theme of the festival. Thom then leaves the stage to an enormous ovation, but the crowd want more. After minutes of cheering the crowd, as one, burst out in song, they call Radiohead out by singing "for a minute there...." it was amazing! They all come back looking amazed at the reception and finish the show with Street Spirit. Best day of my life.

ED COURTENAY:
Submitted on: AUGUST 01, 2003 05:58:49


Well my Dad reckons they just sound a bit moany, but how little he really knows. Thoms voice was powerful and the opening track There There was amazing with the drums kicking things off with style. Karma Police was a highlight with Thom hesitating to leave the stage to come back and sing "phew for a minute there I lost myself" on his own. After leaving the stage the whole crowd then began to sing the lines instead of the usual shouts for "more"...magic! No creep, like in Oxford, but it wasn't really needed now, due to the long list of other powerful and beautiful crowd pleasers they have up there sleaves! Street Spirit closed the show and was mint! Other highlights - 2+2=5...just so good, Talk Show Host...love it and The Gloaming...Thom's crazy dancing. Radiohead = highlight of Glastonbury? ...without doubt!

GRACE:
Submitted on: AUGUST 03, 2003 14:28:20


Glastonbury 2003

Radiohead-Saturday night

This was the third time I’ve seen Radiohead in the space of three years. All of which have been very distinct. The sets on the Kid A tour and South Park concentrated more on Kid A and heavily on Amnesiac.
Yet the Glastonbury set disregarded all of Amnesiac’s songs and played only three songs off KID A. I wasn’t surprised, however. Prior to their performance at Glastonbury, festival sets in the US and Germany insinuated a similar set, with assortment of songs from hail to the thief and classics from the bends and ok computer plus a special rendition of Talk show host to treat us ‘fans’. Before Radiohead took the stage I reluctantly, for my own welfare had to get out of the crowd. I was quite near the front and couldn’t stand being there much longer. I was literally going to be crushed if I didn’t. There were people with Radiohead T-shirts who had no respect for others. I couldn’t watch Radiohead like this and decided to leave. Once I got out I walked about 30 yards back, left of stage and watched them from there. I had a great view, but still would have preferred to be a bit nearer and moreover with my friends to share the experience.

The stage set up was quite different from a couple of year’s back. Long stripes of neon lights lined up instead of the long ribbons of tin foil. Moving on with the set then…

They kicked off their set with “There There”, which is no surprise if you’re familiar with previous sets, but people surrounded me didn’t seem to no the song at all. Still, I was in my element as this was the first time I had heard any of their new songs performed live. The thumping drums heightened the song’s intensity live, perfect. Then to “2+2=5”. Short and sweet with honourable support from crowd for a more rock essence song.
The first of the Ok computer songs was to follow. “Lucky”. Dedicated to REM, their teenage heroes; wouldn’t have been great if Michael stipe performed lucky with radiohead again? Very appropriate dedication. Beautiful.
I was surprised to see that in previous sets that the “National Anthem” was played mid way through sets, as for years this song was always a great opener. But, it sounded great, no swirling jazz, but still, Colin’s bass gently circling on top on Thom vocal. Absolutely fantastic live track.
“Talk show host” is one of my favourite live songs. The song intensifies into something so different from the recorded version on street spirit single. That’s what I love about this track. Sends shivers down my spine. Distorted drums and the effects Jonny makes towards the end lifted the crowd to a different place.
Next song was “Where I end and you begin”, third hail to the thief song of the night, followed by my one of my favourite songs, “Climbing up the walls”. Jonny and his transistor radio in operation! Creating the eerie feel of what this song pre-empts unquestionably. Slightly rushed in parts. I wasn’t surprised to hear “The gloaming”, which was the next song. In fact, I almost expected them to play it. It was so grotesque-very different from album version- haunting. It’s a shame they didn’t capture the same sound in the studio.
“No surprises” was the next track, followed by the eminent “fake plastic trees”. Crowd sung along. My all time beloved Radiohead song. The next was another song off hail to the thief-“sit down, stand up”- the neon lights falling like rain drops over Thom’s haunting vocal “rain drops, rain drops”…
Then came another hail song “Go to sleep”-the next single. I don’t think the crowd really warmed to this song-unlike 2+2=5 and the gloaming. When Thom’s piano was brought on stage, I thought maybe morning bell, but “sail to the moon” it was. Recurrent, unearthly vocal. Now that it seemed most had gone to sleep after three songs from the new album had been played, “paranoid android” was to lift the festival crowd. A song that everyone new…“Gucci little piggy”…moving to the change in metre; 7/8…Absolutely mind blowing in every respect. Momentous song in a great setting-Glastonbury.
Even though Idioteque doesn’t grasp any guitars, bass it’s such a compelling song live. With Thom’s lyrics “who’s in a bunker, women and children first, and the children first and the children/ice age coming, ice age coming, let me hear both sides, let me hear both sides…Here I’m allowed, everything all of the time”, over the seamless cling-clanging beeps. Climaxes with the crashing drums, which certainly thrilled all of Glastonbury. Highlight I think. Always seem to change the song overtime because there is always room to mutate it with electronic implements. Kid A live is antic, unlike other songs from the bends where there is nothing really compelling in them anymore. I think their new stuff is just dazzling live.
The electronic noise of “everything in its right place” followed and as I was saying before-totally transforms itself as a live track. I knew this would be the last song before the start of the encores. One lady said, “where has he gone?”-Thom that is. Thom always leaves that song. I love the bass in this song over driving Thom’s echoing vocal on the keyboard. After a short time, Radiohead returned to the stage for the first encore. I was thinking Karma police, just, my iron lung, street spirit or how to disappear. The crowd was treated by “just”-‘ROCK’ as Thom called it before they started. Everyone singing the first words “Can’t get the stink off, it’s been hanging round for days”…”1,2,3,4…Karma police…” almost forgetting the words to the first line. We were treated to a great rendition and when Thom came back on stage after the encore and sang “for…a minute there I lost myself etc…” I looked up at the screen and could see his sheer emotion from his face…my favourite moment. From this point, the crowd wanted more. I predicted it would be street sprit-there was no way they would play creep, to my utter surprise I didn’t hear any idiots chanting it! I was hoping for how to disappear, but “street spirit” was just as good. “No more idiots in charge”…well put Thom. The apogee of the evening came from the closing of the song. Everyone just looks in amazement.

