Notes: Radiohead's first gig in 2001. Played for a Canal+ audience in Paris. The band leaves the stage halfway the set, because Thom apparently got mad. After 10 minutes they got back saying: "We've taken our pills, it will be allright." Thom's behavior was strange. He stopped the songs several times for unknown reasons. Even the band seemed surprised. In one of the encores the band played a Neil Young cover: 'Cinnamon Girl'.

And to complete it all, this was the planned setlist:
1. Morning Bell 2. National Anthem 3. You and whose army? 4. Sardines 5. Dollars and cents 6. How to disappear 7. I might be wrong 8. Knives out 9.In Limbo 10. Pyramid Song 11. Idioteque 12. Everything in its right place 13 Motion picture Soundtrack 14 Optimistic

Review by flavien celerier [click here for a review by Xavier, Aurelien & Mona]

Some comments :

I might be wrong : thom argues with Jonny saying he drinks too much (he will say that to Phil too, hehe)
After the little private argument : We've taken our pills, it will be allright, now.
You and whose army : This song is from Hunkidory. Crap joke
Packed like: This song is called Packt Like Sardines In A Crushed Tin Box. It was written in a park, Place des Vosges, in Paris. We don't stay there anymore. Pass the word. It was written, watching old people, and children, there. The lyrics, anyway.
I might be wrong : are you OK Jonny ?
Knives out : "this is not of your radis"
In Limbo : "this song was recorded the 1st day in Paris ? or the 2nd day ? *rmumbles*
Colin : "LOL"
Idioteque : "are you ready ?"
EIIRP : "next in this song the audience can walk
around, but if you don't want I don't care"

--------------------

A private concert.
Like a magic word, a private is not a normal concert, it's weird how you have to be concentrated and aware of the tiniest mistake (I talked as if I was In the band). Radiohead played exactly from 7:10 pm to 9:55 pm, around 25/26 tracks, I might be wrong and Pyramid song were played several times because Canal + (and Thom) wanted a perfect sound. I prefer to be clear now, NME did not know anything about what happened, Thom was not mad or upset, when he was mad, about I might be wrong, it was because the band fucked up the song, but this is, as far I'm concerned, a normal reaction after 3 consecutive fails. But he was not upset, he came to see the public, I was at the first rank, he was at 1 feet of me, or 30 cm, and what I read in his eyes were more happiness to see glad and enthusiastic public. well, maybe I am wrong, but we tried to be. But, if I remember well, it's not everyday Thom comes naturally to see the public like he did, so closed. So, despite the tight security of Canal + (impossible to bring a MD, it was really IMPOSSIBLE, I am wondering if the pentagons is not less protected than Canal +) the mood was great, I was not a VIP, I was invited thanks the Aurélien and Mona who kick their bum to find 80 tickets for us, and in a private concert, it's like a miracle to have so many invitations. I saw the band like quite relax, in the waiting room (after we got our bracelet, searched by the security), we saw Colin and Nigel, but we were separated by a little moving barrier, I came with a friend to salute them, talk a bit, Colin said the soundchecks were perfect, I can see Jonny phoning, but he doesn't want to approach, and Thom makes a little appearance, waving us and smiling. It seems to be a good start.

Now, we are on the studio, thanks to my little size I could sit down in the 1st rank, Jonny's side, no one in front of Thom. The VIP are installed upon us, in the stands, us, in front of, at the left and the right of the scenery, in little adjusted stands. The scenery is quite little, but it's because it's
between two big sort of screen (Nigel will confirm me it), and, upon the scenery a kidaesque picture. When I looked more carefully I could see horns and keyboards behind the screens.
Some might said Michael Stipe and Bjork were in the VIP public, I don't really know if it's true, I
recognized some French people (Canal + programs director, ex wife and son of Serge Gainsbourg, Françoise Hardy.) but no Stipe nor Bjork. The gig starts with Morning Bell, the version is a classic, well played, nice start, I'm surprised by the sound. Last week I was in a Muse's gig, and it was not AT ALL the same sound, this one was quite perfect, I heard all, every instruments clearly, it was gorgeous. The next song is National Anthem, same thing, they try to reach the perfection, the sound was again astonishing, everything sounded clear, and the horn brass was very nice, Thom really seemed healthy, he moved a lot and was smiling. For you and whose army, I loved the tortured voice of Thom (quite broken, scattered by this effect), a friend told me Jonny made a little mistake in the chords. I may be stupid, I did not hear anything. For the moment, it's a perfect gig.

