Radiohead/ Black Keys
MadisonSquare Garden Theatre
New York
June 13, 2006
In this bloggers opinion, Radiohead operate on much higher level them virtually any other touring and recording band today. With that said, my expectations for them are always extremely high and they never seem to disappoint, but they always do surprise me.
Last night's first Madison Square Garden Theater show reminded me a lot of the atmosphere when Radiohead played the Roseland Ballroom following the release of Kid A. Both shows had tickets that were tough to get, both shows were nice and intimate, both shows attracted a large quantity of really tall fratboys who like to talk during the quiet songs?!?
Now a bit older and medicated, I didn't look to start a fight but decided to bust my way closer to the stage and away from said jackasses. And from that point on, what a fucking fantastic show it was! Thom and Johnny seemed to put themselves on an emotional rollercoaster before the crowd. One minute they were cracking inside jokes and then next they seemed to be having out-of-body experiences.
Taking the stage while Peaches "Fuck The Pain Away" played over the speakers, they launched into "You And Whose Army". A couple songs in, the band really found it's groove during "Morning Bells". This kicked off a seven song spree that even got to Thom (who cried while performing "Videotape"). The new songs sounded decent on bootlegs, but it doesn't compare to hearing them live. When they played the majestic "Climbing Up The Walls" and went into the gorgeous "Nude", my jaw was on the floor in awe.
The appearance of "Lucky" and "The Bends" kicked everything into overdrive, but it was the final encore of "House Of Cards", which almost has this Ike Turner guitar part, and "How To Disappear Completely" left the crowd on shakey knees. I was really expecting Thom to come out and do "True Love Waits", but alas, he did not. Maybe tonight......
Jason