I think we can safely say, that Radiohead have buried their demons from 97’ and even had a bit of chatter with the lighting engineer. They’ve moved on-not only with their music. They were so happy with their performance. I wasn’t particularly happy with the set, bypassing all of Amnesiac and no how to disappear. Despite this, I loved the new songs live and I think I witnessed something very special even though it wasn’t my best Radiohead gig. There were a lot of idiots in crowd-what do you expect at a festival though! Atmosphere was electric and Radiohead were in high sprits all night. A vintage performance.

CHRIS HARRIS:
Submitted on: AUGUST 04, 2003 09:05:50


best gig ever? no, it was far better than that

KATE:
Submitted on: AUGUST 09, 2003 06:35:25


Me and my friend joined the audience during Supergrass's soundcheck, and proceeded to ruthlessly shove our way to the front. We reached the barrier, and spent what seemed like an eternity (despite the Flaming Lips doing a good set) struggling to keep our places.

It's the first time I've seen Radiohead live, but I would pay any amount of money to see them again (luckily I've got a ticket for Novermber's Earls Court gig). I was in raptures to hear Talk Show Host, with is a favourite of mine, and amazed by just how good their new stuff sounds live. The band - particularly Thom - seemed so thrilled by the response they got. At one point he imitated the perennial Glastonbury call of 'hash for cash'.

There were several absolutely magical moments - like when 30,000 people were singing 'for a minute there I lost myself' (and I think we all had), and Thom playing it up to the audience throughout. No other concert can ever live up to that!

LAURENCE:
Submitted on: AUGUST 25, 2003 14:38:34


i just downloaded the set live from internet, and everytime i listenin to the bit in karma police where it goes 'phew for a minute there i lost myself' i get al shivery and goosepimply.that was a truely memorable moment where i felt the crowd sang so loud i couldnt hear the band.man!inspiring and mindblowing, radiohead are a band i want to tell my kids about.thankyou radioheed

DAN E:
Submitted on: SEPTEMBER 04, 2003 08:16:12


yeah! exactly what the last person said. I so wanna get a version of thom singing alone with the crowd following karma police, but I can't find it anywhere! it was the moment of my festival and i NEED to re-live it, so anyone with any info please email me, everett_danny@hotmail.com. :-) thank you, you shiny happy people

TOM, OXFORD:
Submitted on: SEPTEMBER 05, 2003 02:28:45


Wow, i'd always known radiohead were a great band but unfortunately i didn't really get into them until 2 years ago, they've completely changed my life and my views on music, and so this gig and of course the whole festival was the best thing i've ever done.
The setlist was excellent though it wouldn't have mattered what the had played, to be able to perform sail to the moon, paranoid android and idioteque together was incredible and just shows radioheads range of styles, loved the singalongs to fake plastic trees and karma police too.
Lost count of the times i drifted away at this gig.
Thom Yorke- greatest songwriter ever!

