It's been almost a week since I saw Radiohead, and unfortunately I haven't gotten around to writing about it until now. It's too bad I couldn't write about it sooner, when the emotions were running a lot higher. I got a comments section working. Leave me a message and tell me what you think of my entries from now on, and of course reviews. Do you agree? disagree? Am i totally on the ball, or some whitewash psueo-intelluctual wannabe who can't write a review if his life depended on it, let alone find pants that actually fit? tell me!

Meh. Here goes:

Radiohead Live in Toronto @ Skydome: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003
(photo from Cloudcuckooland.net)

It came up from right underneath my nose actually, to the point where my friend called me up to tell me what time we should meet on Wednesday and I had no idea what he was talking about! Sad sad sad..

Setting. Skydome. Ouch. I know, what a disappointing venue, but honestly, if I had to choose btw this venue and not seeing them b/c they would have sold out at the Kool Haus, i guess i would say the Kool Haus and try and scalp tix! :). The acoustics where horrible, with single directional sound, as if you were listening to the CD from a super loud car across the street. Curtains cut off the rest of the skydome (even above us, since if they left that open all the way the sound would have been even worse!), and the seats ranged from 100 - 300 level (i think). That was probably the worst part about the concert. Once Radiohead came on stage, with a little help from Miss Mary and fellow Radiohead fans, the show began to take life.

The Show. It took me a little while to get into the music b/c of the venue we had to see them in, but once everything set in the show was really great. The band jumped right into the music as if you turned on Hail to the Thief (the gloaming/there there/2+2=5 and more) CD. Despite the brutal acoustics of the venue, RH still filled the area and what at first sounded like an annoying car stereo turned into this cave of music pulling you into the RH experience. Incredible.

You can't expect anything better, with such precision in what some people could mistakenly think is white noise. This became really apparent to me when during a Thom vocal rant when his voice variated and became just the slightest bit out of tune. Immediately i could tell something was off, and it was like "holy, crap, you think it's so easy since everything can seem like it's just crazy rhythms, atonal guitar experimental and vocal diarrhea, so therefore ANYTHING could work.." Wrong! Once Thom was the slightest off, it all seemed off, and thus showed the master of music they are creating...

...Or it could have been the weed. who knows, but I'm still saying that's how i felt, man.

The entire show went by what felt like a matter of minutes. I was standing all the way through the concert (except for the first few songs, when i was busy trying to get into it) and usually my lower back and legs can give me an indication of time. But this time, I felt like they were just getting going before they suddenly said their thanks and left the stage. I almost felt cheated, but then realized that they had been playing for about 1.45 hours already! "but but, there's more tracks on the albums still to play! but but..." ...Insane.

A crowd pleaser was during the encore when Thom performed You and Whose Army? from Amnesiac on his piano. I had to go home and check out what the name of the song was, b/c honestly when I listen to them I just listen to the entire album, and forget many of the names. Anyway, it's track 4 on Amnesiac :). Once you hear it, you'll know the song. It was great because he spoke to a mini webcam-like camera while performing the entire song. His true showmanship colours shine through, making funny faces, taunting the camera and toying with audience while performing it.

Safe Concert-going... Vehemently Enforced!! Because of the long list of many people who have been injured or even killed at RH concert, the band will now not tolerate any sort of violent behavour. Way back years ago they had a strict NO MOSHING policy, with signs everywhere. I remember hearing when one guy ignored it and still moshed at the Toronto show and Thom just stopped and started at him in complete disgust. It takes a lot to do that, and i commend total respect. As performers, knowing that your shows have resulted in many injuries, rape and sometimes death can only make you feel at least a little responsible for it all.. So tonight was no difference. Thom saw a guy pass out in the front of the pit and stopped the show. The band quickly paused (in sync, i must add) and Thom imperatively instructed everyone to get him out of there and get him first aid. They resumed in the third verse, and continued the show, after he was safe and away from harm. Isn't that great?

Back to the show. I guess the only critique I would say about the actual music, is selection of music. The show was heavily Hail to the Thief (naturally, it's a tour to promote it) so when they strung in a set of those songs together they fit perfectly. But once they threw in crowd favorites, such as My Iron Lung, Fake Plastic Trees and Bulletproof, they totally stuck out. It was like each time it was like we were at a friends house and some stupid drunk guy stops the album that we're all stoned to, saying "hhheeyy mann.. i wnana 'ere them old shit man... put on that song, you know, the "YA do it to yourself!!" song where they're all lying comatose at the end of the video man!"

Heh, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed hearing those hits from way back when (especially Bulletproof) but in terms of the flow of the concert, it definitely kind of pulled me out of my RH trance. But again, it was still really great to hear those tunes again, and even hearing a few layers they've added since they've progressed from the Bends/OK Computer. I'm generally not very picky when it comes to particular MUST HEAR RH songs to hear at a show, but it would have been nice to put in a few more tunes from Amnesiac, namely Pyramid Song... but hey, they still did the piano for You and Whose Army, so I'm not complaining!

In sum...Overall, it was a stellar show. There is no other electronic/experimental band that I can think could ever meet the masterful state that RH have evolved to, I can tell you that. I know that this Skydome venue was just the band-aid scheduling solution to the blackout, and i'm sure next time they will not have to be there. Ah well, hopefully you all can appreciate them and their contribution to contemporary music!!

Take care,

RE

"I'd really like to help you man...
Nervous messed up marionette,
Floating around on a prison ship" -Optimistic (Kid A)