Radiohead
Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood
September 25, 2003

Arriving back in Los Angeles where much of their sixth album Hail to the Thief was recorded, Radiohead unleashed a furious concert in the first of two sold out shows at the legendary Hollywood Bowl. Beginning with “There There,” guitarists Johnny Greenwood and Ed O'Brien each traded in their six-strings for a pair of drums that they rhymically beat in a tribal fashion as Thom Yorke's voice filled the outdoor amphitheater.

The relevance of Radiohead's songs resonated by reflecting the anxiety of the current political and cultural atmosphere. The pairing of “2 + 2 = 5” and “Lucky” left goose bumps, not only because of the musical intensity, but also the lyrical content. When Yorke screamed the lines “you are not paying attention” and “hail to the thief” in “2 + 2 = 5,” the political anger felt as palpable as the sardonic humor when Yorke sang, “the head of state has called for me by name” in “Lucky.” Yorke even made a crack before "Myxamatosis" about the California recall election, perhaps a nod to the chaotic debate that took place just the night before.

Playing with an overwhelming amount of passion and energy Radiohead entranced its fans. Besides possessing one of the most recognizable and emotive voices in music, far from being moody, Yorke displayed an engaging personality, dancing frantically around the stage in a series of hops and spasms. Relying heavily on their latest album, the British group also showcased standout tracks from OK Computer, Kid A, and Amnesiac. Moving from powerful rockers “Paranoid Android” and “The National Anthem,” the band incorporated slower more delicate tracks such as the haunting “Like Spinning Plates” and the achingly beautiful “Sail to the Moon.” Radiohead surprised long-time fans with a performance of one of their oldest tunes, “Lurgee” from the debut album Pablo Honey.

One of the most rewarding and exciting aspects of any Radiohead concert is the way the band attacks and mutates even its most familiar songs. Never content to simply recreate their albums, Radiohead constantly challenges their own tunes. The show at the Bowl was no exception as Johnny Greenwood occupied stage right with a maddening intensity, wringing and attacking his guitar. At times Greenwood resembled a mad scientist hunched over a series of keyboards juggling various electronic instruments producing a vast array of sonic material. The miracle of Radiohead's performance is the band's ability to not only recreate its complex song structures, but to enhance and add to those songs with layered depth. By the time the band played “Street Spirit” and “Karma Police” the audience was singing along completely enraptured by a group that deserves to be hailed as one of the most important acts in the world today.

Jeff Partain

Virgin MegaMagazine
26.09.03