Panadola Diction

Saturday evening was my first time to see Radiohead in the flesh. I was on a Willy Foggesque ’round-the-world-in-a-hurry trip the last time they were in town, at Marlay Park with support from Beck, and before that, I don’t know, I have no good excuse. So I was eagerly looking forward to ticking one of the few currently active bands whom I have never seen, but want to see off my list (other notables still on the list include Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Morrissey, and Morrissey gets ticked next month).

It was also my first time at a gig at Malahide Castle, and it was, generally, a very agreeable experience. Easy access via the DART, nice open parkland with big old trees and a castle (unsurprisingly), plenty of space, chips, cream cake, beer, toilets, friendly staff at the gate, etc. Also, the great weather kept things (toilets, people in impractical shoes) civilized, and the crowd in good spirits. The stage setup was pretty impressive, with lights and video screens and a dangly curtain of dangly things framing the band.

And then these songs were played, in this order:

01 15 Step
02 Bodysnatchers
03 Airbag
04 Bangers + Mash
05 Nude
06 Pyramid Song
07 Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
08 The Gloaming
09 The National Anthem
10 Faust Arp
11 Videotape
12 Optimistic
13 Where I End And You Begin
14 Reckoner
15 Everything In Its Right Place
16 All I Need
17 There There

Encore 1
18 Exit Music (For A Film)
19 Jigsaw Falling Into Place
20 Climbing Up The Walls
21 Planet Telex
22 How To Disappear Completely

Encore 2
23 Super Collider
24 You And Whose Army?
25 Idioteque

So, as you can see, there was a lot of In Rainbows. For those who like numbers, here’s how that breaks down (though maths isn’t my strong point):

• In Rainbows: 9 +1
• Kid A: 5
• Hail To The Thief: 3
• OK Computer: 3
• Amnesiac: 2
• The Bends: 1
• New songs: 1

It was all very impressive, all two hours of it - they sounded huge when they needed to, and delicate they wanted to. Highlights for me included In Rainbows disc 2 tune ‘Bangers + Mash’, ‘Reckoner’, and the entire second encore, which included a brand new song, played solo by Thom on piano - ‘Super Collider’ (which got its debut the previous night apparently).

On balance, looking at the crowd I’d imagine a lot of people were hoping for a few more pre-Kid A tracks (especially when they closed the previous night with ‘Just’ and ‘Paranoid Android’), and of course I would have liked to hear a few of the classics, but maybe Radiohead were going on the assumption that the Saturday (being the quickly sold-out first show) crowd would have more… receptive fans, possibly, whereas the Friday show might attract more of a Best-Of crowd. I don’t know, I could be wrong, maybe they just play whatever they feel like playing, which is, and was, fine by me.

Bat For Lashes sounded interesting, but to be honest, I was more interested in the cream cake I was eating at the time. I couldn’t actually see the stage from my spot on the grass, but it sounded very Bjorkish. I’m usually not so lazy about support acts, but the sun and the grass seemed to demand lazing around and eating. There’s a review of it here (BFL, not the cake), which I largely agree with.

P.S. I took some photos, but haven’t had a chance to upload them yet - I’ll add one later. [done]

I was really happy with Saturday’s set too but I understand if a first-timer would have prefered to hear old stuff. It’s got to be tough for them to find a balance. The last time I saw them in Nimes it was like a greatest hits show and they’d just released ‘Hail To The Thief’ so I was gutted not to hear more off that. Saturday’s show was a good balance I thought.

I agree, it was a good balance, and I’m very fond of In Rainbows, so was delighted to hear almost all of it.

Though yes, as a discreet first-timer, part of me would have loved to hear some Sulk, or Just. But I’m not complaining at all, I admire bands who don’t pander relentlessly.

i stupidly pussied out on account of having no-one to go with (besides, it was raining on wednesday when i sold my tickets) and have not stopped kicking myself since.

Such an amazing show , so happy i went with my gut and went to it, the whole wished they played old stuff is true for me too but we will look back on this tour in years to come and say we witnesed in rainbows live in all its glory!

Regarding the cream cake incident, I can report that I have not seen a more ferocious feeding frenzy since a friend of mine thought that it would be a bit of craic to marinate himself overnight in garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and red wine vinger, before clambering between two large slices of freshly baked bread, and going off see the sights on Cannibal Island.

R - Stop kicking yourself, you stupid pussy. Pity you couldn’t make it though, it was rather good. Hope you got face value for your ticket. They were going for €50 at the gate when we arrived.

IL - Yes, it’ll be interesting to see how it rates against the other tours in hindsight when people discuss such matters in the distant future. Hope your gut enjoyed it too.

LO - Overnight? That’s hardcore, I usually only marinate stuff for an hour or so.

Rosie - gah! I’d have gone!

i’ve yet to see radiohead, as well. the next time they’re in town, i’m going to be gearing up for a move, so i’m going to miss them [plus, the show was drastically sold out by the time i scrounged enough money for tickets].

yeah yeah yeahs are pretty phenomenal live. stand close whenever you get the chance to see them.

Photos of the cream cake please!

Used to love Rhead, to the point of obsession, but lost interest of late. I thought the Marlay park gig was going through the motions. I’m half sorry I missed this based on your review, though even if I fell asleep before I got to the end of in Ranbows…

The OKC, Kid A, Amnesiac triptych is still rather sublime however.

Alas, i didn’t photograph the cake. I did wave it around though, covering my friends with icing sugar.

Mmmm icing sugar.

I can almost feel the diabetes swallowing me up….