This is the first surprise. the 4th song start with a fuzz bass and 2 crazy rocky guitars, everyone said
"WTF ?" and Thom came saying "after years of waiting, nothing came", it was Packt like a sardin in a crushd tin box ! it was quite flabbergasting, but it was very interesting to see how an electro/beating song turned into a big rocky song with Radioheadesque effects and some "national anthem reminds (fuzz bass)", on the other hand, I permit to compare this changing with Planet Telex, the studio version is spacey and dreaming, the live version is very rocking. Then, they played Dollars and cents perfectly, I loved it, always this harmony.

The second surprise and it's a very good surprise came with the 6th song. The roadies gave to Thom an
electro-acoustic guitar, we suspect How to disappear, but suddenly, Colin, Ed and Phil leaves the scenery, only Jon and Thom, Jon goes to a keyboard, in fact a "onde martenot", and 5 french musicians are gonna help him (playing onde martenot too.), and they play a gorgeous acoustic version of How To Disappear, very impressing and sensitive song. The third surprise is made to please NME & stuff,
whereas it's just a little and understanding problem. They start I might be wrong, but. Jonny fucks up the 1st riff. Thom smiles, says he drinks too much, the public applauds, no problem.they started again, and after the little solo thing, Phil makes a mistake, Thom is surprised, Colin and Phil are laughing out
loud. Now, Phil has too drunk too J. 3rd attempt and everything is ok, except another false note by Jonny
nearly at the end of the song, so they end it. Thom is now quite angry to Jonny and tell what the hell
happened. Thom told to the public they will be right back In 10 minutes.

I think they talked about the little problem they had, it seems they are not "hot" again, so, I think, with the permission of Canal +, they wanted to restart all. And 10 minutes later, thom thanks us. and indeed. The Morning Bell. I will just say that the songs were played again better than the first time, maybe because they were really annoyed by this problem and wanted to show they are ready. Thom is not so angry, but he teased a lot Jonny like before you and whose army he said "are you ready jonny, sure you are ? ok ?", and the most funny, it's Thom himself which made a little mistake in you and whose army, indeed, he pushed the tambourine, it fell and made a big loud noise, so they stopped to play and laugh a little. Also, it seemed he had a little problem with his mike, like he found it hard to hear every instrument.. I don't know, but he asked, before the songs, to the band to play a bit, like to fix something. I might be wrong well played, Thom dropped a relieving puff, same thing for us, ready to rock.

So knives out, catch da mouse. good songs, yeah, good song. there is nothing to say in fact, it's quite
the same version they play since Arles J But. the next it's different, it's In Limbo, and there, Thom plays guitar, 2 guitars so, with Jonny's, also, they started it like the album version, that means, a full band start, it was very interesting hearing this new version. It's basically the same (the chords) but well, I think that will please more people to hear another guitar.
Thom plays with the Rhodes, to show he is also a good pianist (hehe, not really but it was funny to see
him amusing on, so Public applauded, and he played with us), and he started 3 (now) known chords. here is
Pyramid song.. And here it is fucked :P it was a false start, and after they did not do mistake (we will see later why they played it again). Thom seemed a bit stressed.

Lucky he was, Idioteque started, again this little rehearsal to be sure the sound is good "are you ready
?", yes Thom, we were. this version was "incendiaire" like we say in France(you say firing ?", Thom
unleashed all his rage and at the end, relieved, he came to see the public, shaked some hands, smiled at
us and jumped on the mike to say the last word of the song. It was a very nice version, the sounds made by Jonny were very weird and unused, so it was a good original way to hear it.

