Low-level clouds and dense fog rolled across Los Angeles Oct. 20, setting the mood for Radiohead's third and final North American appearance of 2000. The Southern Californian landscape began to resemble something out of a Tim Burton film as fans packed into the sold-out Greek Theatre, hidden amongst pine trees on the side of L.A.'s Griffith Park. Those fans lucky enough to gain admittance to the venue - either through sheer pluck or $1000 E-Bay shopping - were treated to a hypnotic musical event.

Opening act Handsome Boy Modeling School took the stage, armed with just two turntables and a slew of '80s and '90s rap records, and set a completely random mood by spining Digital Underground, Black Sheep and House Of Pain. The one highlight of the 20-minute set came courtesy of guest DJ Kid Koala, who spun two traditional jazz tunes while artistically scratching lead trumpet solos that would have left Benny Goodman in bewilderment.

A drizzle of cheers trickled front to back as Radiohead walked on stage. As with the other two North American stops on this eyelash of a tour, the British quintet opened with "The National Anthem", the third track off the group's latest album, Kid A. Frontman Thom Yorke whipped around the stage as if he were tied to strings like a hand puppet. His head jerked in such convulsive circular motions that his voice echoed in and out from the microphone. Instead of invoking a surreal effect, like on the album, Yorke sounded more like he had a faulty mike.

Thankfully, the singer calmed down by the fourth song, "In Limbo." Standing still like singular monoliths backlit by an ever-expanding red haze, Yorke, guitarists Jonny Greenwood and Ed O'Brien and bassist Colin Greenwood methodically put the crowd into a musical trance. The group quickly moved through the 23-song set, almost identical to the past shows in New York and Toronto. Radiohead matched the Big Apple's set list aside from the addition of "Fake Plastic Trees," "Climbing Up The Walls" and the exclusion of "Permanent Daylight."

"This song goes a leetle something like thees," Yorke announced in a British/Mexican accent before launching into "Fake Plastic Trees". The crowd hushed to an almost dead silence during the ballad's opening sequence, only to erupt in a chorus of cheers during its climax.

But it was Kid A track "Idioteque" that was easily the biggest highlight of the two-hour set. After a slight singing miscue and song restart, Yorke launched into a delirious state, aided by piercing strobe lights and the ever-present looping electronic drumbeat. The song was much heavier and vibrant than the studio track, with drummer Phil Selway joining in after the intro to lay down a beat that most DJs couldn't even spin, let alone play on a kit.

Other crowd favorites included "Talk Show Host" off the Romeo & Juliet soundtrack, "Paranoid Android" from OK Computer and "Just" from The Bends. Radiohead proved why so many critics and fans feel the band is reaching legendary status. The group smoothly bounced through dark brooding ballads, mid-'90s alternapop and whispering acoustic guitar. There's no other ensemble playing today that blends such a diverse selection of original sounds, melodies and wailings into each song.

Before starting "Pyramid Song," the last tune of the first encore, Yorke remarked that, "After tonight, this is our last gig for quite a long time." Let's hope Yorke's comments are just another seemingly random phrase like those found on the band's concert T-shirts. Three shows just don't cut it for a continent salivating for the hypnotic sounds of Radiohead.

 -Ryan Coleman

Nude As The News
23.10.00