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13-06-00:
Theatre Antique d'Arles, Arles, France
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| setlist:
01 talk show host
02 bones
03 optimistic
04 karma police
05 planet telex
06 morning bell
07 dollars and cents
08 street spirit
09 national anthem
10 my iron lung
11 no surprises
12 climbing up the walls
13 lucky
14 in limbo
15 exit music
16 airbag
17 everything in it's right place
encore:
18 just
19 knives out
20 nice dream
21 paranoid android
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Support: Venus and
Laika
Att: 2500 (sold out)
Phil Selway has been out on the streets of Arles meeting fans and
signing autographs in the afternoon, where Radiohead make their
live comeback after 18 months, Phil emerged from the venue looking
relaxed, chatting to fans. The half-demolished amphitheatre
is described as "very prog rock - it’s like Pink Floyd
playing in Pompeii". Taking to the stage half an hour late, shaven-headed
Thom Yorke greeted the crowd with a French "Bon soir, tout
le monde!" - ("Good evening, everyone!" in English).
The band debuted 7 new tracks.A seemingly happy Thom, who grinned at the crowd and
even took photos of the crowd after the second song, then declared:
"You like it dark, don't you?" and launched into 'Karma
Police'.
Radiohead have debuted 7 new tracks as they play their first gig
of the millennium at the Arles Theatre Antique in France. Taking
to the stage half an hour late, shaven-headed Thom Yorke greeted
the crowd with a French "Bon soir, tout le monde!" - "Good
evening, everyone!" in English - before striking up the first
song 'Talk Show Host'.The band then played 'Bones' before debuting a new
track 'Optimistic' from their as yet untitled forthcoming album,
due out October 2nd. The new song started out with a swamp-rock
Dr John-style rhythm on guitar, before descending into even darker
terrain, complete with Thom trademark yowls and screams.The crowd, who at times were virtually hushed in awe,
gave the new songs a rapturous reception, with 'Knives Out' garnering
the best reaction. Introduced by frontman Thom Yorke as a song "about
cannibalism", the track is the most radio-friendly of the new
born songs and reminiscent of a darkly twisted 'Street Spirit'.Of the new material, 'Morning Bell' bears influences
of DJ Shadow with glimmers of 'Airbag' and features cut-up rhythm
of syncopated beats that builds until it spirals towards the edge
of control, bringing to mind Miles Davis' 'Bitches Brew'. 'National
Anthem' is driven by a powerful fuzz bass that wouldn't have been
out of place on Primal Scream's latest offering 'Xxtrmntr' and is
topped with Thom making his very best throwing up noises, a la Elastica's
'Line Up'. It is arguably one of the more accessible of their debuted
tracks.'In Limbo' featured more syncopated, staccato guitar
work from Johnny Greenwood, with a powerful loose groove to give
it some meat.After the song Thom said: "For those of you with
tape recorder, that was 'In Limbo'. I wouldn't want you to get it
wrong". Previously he had said, somewhat bitterly: "All
the new songs will appear tomorrow on the internet anyway."'Everything In Its Place' meanwhile brought to mind
incidental music from some 1970s cop show, with Johnny sampling
Thom's live voice and playing it back over and over. At the beginning
of the encore Thom, looking stylish in a white zipper jacket, took
more photos of the audience, asking: "Do you want to be on
our website tomorrow?" He concluded the gig with a simple "Thanks
for being so nice to us on our first gig back" and the band
simply filed offstage after final track 'Paranoid Android'.
Pictures from www.nme.com
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