Last song of the gig ? possible. we see Thom sitting in front of the rhode. Jonny and Ed taking Thom voice. that smells the everything in its right place ! and indeed, it was Everything in its right place, the version is not hyper original, but again, a perfect sound, and Thom in a far better mood, he came again to see us at the end of the song, he "highed five" to someone in the 3rd rank, he thanks us and leaves with the band after the death of Thom sampled 's voice. Lot of warm applauses and screams later Roadies installed an orguan, just an organ. Colin took his doublebass, Thom sat down, Jonny checked his
instruments "red wine, and sleeping pills.", Motion Picture Soundtracked, dreamy and astonishing, a
cathedral silence and a thunder of applauses at the end of the song. but, it was not the last song, and
they took 3 guitars, 3 electrics guitars. we asked if they would play Optimistic.

No. the song is completely unknown, we don't understand, it's a poppy song, something quite not logic if you hear what Radiohead played in the last 2 years, but it was fun, and interesting to hear this song, we thought it was a cover, someone talked about Neil young's cinnamon girl, and, she will be right, indeed, someone on Canal + confirmed it. but she was talking about also Optimistic. maybe at the moment this song was planned, we were a bit confused but happy, it was nice to hear. Radiohead leaves again.
Another encore ? Why not.

But, it's 21:35, and I have a train in 40 minutes at the other side of Paris, ACK ! Well. let's call
Radiohead. and Stephane Saunier told that Radiohead will play Pyramid song again. Mona and I heard Thom
talking with Jonny telling that Onde Martenot did not sound as they should have to, so maybe that's why they played it again and again. They fucked up first time at the beginning, after, they started again, it seemed to work well, so I decide to leave because I did not want to stay stuck in Paris, but the security
prevented me to go out. So I hear the band missing again. finally at the 3rd attempted they caught the
perfect sound. Indeed, this live, according to canal +, is supposed to be played in lot of music Tv all
around the world, Canal + wanted so a perfect version. The band were exhausted. but I was too worry about
my train than that in fact. and indeed, I missed it. Thanks Canal +.

For this gig, be dramatic is stupid, it's not a normal gig like a said, They were supposed to play a
perfect thing, radiohead are human, like us, and I found it very understanding to see them fail, in gig,
they can miss some chords it's not so serious, but there, they had to be perfect all the time, maybe
radiohead was a little bit stressed, I am not in their head, but what is sure, it's we, public, took a lot of pleasure, and for me, it's a unique event, something I will never forget, even if I had a bad end of evening J

A final word : rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrocks !

Starlight

*****

review by Xavier, Aurelien & Mona Along with nearly a hundred people, I've waited in front of the Canal+ building (glad there was a rain protection for us). Around 6 PM, they opened the doors and made us wait inside (I was among the first ones in line). They finally let us in, our ID cards are checked to see if we really are on the guests-list (the 80 people selected by Ne Pas A.v.a.l.e.r., the french fanclub (http://nepasavaler.net)). The ones who weren't on the list were rejected and had to go back outside, but somehow some people who I know weren't selected got in... They attached a bracelet with "Radiohead Canal+" written on it to my wrist (see it here : http://perso.infonie.fr/xibe/webcam.jpg), and sent me to the cloakroom, then the I have to walk through the metal detector : the place was heavily checked, no recording or camera equipment was allowed. In the waiting room, we got to see Thom (doing a nice bow in a smile), Ed, Colin (who stops to chat a little), Phil (waving at us) and Nigel Godrich. Some caught a glimpse of Jonny behind a door. The room is separated by little barrier, but the most daring among us could have shaken hands with anyone on the other side, where there is the door to the artists room apparently. Some VIP people were there, chatting while looking at us, probably amused by the behaviour of the fans, while the Radiohead members walked past them.

We finally get into the studio (they made us wait on the wrong side, so the people who were first were very disapointed). The studio, originally home of the famous prime-time show "Nulle Part Ailleurs", was very customized, black carpet, a stage 30 cm high, above it the w.a.s.t.e. logo, on both sides two screens behind which we can see seats for other players. I'm lucky enough to be on the front row. We wait again, the VIP people finally come in and sit (we can see Françoise Hardy, who was also at their gig at Le Grand Rex last year), Bambou (Serge Gainsbourg's last wife) and her son, many journalists. A rumour said that Björk and Michael Stipe were also among the VIP people (it was confirmed to us be an insider, while we waited outside), but no one saw them. All the 80 non-VIP people are sat just like the public of a normal TV show, we are asked not to gather in front of the stage, because it is too low and the camera wouldn't see anything. The VIP people are above and behind us. Cameras are everywhere (even a Louma camera). The audience must be like 200 or something, VIP included. We are very lucky. Nigel is not in the VIP part of the studio, a friend walked to him to chat him up, real nice guy.

