It was about half way through "Just" when I realised I was in the presence of the best rock band on the planet, not an opinion I held before I arrived, but it was when I left.

This place is big. By big, I don't just mean kind of impressive, I'm talking Richard Ashcroft's ego, and by the dictates of the New York Mayor, there's no smoking, anywhere. At all. Not even in the bar. This must come as something of a shame to serial substance abuser Jason Pierce. Not even tobacco? What kind of a venue is this? What kind of a country totally refuses to get into the monumental grooves that Spiritualized fling from the stage? The kid next to me in the "No Doubt" t-shirt and baggy shorts was distinctly unimpressed.

After the total lack of response afforded Spiritualized, I was surprised by the orgasmic shrieks which echoed around the hall when Radiohead emerged to a light show as bright as Rick Witter is not. Then they started playing. FUCK ME. I thought Spiritualized had loud guitars. The squall of noise on "Airbag" hits you like a Prince Naseem left hand, leaving you breathless. Playing songs from their entire back catalogue (but happily not "Creep", to the disappointment of Mr No Doubt) they show how far they've developed, and how fast. Yeah, it's still prog, especially the new one in the encore that sounds like the Moody Blues, about "thinking you're great when you're not" and featuring Thom on organ.

I know its a cliche acute, Brian, but you can't pick out highlights. The show, the band, everything was mindblowing. You can't write about it without sounding like an over excited schoolboy, but that's how it felt leaving the concert. You remember that time when you fell in love with music for the first time - like that all over again. Thom Yorke may look like Kenny from South Park without the anorak, but he fronts the best rock band in the world. Michael Stipe once said Radiohead were so good it scared him. If he was in the VIP enclave down the front tonight, he must have shat himself. Truly phenomenal.

-Nathan

Retroactive Baggage
06-07.98