Behind the Haze of Allegory, the Hard Glint of Technology

Radiohead/ Willy Mason
Hammersmith Apollo
London
May 18, 2006

Rating: 10/10

“For a minute there I lost myself”. On 18th May at the Hammersmith Apollo, everybody lost themselves.

Support act Willy Mason shyly trickled onstage to warm up a venue bursting with adoring Radiohead fans. His brand of country-acoustica was somewhat out of place, yet somehow compelling. His strong voice filled the hall, and the addition of a violinist and drummer helped vary his sound and keep the audience interested. Despite some heckling from some parts of the crowd, which was to return later to infringe on the main act, Willy kept going to complete a strong set, rounded off with the lovely "Oxygen".

An almost quiet hush followed, with eyes fixed on the technicians and sound men arranging equipment on stage for the Oxford five-piece. There was a sense that this would have been a great event no matter which songs the band chose to perform; as it was, they left out many of their more commercially successful tracks ["Paranoid Android", "Fake Plastic Trees", "No Surprises"], playing instead an array of new songs. Opening with "Videotape", with its downbeat piano intro and building crescendo of poignant lyricism and bittersweet harmonies, the band had control of their audience. They throbbed through "The National Anthem" and "2+2=5", and produced a pulsating version of "Lucky". Other new songs "15 Step" [with its addictive electonic beats and Thom‘s questioning wails], "Arpeggi" [featuring tuneful guitar work and driving drums], and "Body snatchers" [led by a jangling guitar refrain] received perhaps their finest airings yet. These flurries of the unfamiliar were interlaced with songs from as far back as The Bends: "My Iron Lung" and "Planet Telex", as well as "Karma Police". The crowd followed Thom’s every wriggle, every hand movement, every word. Colin, Ed, Jonny and Phil were all in fine form, purveying musicianship only they are capable of. Jonny Greenwood playing his guitar with a cello bow on "Pyramid Song", Colin dabbled on the keyboard, and Ed [as well as Thom] experimented with a drum. It was not only the crowd having immense fun; the band themselves smiled and joked together at regular intervals. Even a possible problem - another piece of mindless heckling from the crowd during the quietly seminal "I Want None of This" - was dealt effectively and comically by Yorke, simply serving to add to the atmosphere. Closing track "Everything In Its Right Place" perfectly summed up the evening; you couldn’t help but feel after this that everything was in its right place.

23 songs played in total. It felt like no more than 10. You can lose yourself when watching this band; Thom’s infectious dancing, Jonny’s mysterious hunching, even Colin’s grooving; these things make Radiohead who they are. Perhaps a classic setlist played by the band, yet it contained none of the commercial classics. A testimony to the longevity of Radiohead, a testimony to their creative musicianship, and a testimony to the best band in the world.

Edward

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25.05.06