We arrived at the venue just under an hour before opening and anyone would have thought the worlds greatest rock band were playing in Gloucester judging by the amount of people who were hanging around the venue. Well, they were and the queue was getting longer. When the doors opened we arrive to find signs saying 'Radiohead Kindly Request No Crowdsurfing' which I thought was very kind!
Personally I was amazed by the size of the venue, it was so small compared to the amount of people who I saw them with last at Glastonbury and it probably had a capacity of just under 2000. We were able to get close to the front due to the way the stage is orientated. On came support band Laika, who were very talented - but they lacked something big. There were some details about them which just seemed to make them seem weird and they didn't fit in at all. The way the sound was just all bass with vocals and guitar being totally drowned out. This became even more tedious with time, they are just not the sort of band you want to stand through for 45 minutes waiting for Radiohead!
A little worried when Laika left the stage only 30 minutes before Radiohead were due on stage, but it was OK. At 9pm Fitter Happier promptly arrived over the PA with huge cheers and much compression from the crowd. On walked Radiohead and all of a sudden there was an almighty crush at the front, not because people were being spiteful but because everybody wanted to get a glimpse of the band and I can't blame them for it. Airbag was thus spent trying to stay alive. Karma Police lacks something live, but still had a huge reaction as expected. Just to build the sweat and what was later described by Mr. Yorke as a sauna, they played My Iron Lung. I cannot believe that anybody could even contemplate clapping through Exit Music, but it seemed many could and did and it spoilt the whole vibe of the song a lot. Subterranean Homesick Alien sounded considerably more exciting than previous performances of the song which was a huge relief and it was also amazing when they came in with Banana Co., an early b-side. Madness was restored with the crowd during 'The Bends' and there was a lot of singing too. With instant sing-a-bility is Talk Show Host, hyped by the film Romeo and Juliet - but none the less a breathtaking song and one of the best from the set. More fantastic vocals in Paranoid Android, which was presented brilliantly with strobe lights but possibly a little too much smoke. Ed and Jonny looked surprisingly happy during 'Creep' which didn't get a response as huge as I had expected. Jonny actually disappeared during Bulletproof but returned with his little radio for an amazing Climbing Up The Walls which I never expected them to be able to pull off live, but they managed it! More off The Bends with Planet Telex and Bones coming together and then of course the famous Just which cannot be mocked. Their set ended with a very special Fake Plastic Trees. Nobody was fooled and stuck around for an encore. Good choice because Lucky was to come and it was undoubtedly the best live song I have ever heard with almost all the crowd in a state of almost depression because it really was that good. No Surprises followed and seemed well loved. Thom introduces Lurgee by saying its off their album with the stupid cover and he seemed to really get a high from it. Nothing could make Radiohead unhappy, not even Street Spirit which finished their encore. Well, quite a few people were fooled this time and left without realising that Radiohead would come back to play a rather nice Black Star!
The sound was a little bassy, which was a shame because it did kill Thom's vocals a little, but not too much and the sound was a lot better from the back. If you don't get to see Radiohead on this tour then you are a very big fool. Their live performance is the best anyone can produce.
-Thomas Betts Indie World
11.09.97