The Canal+ guy ask us to be a good audience (like we were gonna sleep anyway...), and finally, around 7 PM, the band comes in. They all seem very happy to be there, Thom smiles a lot, waves and everything. Huge round of applause, everyone stands up and remains standing. They go into "The Morning Bell". Thom seem unhappy with his playing, and somehow mumbles something different at the end, instead of the "walking, walking..." thing. The all look happy nonetheless.

"The National Anthem" : the two screens on the side of the stage (which display some camera views) come up like, and here are eight horn players (saxophone, trombone, everything), and two ondists (Ondes Martenot players). Jonny launches the song with some noise from a small TV (instead of his usual radio thing). It's crazy version, Thom's voice has an effect on it, everyone in the crowd dances. The sound is incredible, we could never get that sound on a live session.

"You And Whose Army ?" : same version than during the tent tour, Jonny misses a few chords. The ending is great, I hope it's as good on the album (yeah, I didn't download it).

"Packt Like A Sardines In Crushed Tin Box" : I heard this one once, and the live version is MUCH different, saturated bass-line à la "National Anthem", Ed plays some nice heavy chords and Jonny some tremolo arpeggios, then uses some effects to the end, Thom plays his tambourine, Phil is grooving behind. This version is much more edge, Radiohead IS a rock band. Sounds kinda 70's. It's almost the same difference between the studio version and the live version of "Planet Telex".

"Dollars & Cents" : Same version as during the tent tour. Very strong song, and Ed's outro is in my head for a long time...

"How To Disappear" : Incredible. Thom stays alone on the stage, with an acoustic guitar, while the screens come up again, with 6 ondists playing their Ondes Martenot. Among them is a very smiling Jonny, seemlingly stressed (he wrote the Martenot parts expecially for tonight). It's really beautiful ("the haunting", as Thom once said), and I'm sure some people cried among us. I sue felt something.

"I Migh Be Wrong" : same version as during the tent tour, except that Phil apparently misses a beat when he enters. Everyone laughs, they launch the song. After a minute into the song, Jonny misses his part, Thom stops it all, drops his tambourine. Jonny shows plays his part on his own, they start the song again. The play it all, but Thom seems unhappy with it, goes to talk to Jonny, comes back to his microphone and says "we go away for five minutes then we come back".

They leave the stage, lights back up, everyone sits. About 10 minutes later, they come back, all laughing, Thom says "we've taken our pills, it will be alright". They all check their instruments, their effects, their chords...

And they start it all again from the beginning. Everyone in the audience is astonished : they played half their setlist so far (we knew there was gonna be 14 songs), and they do it all again. From now on, they will all check their instruments before every song, see if everything is alright, and wait for the director sign to start playing. I guess they decided to have the best recording possible, and told Canal+ that they wanted to do it all again. I also think that they wanted to sound as good as possible in order to release a live album (but that's only my idea). Anyway, they play it all again, one song after the other. So, of course, the crowd was a bit less enthousiastic at the beginning of the song, there was no surprises with the horn players, the ondists, the live version of Sardines, but still, everyone quickly got into, and Thom helped us all by cranking crappy jokes like an old crooner in between songs. Moreover, the band seemed a lot happier with their sound, so everything was fine from now on. The song description is pretty much the same, except that Thom was getting more exited as the songs played. "I Might Be Wrong" went just fine, very rocking song.

"Knives Out" : Poppy tune, sounds to me like a rip-off of the first part of Paranoid Android, only happier, but hey, Radiohead ripping off themselves is just non-sense...

"In Limbo" : Thom : "This song was recorded the 1st day in Paris ? or the 2nd day ?". He mumbles something, to which Colin laughs loudly. It's different from the tent tour version, in that Ed doesn't start on his own on the Rhodes, they all launch at the same time. Also, Thom plays acoustic guitar instead of tambourine, which adds to the whole sound, and Jonny doesn't use his delay effect.

