Emotional performance lives up to hype generated by release of epic latest album

Radiohead
Wiltern Theater
San Francisco
July 26, 1997

Alternative music may be on its deathbed, but don't count out everyone just yet.

Radiohead's show at the Wiltern Theater on July 26 intoxicated and dazzled the sold-out crowd, ready for a taste of the Oxford quintet's Gen X progressive rock sound. It was the first stop on the second leg of their U.S. tour this year, drawing heavily from both their underbought, underrated classic, The Bends (1995), and their new sci-fi opus, O.K. Computer.

This particular tour had built up quite a bit of talk and hype. Tickets for the Wiltern performance went on sale a week after Radiohead's appearance at the KROQ Weenie Roast and their Troubadour show, which had sold out in seconds. The Wiltern show sold out immediately as well, a full month before the performance date. During the show, you couldn't walk ten feet outside the venue without having scalpers fight over your money and tickets.

Fans arrived early for once in anticipation of the buzz-heavy show. Lead singer Thom Yorke dedicated the new hit single, "Let Down," to "the people that didn't get in ... y'know, the people with those signs that say 'tickets, please'."

Radiohead's spectacular presentation benefitted from a stellar atmosphere rock shows usually aren't lucky enough to have. The lighting rarely shined upon Yorke and his bandmates; rather, it shone behind them, almost silhouetting the band. Glowing in soothing purples, blues, oranges and greens through the heavy smoke, the lights accented the moodier pieces beautifully. For edgier pieces, on the other hand, fans were bombarded by the sonic assaults and strobe lights.

Fan enthusiasm added to the ambiance. Songs that had never played on the radio received louder-than-expected roars, especially material from The Bends. Few sing-alongs could be heard, but the crowd swayed and moved throughout the night.

The music really drew the watchers in. Radiohead played from the heart, whether through the prominent rhythm section, thanks to bassist Colin Greenwood and drummer Phil Selway, or Yorke's captivating and emotional vocals. Not once did Yorke seem to be going through the motions; his pain and thoughts were felt and realized in every song. The band haunted, worked-up and soothed the crowd. Yorke deserves much of the credit for his ability to perfectly parallel the music with his finely-tuned voice.

Radiohead opened with the awkward and too-mellow "Aircrash," and surprised the audience by closing with "Subterranean Homesick Alien." Had Radiohead played its set list in reverse order, it would have made more sense as far as rock shows go, but let's not expect Radiohead to be pragmatists here.

The band showcased much of the spacey O.K. Computer, ranging from the chaotic single "Paranoid Android" to the stripped-down "Karma Police." The standout track from their new, orgiastically praised record was the tortured ballad, "Let Down." The song sounded like its recorded version but soared higher because of the Wiltern's PA system.

Radiohead reached into its ol' bag-of-classics, delighting the crowd with fantastic versions of the anguished "Nice Dream" and their still-signature song, "Creep." Introducing "Creep," Yorke said, "We'll play this song, 'cause ... it's still a good song." Although "Creep" and "You" - the two songs they played from their first album, Pablo Honey - differed tremendously from their newer, more synthesized and progressive material, they didn't seem out of place. The songs' distressing aura fit in nicely with the techno-angst of their more recent works.

Highlights included "Talk Show Host," their contribution to the multi-platinum-selling Romeo + Juliet soundtrack, and the gorgeously depressing "Fake Plastic Trees." The encore contained such delights as their Smiths-esque "Electioneering" and "Street Spirit."

After "Street Spirit," the nearly 2-hour show apparently ended and Radiohead left the stage. The lights remained off. About 20 percent of the crowd left, only to rush back three minutes later when Radiohead shocked the crowd by re-emerging from backstage.

Yorke took the mike, saying, "This song is gonna cost us $500 ... " referring to the curfew/time limit, and launched into a brilliant rendition of "Subterranean Homesick Alien." Radiohead left the Wiltern stage after almost two hours of incredible musicianship to an ardent ovation from its musically sated fans.

-Mike Prevatt

The Daily Bruin
04.08.97