Radiohead’s announcement of their latest European tour, seemingly out of nowhere, may appear initially as a kind of victory lap, which given everything they have achieved would be an understandable indulgence. However, upon seeing them live at London’s O2 Arena on 22nd November, one is left in no doubt that this is a band still very much devoted to their music and to sharing it with the world, rather than embarking on an ego-driven showcase.
The gig opens with the instruments encased by a ring of huge semi-transparent screens, lighting up individually at the sound of a single note. It is reminiscent of an orchestra tuning before a performance, warming up the crowd as a surge of anticipation ripples through everyone. The crowd erupts as the band emerges on stage and bursts into the opening number “2 + 2 = 5”, the surrounding screens slowly rising like a cage being lifted to release the fervent musical strains into the wild.
What follows is a sensational romp through their discography, heavily featuring work from In Rainbows and OK Computer. “Jigsaw Falling into Place” and “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” were certainly highlights, as were “Exit Music (for a Film)” and “Paranoid Android”. However, they are careful not to neglect their other albums, featuring music from Hail to the Thief, The Bends, A Moon Shaped Pool, Kid A, and Amnesiac.
The band rotates around the stage throughout to give everyone in the arena a taste of them as individuals. All the while, colourful graphics of the performance float above the stage in a kind of halo; shapes frequently pulsating and moving in time with the music. Radiohead has always embraced the importance of visual art in cohesion with music, as illustrated by their collaboration with Stanley Donwood on their album artwork, and the live show takes this to the next level. Combined with the circular staging in the centre of the venue, this creates a sense of intimacy which is often lost in vast arenas like the O2.
After 18 songs, the band disappears, teasing the crowd that it is over. At this point the atmosphere is electric as a slightly panicked crowd is forced to contemplate the idea of when (or if) they may see Radiohead again, whilst simultaneously trying to live in the moment. They soon indulge us with a 7-song encore featuring a combination of headbangers and moments of contemplation, culminating in “Everything in its Right Place”; a somewhat serendipitous close that leaves the audience utterly spellbound.
In my opinion, few bands have come close to producing music of the quality that is as consistently unique as the albums produced by Radiohead, and that is all the more evident live. The music takes on a new level of meaning in live performance. You can tell that some of the songs many of us know and love were made with the intention of being experienced in real time, of being physically felt rather than just heard.
This is not a band going through the motions of a commercial ‘comeback’ tour; they are not trying to recapture the spirit of when they were at the height of their fame, because frankly, they have moved on. Instead, they play with the confidence and joy of a group of artists and friends who simply love what they do. As a result, their music has continued to evolve and push boundaries in unpredictable ways and, at times, can divide opinion. Thus, there is a kind of spirituality in sharing the room with other individuals who understand and feel understood by their music.
It was a privilege to attend and an experience that I will never forget. One thing is for sure: Radiohead are absolute masters of their craft.
