The city is Barcelona, the temperature 32 degrees, the band Radiohead. It's hot and sweaty but not because of any dancing or moshing. Instead, in the all-seater Tivoli Theatre - a jumped up picture house by any other name - there is to be no dancing, no smoking and even standing up is not encouraged. The Spanish apparently are not one to flaunt the rules.

The first few tracks from Oxford's finest (sorry Supergrass, but we're in a different league here) are taken from the band's forthcoming album and as such are unheard, but when a song is as good as 'Optimistic' or 'Morning Bell' you'd think that anyone would feel the need to shimmy. Apparently not. By the time 'Street Spirit' is played, even Thom Yorke feels the need to comment on the picture house surroundings. "Popcorn in half an hour," he deadpans.

The band play their hearts out and, after a few more new songs that left us almost lost for words, it's back to some classics like 'No Surprises' and 'Airbag' to try and get the crowd going. Something must have worked - maybe it's Thom sitting on the end of the stage with his head in his hands and then running up the main aisle - because by the time the band take the stage for a rousing encore you couldn't stop at least some of the crowd from dancing. Mind you, they did open with 'Just', slotting in two more before the blasting finale of 'Paranoid Android', so you can'thelp but admire the Spanish reserve. Great band, great city, shame about the venue. Bring on the big-top.

-Deborah Craig

Music365
20.06.00