Review: Radiohead at Cruzan Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, FL (2008-05-05)

Well, it was awesome. If you’re wondering if it’s worth it to pay $50 to see Radiohead, it is. If you’re wondering if it’s worth it to pay $75 for seats, it is. If you’re wondering if it’s worth it to get up at 4am to drive 4 hours to go see Radiohead, dammit, it is.

Liars opened for Radiohead, and my assessment of them is two-fold:

Doors were at 7:30 at this huge venue, and they started playing at 8, which at least conceptually puts them in the realm of lobby muzak. I myself (eagle-eyed genius that I am) thought they were roadies setting up gear and the music was pre-recorded. About halfway through their set, I noticed that the roadies were moving particularly rhythmically, and finally realized they were a band. So I recognize that they had a shit job to do, entertaining an indifferent audience with no big screen or big light show, and they pulled it off admirably.
I didn’t really like them. They had one cool song that nearly compelled me to purchase their album, but then I heard the rest of their songs. Their tiny little bodies were pretty entertaining, though. And they remind me of a cross between Deerhoof and At The Drive-In, if they were dressed by that guy from AFI’s mom.

Anyway, Radiohead! My peeps and I sat in Section 08, Row W, Seat 6, which was stage right. They played a good sampling of stuff from throughout their career, with a focus on their new material. Nude came out beautifully, and I got a video of it. Most of their older material was the straight-up rock fare, like Just, though they played a good sampling from OK Computer, from Exit Music to Airbag. They didn’t neglect their techno repertoire, with Morning Bells, Everything In Its Right Place, Idioteque, and the Gloaming, which was an unexpectedly good live song. I’ve never liked Pyramid Song as much as I did last night. Maybe I need louder speakers and a light show for my sound system.

Speaking of their light show, it’s among the best I’ve seen. Certainly in the same league as the Flaming Lips’, if not better. They’ve got these long, transparent tubes that look like chimes hanging down over the band, and they light up different colors and have images projected onto them. They also have cameras all over the stage that take video that’s projected up on the back wall behind the chimes. Fucking incredible. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a light show this extravagant that wasn’t cheesy as all hell. My drummer, Robert, says that Johnny designed the chimes like 10 years ago. They’re worth seeing even if you’re not a big fan of the Radiohead.

My brother was telling me that this was their first show stateside this tour, and they did seem a bit off the first couple of songs. Thom tried to end one of the songs a couple bars early, but everything worked out. And I can’t remember what the hell song it was that they played the ending to twice, but that was interesting.

And goddammit, they rocked. Radiohead, I award thee 5 out of 5 dead monkeys. I’m not buying a $40 t-shirt, though.

Here’s my Flickr photo set from the event.

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May 7, 2008 | Filed Under music, reviews