Radiohead @ Blossom Music Center, Cleveland
August 12th, 2008 - by rmlevis
I can finally scratch off Radiohead from my list of favorite bands (that are still alive/together/not retired) that I have yet to see. They were the last and most elusive one, as they don’t make many trips to the states. Radiohead are somewhat of an enigma, being one of the most influential and important bands of the last twenty years. They’re just one of those bands that you plain have to see, and I finally got my chance.
My buddy and I bought tickets immediately after they confirmed a show in Cleveland, OH at the Blossom Music Center on August 4th. We waited a few days last time and the D.C. show sold out. (Yea, we were willing to drive the five hours from Pittsburgh. After all, it’s Radiohead!)
It was my first trip back to Blossom since my very first concert ever there when I was five years old to see Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. We got stuck in a bumper-to-bumper line trying to get off of the Turnpike and down the local road to the amphitheatre and then into a parking space. We sat for a good hour in traffic, hoping that they would delay Radiohead’s start since it was sold out and thousands of people were still parking.
No luck. During our mile walk from the lot to the amphitheatre we heard the crowd erupt. They had just lunged into “15 Steps” as we broke into a sprint. Thankfully, that was all we missed of the set, although we were disappointed to miss them initially take the stage.
The whole experience of a Radiohead concert is just that-it is a whole experience. Not just a drunk-fest with fan sing-alongs. From the music-which is intricately and expertly played–to the light show, to Thom Yorke’s frantic on-stage persona, it was something completely new and exciting that I had never witnessed before. You almost sit there waiting to learn something and be enlightened. I was totally expecting to be blown away. Besides, it’s Radiohead!
Particularly, the light show was insane! Above the stage hung several dozen columns that I expect were made of some sort of fiber optics. Light and animation were then either projected or beamed from the columns. It was absolutely mesmerizing and added such a huge visual element to what was happening sonically on stage. And the crowd was fueled by the changes in the light show that punctuated the music.
Radiohead kept things pretty mellow and mid-tempo, as most of their music is anyway. They played the entire In Rainbows disc, with “House of Cards”, “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi”, and “Reckoner” being standouts for me. (Check out my crappy-quality camera phone videos below) -We’re trying to get those up…and we’re failing bigtime. More word on those videos soon…-Eddie
Absent were “Karma Police,” “The Bends,” “Fake Plastic Trees,” “High and Dry,” and of course “Creep,” which Thom utterly hates playing. This did not surprise me as the set was kept pretty liberal and experimental. Although, I would have liked to hear them play “My Iron Lung.”
The band left the stage only an hour into their set and thanked the crowd. This was to be the first of two encores they took that night. Presumptuous? Maybe. But when you witness how well they play, what they do, and how well-written the songs are, it is perfectly within their right. After all, it’s Radiohead!
During the first encore came the highlight of the night for me and the rest of the crowd. “Paranoid Android” was absolutely mind-blowing live with its ups and downs and tempo changes. It also saw the band rock out more than any other selection that night. Add to it just how awesome a song it is and the explosive light show (see videos) -again, we suck- and you have your quintessential Radiohead moment.
They barrage your senses from all angles with sound, light and emotion that you don’t need any drugs to feel a high. This was the first big concert that I didn’t drink at. I really wanted to be able to remember this one.
However, there was more marijuana smoking here than any Tom Petty show I’ve ever been to. The clouds of smoke from joints and cigarettes were smothering for an outdoor venue. And unfortunately I was standing by Thom Yorke’s echo for half of the show. Don’t ever be “that guy” that sings the words to every song and says “Oh Sweet!” when the next one starts. I came here to hear Thom sing, not some scenester douchebag. We eventually relocated.
I am not going to dissect their music here. You either love it or you don’t. But the one thing I most appreciate is that they reproduce everything live. All of the swirling effects and feedback are performed live–even the synth beats. There are no canned samples or recorded tracks. Radiohead are a band that believes that if you can’t replicate it live, it’s not worth doing, and I am a subscriber to this. It may not be appreciated as much or even realized by someone who is not a musician, but it is the Holy Grail of live performance for those that play.
Jonny in particular swapped picks for cello bows, guitars for synth pads, and standing for crouching over his effects board, making the strange sounds and atmospheres that make Radiohead what they are. He also used a lot of E-Bow for sustained notes and feedback.
Thom played a lot of piano and Rhodes and swayed his head back and forth so much while singing, it was hard to understand how he could do it so smoothly. He of course was spot-on and dominant for such a small guy. Vocals never faltered and hearing Thom live was even more soulful than on the recordings.
Not enough credit is given to drummer Phil Selway. He managed to keep the beat throughout all the odd time-signature changes and chord progressions. If you are familiar with Radiohead’s writing style, you know that is no easy feat. He was solid as a rock and kept everything simple: no gaudy flourishes or over-the-top rolls. Just solid pocket drumming with lots of kick, snare, and ride.
The rest of the musicians (Ed O’Brien-guitar; Colin Greenwood-bass) filled out the sound with layers and textures that were hard to pick out separately but joined together to make one heck of a sonic landscape. Not many bands can achieve that.
The band ended the night and second encore with “Everything In Its Right Place.” As they thanked the crowd and left the stage, the title “Everything In Its Right Place” was scrolled across the light columns. It wasn’t immediately obvious–you had to pay attention to see it.
But, an important note to Radiohead production crew: they spelled “Its” wrong, using the contraction “It’s” instead. Call me a grammar nerd for noticing, but the band just got done making a sly political reference to Big Oil during the song, and the title is significant. You wouldn’t want a simple spelling error to mar your objective.
Besides, it’s Radiohead!
Videos
