Although the Brit-pop movement might make you think otherwise, not all British bands want to recreate the sounds of Swinging London of the 1960s.
Radiohead and Spiritualized are two of the country's most forward-thinking groups - that they were on the same bill last night at the Max Bell Centre before 4,000 fans explains why the show has been sold out for weeks.
Neither act disappointed.
In fact, Radiohead was as good as anyone could have hoped - which means they were untouchable.
The Oxford quintet started with Airbag and Karma Police, an awesome one-two punch from the group's third and latest album OK Computer.
The songs set the mood for the evening as the show was simultaneously taut and dramatic, serene and unsettling.
Few bands make the themes isolation and high-anxiety sound so highly appealing. Then again, few bands have a singer as emotive and captivating as Thom Yorke. He could snarl ferociously one moment; the next let out a cry so mournful and vulnerable that it ripped your heart out.
His head bobbing, his body contorting, you couldn't take your eyes or ears off of him.
Yet like all great rock bands, the singer had a complementary genius in the form of guitarist Jonny Greenwood.
He knew what each moment needed and supplied exactly that -- be it grungy rhythm guitar riffs, liquidy guitar lines or just shading and texture. Guitar-hero status should be guaranteed.
Factor in excellent ensemble playing, a stunning light show, and material that sounds like pop music from the 21st century and you have a concert that you'll be telling your grandkids about.
Spiritualized was not an exciting proposition visually. Backlit and immersed in smoke, the band members remained unmoveable silhouettes.
Musically, however, the group's set ebbed and flowed, from quiet, spaced-out psychedelia to maelstroms built from layers of guitar noise, droning sax and pounding drums.
Rating: 5/5
-David Veitch Calgary Sun
09.04.98