Radiohead
Victoria Park
London
September 23, 2000

"WHER I END NO YU BEGIN"

I've not seen Radiohead before and was v excited, no, that's a lie, I was wetting myself actually.   I'd even worn my best thong for Radiohead, i'd be moritifed if they *saw* my VPL mwhahahaha, yeah right as if... get the picture how excited/hysterical/one sandwich short of a picnic I was? Yup, right then, so we leave home 40 minutes later than I'd hoped, 'cos my dear mate Maureen's Kids A, B and C needed feeding, and she said she knew what shoes she wanted to wear she just couldn't find them. And she was wearing odd socks, (but no way was I gonna tell her that), you can understand how my excitement was quickly morphing into hysterical panic... the vision of my wrist with one of those lurid pink bands on meaning I was in the front section was slowing (sic) dissolving.

But it'd been a gorgeous sunny day, and whatever happened I knew it was gonna be a fab gig. We got to the venue no probs and were immediately struck by the lovely balmy air, the calm way everyone was going about getting in, queuing for (get this) fresh and clean portaloos, and seeing lots of lovely food stalls, big bar and the AIDS awareness and Amnesty stalls.  Bought my shitty-brown long sleeve t shirt with lovely words/bears on, and some chips and a pint and we sat down on the grass and me and my mate caught up on lots of goss.  Sorry to all you Clinic fans, I could only hear em in the distance, and it sounded ok.

In fact we arrived just as the last pink wristies were given out so we settled in the second row of the back half of the tent with a clear view (except when Thom would *disappear completely* when he played keyboards) and 3 screens up above to our left which I only clocked half way through the gig *smacks forehead*.. and a big door-gap in the tent to our right, so we weren't crowded at all... I was cynical about what i'd heard that wherever you stood you got a good view, but it was true. As with the Coldplay at the Barfly gig, it was all so civilised with taller menfolk giving up their places to smaller females... ah restores your faith. I must mention the wee girly who jumped up to the screen and ripped off the "Radiohead kindly request no crowd surfing or moshing. Thank you!" sign with a huge YARP... bless her.

Around 8.10pm on they came, straight into T'he National Anthem' and 'Morning Bell'. Gotta say the acoustics weren't great where we were standing, so I don't think I got the best of these two new songs. It got better with 'Lucky' and 'My Iron Lung' and it was clear already that the crowd were very fond of the older stuff. Their *punchdrunk singing-along* to all the older songs just confirmed it and I've never heard so many conversations at a gig as I did during the Kid A tracks... a bit disrespectful in my opinion but I should've been in the front half I guess... I'd love to hear the Kid A tracks in a more suitable setting personally but that's my truth.  Back to the gig.

Mind bites: Thom blew me away with his presence. I got all shallow and admitted to Maureen that Thom and his tambourine and that bowing thing he does, were the sexiest things i'd seen since James Dean Bradfield did Axl Rose at the Manic Millenium. He also reminded me of that guy from the Communards with his dancing. *sigh*. Oh and Thom *losing it completely* and shaking his head in verse 3 of 'Karma Police'... aw bless. Jonny tuning his *wireless* into the World Service maybe, to check that there is a world out there? The lovely voice of Ed. Fab to see Coz on a double bass, couldn't see much of Phil drumming.

I liked the fact they did two encores (finishing around 10.10pm) cos being used to the Manics, that *is* a double bonus. Like a lot of people I prefer the older version of 'Motion Picture Soundtrack' and Thom mentioned this (er not me personally but the peeps on the website saying as much). It's *white wine* Thom and what happened to verse 3 which I luv... eh? eh? eh? So to summarize: old stuff - so f**king specially fabulous; new stuff - reminded me in parts of freeform jazz with some wailing thrown in (blimey my partner would luv it) - more effort needed on the part of the listener to get into it.

Some knave shouted out "play 'Creep'!" and as it'd be easier to buy a Unicorn than hear that one live, I have to be content with Maureen's (far too) slow version.

I also have to give Kid A a good, diligent listening to and as I gaze wistfully at the cd sleeve, wonder if I will be impaling myself on the spikey white glacier thingys or feeling exhileration at having climbed to their musical summit. I'll get right back to you, have a nice day.

Sal Smithson

Brain Farm
10.00