Tom, oxford

MATT:
Submitted on: SEPTEMBER 07, 2003 05:13:39


Like the person who mentioned having to get back due to crowds... Me and my girlfriend didnt fancy getting crushed, so after being right up front for the lips we moved back. Unfortunately we were around people who seemed like they were there just to say they had seen radiohead and werent interested in the newer stuff so much - fair enough, but there was a lot of talking going on (as was the case for REM the night before, its music LISTEN to it or go away!). There also seemed to be some sound problems on There There and 2+2=5 where i was standing, meaning I could only hear drums, bass and thoms voice - which was a shame. But dont get me wrong, this was a very, very good gig - but cant wait to see them again in a smaller venue with just their fans there.

Highlight of the festival: Sigur Ros, blew everyone away.

BOBBY:
Submitted on: SEPTEMBER 07, 2003 07:47:24


First time I ever saw 'the Head live and wow! Pretty much exactly what I was expecting from the band... a great performance. 'There There' was amazing - especially when everybody started jumping around during the guitar solo. 'Idioteque' was definately a highlight - I think it even surpassed the live version on the I Might Be Wrong mini album. Also, it was great to hear Talk Show Host live, especially good to hear them playing it as laid back and relaxed as they were. The band fell a bit flat on 'the Gloaming' though - seems to be too much of a 'non-song' to work live. I was really surprised avbout the inclusion of 'Climbing up the Walls' - one of my favorite Radiohead songs. 'Fake Plastic...' and 'Paranoid Android' had to be the defining moments thought. The latter's guitar solo a real mobiles aloft moment!
Great to hear the new songs working so well live. Better than the album version in some cases... like '2=2=5' and 'Go to Sleep'.

LOLLIPOPS AND CRISPS:
Submitted on: SEPTEMBER 18, 2003 15:07:54


Now, I'm ever so sorry to the people of www.greenplastic.com, because I know this is not a chat forum, HOWEVER, I read Kate's review, and she said that she downloaded it off the internet. I have KaZaA, and I'm downloading things just fine, except for the bit after "Karma Police" when Thom sings with the crowd. It wasn't on TV, it's not on KaZaA, there seems to be no evidence that it actually existed. I would really love to hear it again, but I just don't know where. I don't expect this "Review" to get put up, but I would like it for someone (i.e. Kate, as she seems to know) to tell me (perhaps via. e-mail on nedfrench@hotmail.com) WHERE I CAN GET THAT BIT OF THE GIG. Thank you for reading, whoever you are.

Hoping to hear from you,
T.L. Freikmann

LISLE GWYNN:
Submitted on: JANUARY 30, 2004 13:39:25


WOW!!!!!!! i'm 14 and it was my first glastonbury and went mainly because of the amazing line up.
When i heard Radiohead were playing at glastonbury i went up to my dad (who is a also a huge radiohead fan) and said we have to go!!!!
After watching supergrass(?) who had an amazingly flat sound and the flaming lips who were a great warm up for radiohead we charged to the front. At this point 6 guys in their 20's decided to pick a fight with me because i was "too young to appreciate good music".
After this was finished we shouted as thom came on stage and opened with there there. I wasn't particularily excited about this song as i'd heard it too much on the radio, but when the emphasis was in there live it felt like the first time i had heard it again!!
the rest of the set was amazing! agreat selection of classics with some of my all time faves such as "lucky", "talk show host", "ideoteque" and "fake plastic trees".
The moment where the crowd sang along with "phew for a minute there i lost myself" after the song was magical and to this day brings a tear to my eye remembering that special night.
As i said i'm only 14 but don't judge me by that!!! It was my 14th birthday on 28th june (the night they played) so i must say it was the perfect birthday present!!!!! (especially with the flaming lips singing happy birthday!).
I said "fake plastic trees" was one of my faves. Well i have to perform this to a crowd of 400 in 2 weeks so wish me luck!!!!!
p.s. where do you download the glastonbury radiohead set or kazar from? any solutions to www.tapiars_r_us@hotmil.com would be greatly appreciated!!!
THANK YOU RADIOHEAD FOR BEING HERE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lisle Gwynn, Southampton

JOE, WESTON:
Submitted on: NOVEMBER 25, 2005 07:19:55


I'm going to laugh at you all as i have the whole set live on cd!!
Including the moment with Thom singing karma police on his own at the end!!
Gotta say, There There was awesome, alas national anthem and talk show host. newer stuff (the gloaming, where i end and you begin) i thought disappointed a bit.
Fake plastic trees was unbelievable, sit down stand up and idioteque are perfect dance songs, and karma police the ultimate anthem.
Anyone want to arrange a radiohead tribute band and play a set in a huge field infront 70,000 at least???? Please! Make my dream!

I HAVE IT ON CD!!! LALALALALALALALALALALALA....

