Radiohead
Coachella Festival
Indio
May 1, 2004

On day one, Radiohead singer Thom Yorke soldiered through a four-day throat infection for a stellar set. Armed with a raspy voice and a wicked grin, Yorke sounded more poignant because of his ills, particularly on "Sit Down, Stand Up." As he wailed away at the song's final mantra, "The rain drops," Jonny Greenwood spiraled echoing guitar riffs into Phil Selway's crashing drums. Behind the band, a rectangular display of red lights danced to each electric measure.

"Idioteque" was a buzz saw. "Karma Police," a slashing acoustic epic. Radiohead even dusted off its '93 smash "Creep" for a good, old-fashioned, festival sing-along. But as soon as the band ended its set, fans sprinted toward the colossal Sahara tent for Kraftwerk.

Gabriel Sheffer

Live Daily
05.05.04