Radiohead near flawless at Greek

By Alex Roman
Daily Forty Niner

LOS ANGELES - In what may be their last live gig for some time, Radiohead played a near flawless set on Friday night at the Greek Theatre.

The English quintet, who were playing in one of only two concerts in North America this year, proved that while some bands have to connect on a personal level with their fans, there are others who can connect the old fashioned way, through music's sheer raw emotion.

Radiohead took the stage just as a thick fog that would hover above their heads the entire night rolled in from behind, and began rocking the crowd immediately with "The National Anthem," from their latest album, "Kid A."

The ensuing roller coaster ride was an aural treat for all lucky enough to get tickets, as well as those who were able to avoid the police and scale the trees behind the theater to watch the show.

Radiohead played 24 songs in two hours drawing mostly from their last three albums, "The Bends," "OK Computer" and "Kid A."

The band covered a wide array of musical sounds, painting and smattering noise as if they were Michelangelo or Da Vinci with canvas.

While they are sometimes portrayed in America as being difficult and anti-social, Radiohead seemed in great spirits as lead singer Thom Yorke shook hands with fans, smiled on many occasions and sang "Hooray for Hollywood," before launching into their latest single "Optimistic."

Yorke maintained the playful atmosphere by acknowledging the loyal fans in the trees and dedicating "Paranoid Android" to "all the babes in the woods," which was greeted by screaming voices from outside the theater.

Meanwhile, the soupy fog hovering above the theater added further drama to the show. Likewise, the lighting lent a surreal quality to it all, adding mood and ambience to a show that was already moody and ambient.

The night's only flaw came at the beginning of the song "Idioteque," when after a slight miscue, Yorke stalked around the stage before getting back on the microphone and delivering a powerful version of the song. The mistake seemed to cause Yorke to deliver the opening lyrics with more fury and determination than usual.

The band hit a soft spot in many fans with a jaw-dropping rendition of their hit "Fake Plastic Trees." Many in the crowd were visibly moved at this point of the show; couples hugged, wiped tears from their eyes and were moved to sing the chorus.

Before playing the night's final song "Street Spirit (Fade Out)," Yorke again thanked the crowd for showing up and announced, "this will probably be our last gig for quite some time." His proclamation upset many in the crowd, but the moment was lightened when guitarist Ed O' Brien called Yorke a "big tease."