JOHN DAY:
Submitted on: NOVEMBER 30, 2005 07:10:58


This was my first glastonbury and my first time seeing Radiohead. Due to my age i only started to get heavily into Radiohead at around 2000(Kid A), as i was around 14. I had wanted to see them ever since then and i felt very lucky that my first time seeing Radiohead was their headline performance at Glastonbury.

Me and my friend watched the Flamming Lips from the beer tent and left it right to the last minute before we moved into the crowd. We spent about 15 minutes pushing our way to the front, and after annoying the hell out of hundreds of people that we had pushed passed we finally reached a satisfactory place right at the front, centre to Thoms mic.

The five or ten minutes we waited seemed to last a life time. Then all of a sudden the lighs went down and i could hear the fast pulsed "where blue birds fly", this is when i knew i was really there. Much to the delight of the crowd they opened with a thumping "there there". It had recently been released as a single and the crowd were singing the words. The end "we are accidents waiting to happen" part was awesome with the whole crowd jumping in unison. Next was 2+2=5 which was equally impressive with its sudden change of dynamics which again made the crowd erupt. "Lucky" was typically beautiful, and "The national anthem" rocked the socks of everyone.

They went on to play the very cool "Talk show host" which recieved a huge roar from the crowd. The end part of the song sounded amazing with Jonny, Ed, and Thom all thrashing their guitars- so much power. This was a highlight. "Where i end and you begin" was very pacey there was a lot of head movement from the crowd during this one. "Climbing up the walls" was astounding, especially the beginning when that haunted drum sound and fuzzy bass kicks in, another highlight.

Next was an interestingly different but better "Gloaming" followed by a routine "No surprises". Then came my personal highlight, a heart breaking "Fake plastic trees". Thom began the first verse and i could hardley hear his voice. All 60,000 people in the crowd were singing the words. As the song progressed the crowd grew louder as did Radiohead resulting in a climax when Jonny crashed in with a huge A cord in the third verse. The song ended on with Thom almost whispering "if i could be who you wanted all the time". A truely spine tingerling moment.

Then came a trio of "Go to sleep", "Sit down, stand up, and Sail to the moon". These three songs showing how diverse Radiohead are being able to go from the drum and bass of "Sit down. Stand up" to the peacefullness of "sail to the moon".

Then came the trademark "Paranoid Andriod". This is the song i have always wanted to see live. I think this song is what Radiohead are all about. They performed it brilliantly, the highlight came at the end at the "Rain down" part, i was expecting it to start raining. I wouldnt put anything past Radiohead, not even controling the weather. Then came the theatrical Idioteque, i just stood back in amazement. Towards the end of the song i could hear what sounded like a
UFO landing, then i saw fireworks in the distance. A very sureal moment. They ended the set with "Every thing in its right place" which in my mind is the best song to end with. The way they all exit of stage one by one, each recieving an individual applause is perfect.

After a short break they came back on to treat the crowd to a very heavy "Just" and an anthemic "Karma police". This proved another highlight with Thom providing a very intimate moment when he sung "For a minute there, i lost myself" with just the crowd. You could feel the sense of unity within the crowd. a very strange but very beautiful feeling.

Just when you thought that was it, they came on for one last song. I have heard from a friend that was lucky enough to be back stage that the fate of what this last song would be rested on a piece of card. Im not sure how much truth there is in this but apparently the band threw a piece of card in the air with "Street spirit" on one side and "creep" on the other. Im not sure if i would have prefered "Creep" but "Street spirit" was the perfect ending to the perfect gig.

JOE:
Submitted on: DECEMBER 08, 2005 10:44:34


What a gig!
The Setlist was spot on, from the thumping There, there to the perfect 2+2=5 to National Anthem. Talk Show Host was immense, Thom shouting such passion in his voice.
Fake Plastic Trees was unbelievable, a sea of people in shouting every word in unison. Songs like Sit Down, Stand up and idioteque are perfect dance songs and the crowd were loving Thom going skits onstage. Paranoid Android and EIIRP were brilliant, continuing the sing-alongs with people clapping mad.
However Karma Police was the moment. It was utter perfection and when thom said goodnight and the crowd willed him back on with deafining effect, you knew he was gonna come back on, and sung them the final bits of karma police again. After thanking michael eavis, cue chants of 'eavis, eavis!', and then saying 'peace, love no more idiots in charge', he introduces Street Spirit and closes with it.
Im lucky enough to have it on cd.
brilliance

DAN:
Submitted on: JULY 13, 2008 21:40:44


I can only add one thing to the voices already aired here about this remarkable set:
Anyone (and their numbers seem to be increasing) who labels Hail to the Thief as RH's folly was not there at this gig. Perhaps it needed re-tracklisting, but the songs on that record are pertinent, thrilling and vital, and at Glasto they had an added live impetus and seemed like the most important things I'd ever heard. The audience were terrific, the band magnificent. A privilege to be present.