The setting couldn’t have been more appropriate. After waiting out an afternoon thunder-shower the sun had set, the air was muggy and Radiohead took to the Molson Amphitheatre stage. Their elaborately lit set-up was accented by the CN Tower to the East and the lights of the Canadian National Exhibition to the West, which opened earlier that day.
Naturally, the U.K. monsters of progressive/art rock launched their set with “In Rainbows” lead track “15 Step” followed by “Reckoner“. However, they quickly proved this wouldn’t primarily be an “In Rainbows” live show, continuing with “Kid A“’s “Optimistic” and “Hail to the Theif“’s “There There“. Radiohead have become well known for omitting their earliest work and biggest commercial successes from their sets. Although this show was filled with plenty of music from their more experimental and artistic last four albums, fans were treated to “OK Computer” and “the Bends” cuts.
When it came time to play “Pyramid Song“, guitarist Jonny Greenwood sat down with his guitar and played it with a bow, a-la Jimmy Page, which provided a cool addition to the song’s sound. Singer Thom Yorke was often found dancing frenetically when the moment seemed right and was absolutely stunning when playing his piano pieces. It’s not certain if this was intentional or not but he abruptly stopped singing during “Morning Bell” but carried on without missing a step.
They finished the main set with “Bodysnatchers” and after a short break returned to play the always too short “Like Spinning Plates“. It was during the first encore that Thom finally spoke to the crowd. It was also when Radiohead proved that only a band this good can go from playing keys, piano, syth and effects on one song (as in “Videotape“) and all four playing guitar in another (on “Airbag“). The encore wrapped with “Street Spirit” but they returned again with “House of Cards” and “Planet Telex“.
The light show provided a perfect combination of vivid lights and flowing music that really brought everything to life. A screen displayed live images of the band from the stage while five circular LED spotlights repositioned themselves above. There also were several pendulum-like light-sticks that displayed vibrant colours and effects that would captivate anyone with eyes, especially when they began ‘raining’ on the stage right when Yorke sang the line “It should be raining” during “the Gloaming” . The most impressive display came during show finale “Everything in its Right Place” when lyrics scrolled across the light-sticks as they were being sung by Thom. It proved to be an outstanding finish to an outstanding concert, one that will surely stick in the memories of those in attendance.
Set List:
- “15 Step“
- “Reckoner“
- “Optimistic“
- “There There“
- “Morning Bell“
- “All I Need“
- “Pyramid Song”
- “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi“
- “the Gloaming“
- “A Wolf at the Door“
- “Faust Arp“
- “No surprises“
- “Jigsaw Falling Into Place“
- “Idioteque“
- “Climbing Up the Walls“
- “Nude“
- “Bodysnatchers”
Encore
- “Like Spinning Plates“
- “Videotape“
- “Airbag“
- “Talk Show Host“
- “Street Spirit (Fade Out)”
Encore 2
- “House of Cards“
- “Planet Telex“
- “Everything in its Right Place“
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