Radiohead/ Supergrass
South Park
Oxford
July 7, 2001

In the days leading up to Radiohead’s ‘homecoming’ at South Park, I absorbed the grim realisation that there was no room at the inn...

Every B&B, every hotel, every last pub in Oxford was fully booked - crammed with expectant Radiohead-heads. And me, the only non-fan in the vicinity? I had to make do with a far-flung guesthouse over 12 miles shy of the city centre. How convenient… The day itself is dull. Rain-laden clouds hover above the dreaming spires and the scent of storm is forever in the air. After faffing on trains, in taxis and on a local bus driven by the bastard son of Damon Hill, I finally reach the venue in time for Supergrass.

I’ve seen Supergrass on several occasions and they usually come up with the goods, but filling the awkward ‘tea-time’ slot was never going to be easy. The obligatory ‘sleepers’ are strewn around the site and anyone brave enough for the bar queue has been supping since 1pm. But the ‘Grass don’t delay in cranking up the pace, steaming straight in with "Lose It" and "Caught By The Fuzz".

Looking increasingly like Teen Wolf, Gaz introduces a couple of new tracks (one with an excellent Ska twist), but there are no radical departures from the last album. A few fumbled drop-outs cause gaffs, but "Richard III", "Moving" and "Sun Hits the Sky" sound as good as ever in the great outdoors. An extended introduction to "Lenny" builds up the finale and even folk in the Port-a-loo queue are compelled to have a bop.

A 90 minute wait for watered down beer and outrageously priced munchies means I miss Beck’s acoustic set entirely, though judging by the reports filtering back to the beer tent, this is no great tragedy.

An eerie soundtrack of the Ink Spots and an ever-gloomier sky slowly store the calm before the storm. The storm is Radiohead. As admitted, I’ve never been a fan, but two songs in I’ve changed my opinion. "Airbag" is a blinder - Jonny Greenwood powering the proceedings, feeding off Colin all the while. It strikes me immediately how well they work as a band and how much - despite Thom’s constant reference to nerves – they are enjoying themselves. Contrary to my pre-conceived assumptions, they do play the popular tracks ("No Surprises", "Karma Police", "Street Spirit", "Fake Plastic Trees", "Idioteque"...) and the performances are faithful to the studio versions.

In a live setting, however, their material, even that of the ‘difficult’ Kid A and Amnesiac, seems far more accessible and that theory is proved when "Pyramid Song" turns into a 40,000 strong sing-a-long.

The ground-breaking time signatures make dancing a challenge, but when Thom busts his own mad moves we are compelled to join in. "Paranoid Android" sets the crowd alight and Jonny Greenwood proves he can rock-out with the best of them. The sound is incredible – despite their penchant for experimentalism and perfectionism the music has depth and soul, as well as being technically excellent throughout.

At 10:15 the heavens open, but even the almighty shower can’t stop our enjoyment of two encores, climaxing with "The Bends". Blimey. After 20 minutes of the downpour I make a sodden exit, missing a third encore that culminated with "Creep" – for which I will assuredly burn in hell. I eat my words, humble pie, etc etc. Thom is a gifted man. Radiohead are an ingenious band. I consider myself converted. I will repent the years of loss by setting Amnesiac to repeat. Want to try and stop me? You and whose army?

Johanna Payton

Channelfly
13.07.01