Radiohead @ The Hollywood Bowl [LA; 08/25/08]

Over 2 hours, 26 songs, and 2 encores of the highest attainable level of human consciousness
You could say ‘everything was in its right place’ on Monday. Just listing off the elements is overwhelming: the greatest band on the planet, under the Hollywood bowl moonlight, shared with the greatest group of friends a guy can ask for.

The only real variable going in (besides traffic) was the setlist. Now there’s not a song by these gents I wouldn’t love to hear, but they pieced together a superb, un-debatable collection. Los Angeles locals, crazed fans, and typical celebrities alike heard a generous balance of favorites from all periods of Radiohead. We also got the entire In Rainbows record along with some nice surprises (yes, “No Surprises” was one of them).

To keep this raving review from getting out of hand, here are the highest highlights:

The crowd erupted at the first chords of Talk Show Host, but hushed just before Thom Yorke’s first line “I want to. I want to be someone else or I’ll explode.” The 1996 b-side evoked that guitar-driven rock band that many fans first fell in love with. A damn good song. The first 10 songs climaxed right there.

So the 11th track settled down with an acoustic break. Alone on stage, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood delivered the beautiful, “Faust Arp.” But what happened next is what has all the bloggers are talking about today; the two covered the shit out of Neil Young’s “Tell Me Why.” Stadiums and Shrines show buddy, Tony, belted every word (as it’s a song that means a lot to him).

Then we all danced past security guards to the front.

I suffocated Kati during “House of Cards.”

Ending the first encore was “Everything in It’s Right Place.” Since 2001, its live version has favored a dance-ier pace. The same was true here, but they added a gentle, spooky intro that reworks the lyrics of “True Love Waits” (perhaps the most popular unreleased Radiohead song). You could feel the beat about to drop (shown in the anticipation-clapping during the video below, try to ignore the talking).


"Idioteque" closed the evening like it should have (complete with dancing Yorke). At least I’d like to think (during my seizure), that they treated us to a little extra apocalyptic electronica than they usually do.

“Sooooo epic. My favorite Idioteque ever.” - Text message from Office Intern Nate
“Amazing. Love you people. Kati... we owe you bananas.” - Gmail from Mike
“Radiohead is like crack for Dave.” - Gmail from Kati

Monday 8/25 Set:
01. Reckoner
02. Optimistic
03. There There
04. 15 Step
05. All I Need
06. Pyramid Song
07. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
08. The Gloaming
09. Videotape
10. Talk Show Host
11. Faust Arp
12. Tell Me Why (Neil Young Cover)
13. No Surprises
14. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
15. The Bends
16. The National Anthem
17. Nude
18. Bodysnatchers
(Encore 1)
19. House of Cards
20. Planet Telex
21. Go Slowly
22. Fake Plastic Trees
23. True Love Waits Intro/Everything In Its Right Place
(Encore 2)
24. Cymbal Rush
25. Karma Police
26. Idioteque

Last night was the Obama speech with a side of a Radiohead, webcasted lived from Santa Barbara (their last US date on the tour). What a country we live in!


Video | "Idioteque" | from the webcast