Radiohead prove even they can have fun

Radiohead/ Asian Dub Foundation
AECC
Aberdeen
December 2, 2003

What's happened to good old melancholy Radiohead?

Dancing about on stage, a slow, subverted chant of the word Aberdeen, and even - wait for it - frontman Thom Yorke enjoying himself.

Their heavy guitar numbers, and slightly nerdy band members, are so beloved of boys all over the land. And the boys - and girls - were at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre's Press and Journal Arena to lap up a heady, polished performance.

It seemed as if Radiohead, despite so many years as one of the best bands in the world, have just woken up and smelt the sweat - people love their music, want to dance to the music, and want to feel their music.

There were a couple of slower songs that easily could have been depressing, but they were so full of soul that people just chilled out or stood transfixed at Yorke's vocal ability. His range and laid-back, almost lazy-sounding voice put the soul into the songs.

The band's rendition of 'Paranoid Android' is one of the best live songs because the tempo changes so often, and it's a fantastic tribute to the talents of all the band members.

Radiohead were given fantastic support by Asian Dub Foundation, a seven-piece with the most eclectic mix of dance, reggae, rap, Asian, beat and a bit of ska. They were more than energetic - jumping up and down and fusing the audience with energy.

It didn't matter that the songs weren't instantly recognisable anthems, they got the sold-to-capacity arena up and dancing about.

As for Radiohead themselves, there was an excellent range of music - the early, more thrashy stuff to the more sophisticated but definitely soulful newer songs from the band's latest album, Hail to the Thief.

The crowd roared when 'Creep' was played as it's an anthem for every person who felt slightly out of place, and as such it seemed to strike a chord with pretty much everyone in the audience.

Karen Allan

Press & Journal
02.12.03