Anyone can play guitars, but nobody plays them like Radiohead. I took the train from Roma Termini to Verona. In a cabinet with five other people I could hear the wheels of the train glide through the rails of the track. I began a conversation with a woman whose white stripes on her shirt where only out-numbered by those in her hair. We were discussing the
benefits of hot coffee opposed to cold. Concluding that either extreme was preferable to luke-warm. A pretty girl sat in front of me, which is nothing new in Italy where 1 out of every 4 girls looks like a runway model. As I began to read into my newspaper, she pulled out a book - a collection of comic strips.

Next thing I knew I was in Verona. In front of the arena, I was not alone. The party had begun before I even got there, which was well before 2pm -Radiohead didnt start playing until 9pm. People where lying on the green lawns of the park nearby the arena, some where already in line awaiting to get good seats in the general admission sections. When all of
the sudden thunder. Yorkes melancholic voice rose from the depths of the arena. An airbag saved my life he explained. It was as if Italy had won the world cup (again). The Verona boys sang along the Juliets began to cry. Talk about saving the best for last -for Radiohead the best was now. A rehearsal turned into a national anthem, and ironically thats how the night began.Come 8 o clock the historic arena was at its limit. As I turned my head to catch a glimpse of the multitude, remembrance of old times of gladiators and Emperors came to mind (minus the Versace dresses and Gucci shoes). It was amazing, it was like a feast in which everyone was not only invited but joined in. Without explanation or reason the "wave" was started, a first for me in a music concert. The crowd had had their fun, it was time for the show to begin.

National Anthem began the night. I immediately had new found respect for KID A. You cant really explain it, its just the fact of seeing the guys work so close together so in-sync, the sounds in the album arent just recorded mixes. They are created live on stage, for you. Most importantly the passion. There was a big screen next to the stage which at first
impression seemed like it would project a live image of the stage to those in the top of the arena. It was live alright but it wasent your regular live feed. It was an experimental web cam mix. It was brilliant.

As the morning bell rang its last time. Lucky began, and to tell you the truth after this song Radiohead never let go. It was as if Yorke was singing along to the crowd -not vice versa. Its an amazing thing to be able to be understood without even saying a word. That was exactly what Radiohead did in Verona. It wasent just the music it was the passion, it was their modesty, it was their uniqueness that won the crowd over. A beautiful rendition of The Pyramid Song in the middle of the concert showed who was in control all along. For a minute there I lost myself.

Three encores later and a dedication to fair Verona (a la Talk Show Host) followed by a very special version of killer cars, the night came to a close. Like a hot cup of coffee on a mid-summers day. Radiohead everything but luke-warm, radiohead was about extremes. A paradox between the cheer joy of life (for as Yorke explained we are Gods children) and dramatic moments of depression and violence (the mode swings on Paranoid Android). In the comic strip that is life you have to read between the lines. In Radioheads case many will listen but few will understand. In Verona it was clear that we understood. If you would have turned your head back to the crowd you would have seen a celestial mantle. Made not of stars but of something even brighter, the eyes of those who had heard about radiohead but only now understood what its all about. In the end it was clear that for radiohead Everything is in the right place.