Radiohead/Foo Fighters
The Rage
Vancouver
July 31, 1997
You've all likely heard the expression "it's not what you know but WHO you know." Well, last night in Vancouver, those words were not just uttered, they were lived as hundreds of lucky folks gathered to witness an invite-only performance featuring Radiohead and Foo Fighters.
The premise behind the event was that the bands - both distributed by EMI Records in North America - were hired to perform for the group's annual convention, this year held in 'beautiful British Columbia.'
The problem that regularly occurs with such exclusionary outings is that the attending bands generally hate playing for 'the industry'.
Rightly so, as those crowds tend to be indifferent at worst and exhausted at best.
In order to tackle the problem, a number of magazines and radio stations hosted contests in both Vancouver and Seattle to double up attendance with enthusiastic ticket winners.
By show time, an incredibly packed (1000 capacity) house was filled with an eclectic mix: fans, first-timers, label reps, the press and - most notably - musicians of all shapes, sizes and income brackets.
During Radiohead's set (the 'opening act' as it were), adoring fans/contest winners wedged themselves into the front third of the venue, hanging on every lyric coming from frontman Thom Yorke's expressive mouth. From the opening strains of "Lucky" through the flailing guitar solos of "Paranoid Android" and continuing onto the majestic closing notes of "Street Spirit [Fade Out]", the sardined audience remained 100 per cent focused and in the moment.
Sadly, the spacious (and quite empty) two thirds of the remaining venue was filled with largely indifferent and/or inattentive record company higher-ups, many of whom remained not just physically, but also emotionally distant from the action.
At one point, Yorke uttered "this is definitely for the people who are shooting pool in the back" and lit right in to "No Surprises", sarcasm intact and duly noted.
That said the free show was Vancouver's only chance to see the group perform the new material (from their new disc 'OK Computer') in town, so their genuine response brought out the best in an already emotional band.
Highlights included a heartbreaking version of "Fake Plastic Trees", the powerful "Karma Police" and a majestic take on "Exit Music (For A Film)".
When Radiohead left the stage (after a 70 minute set), all it took was a few glances near the backstage area to watch the stars shine bright: Bryan Adams, Robbie Robertson, various X Files team players, Holly McNarland, Yvette from Mollies Revenge, DOA's Joe Keithley and many more pledged their allegiance to the Radiohead flag, all at the point that the Foo Fighters took the stage.
Like oil and water, however, the two could not and should not have been asked to mix it up, as the Foo's lost to an unbeatable foe, punching out a methodical -- and comparitavely unemotional -- rawk 'n' roll set which included: "This Is A Call", "Monkey Wrench", "Up In Arms" and the pure pop of "Big Me".
-Denise Sheppard Jam! Music
01.08.97