"Pyramid Song" : Soundcheck again, Thom says "anybody knows a good joke ?". He's really a funny guy, very happy onstage. The ondists are back again, with Jonny among them. Colin plays a double-bass, and starts with a bow, making weird noises... Incredible song. They had to stop and start it again, Thom making even more silly jokes. Great.

"Idioteque" : Madness. Just madness. Everyone in the crowd dances along to the song. Thom gets off the stage and walks towards the crowd, at a small distance, and even shakes a few hands, then gets in the middle of the studio, surrounded by the stage, the crowd and the camera, and starts his crazy dance. It's incredible, really, I can't tell how good this was for everyone, really. While Thom danced like a devil, all cameras were on him, with the louma above him, so I think it'll look great when broadcasted in june. Incredible.

"Everything In Its Right Place" : Same as the tent tour. Thom : "the audience can walk around but if you don't want to I don't care". Again, he goes to the crowd, this time is happily shaking hands and everythings, and even jumps like to kid to reach the higher hands (almost hit my neighbour's head doing that). He was really enjoying the whole experience, smiling all the way through.

The song ends, they leave. I'm kind surprised, 'cos what's the point in doing an encore on TV ? Anyway, after 5 minutes of really heavy applaused and screams, they finally come back to play "Motion Picture Soundtrack", very beautiful, with only Thom, Jonny and Colin playing.

And the last song starts. Heavy guitars, nobody recognises it, so we all guess it's a new song, and it feel good to hear Radiohead rocking with three full-blown guitars, and Thom and Ed singing together. Real basic song, but they enjoy it a lot, as we do. We learn afterwards, that it was a cover, first I heard it was from REM, then someone confirmed me it was from Neil Young, "Cinnamon Girl". Rocking, really. They didn't play Optimistic, as it was written on the original setlist, but it's as good a rock song...

They leave the stage, Thom bowing, all the others waving.

Stephane Saunier, the concert guy from Canal+, comes back and says they will record Pyramid Song again. They do come back, Thom cranks jokes (can't really tell them all, he kinda mumbles), and start the song. At on time, Thom pushes the tambourine off the top of the piano, which makes a huge sound. They have to stop. Apparently he didn't expect to make that much noise, he apologies, smiling. They start again, it's perfect, with all the ondists and everything. They finally leave the stage, smiling again, very happy of their performance... They've played almost 3 hours. Even better : they played a gig and a half...! Lucky us.

After the show, we're all asked to leave the studio, but some of course rush to the stage to get what is left : setlists, plectrums, anything. I got to chat with one of the ondist, they were all french, and were still working on the score with Jonny.

Back to the waiting room, with the thin separation between us and the VIP side. Phil came out to sign some autographs and chat, and then Colin went out and stood right in front of me to sign stuffs, so I got to chat with him directly. I asked him about the technical problems, and, as far as I could understand his French, he told me that the day before, it was great because they all played together, but this time they weren't (or maybe that's the other way ?). He and Phil were really smiling. Coling spoke about the bad weather they tend to always get when playing in France (like in Vaison-la-Romaine last year), and that they all very much enjoyer the whole show. He signed eveything, and then left. I left too.

Overall, it was really great. The sound was incredibly good, and we could never get such a huge sound during a live gig. The whole band was really smiling, Thom making weird faces and crappy jokes all the way through, plonking dumb chords on his piano... Random sayings I remember : "This song was written in a park in Paris. Where was it ? Place des Vosges. Watching old people and little kids", while giving their height with two fingers (maybe 2 cm high). "This song is on Hunky Dory. Crap Joke..." "Anybody knows any good jokes ?" "It is none of your radis", and he bonks the microphone with his head. Yes, "radis" is french... "So how is it going Stephane ? Who's getting drunk tonight ?" (Colin and Ed raise their hand) "Are you ready ? Are you SURE ?" "Thought I could just drop it... Sorry", when he loudly pushed the tambourine off the piano.

It's gonna be a very strong and good memory to all the people who were there. Thom was really in great form, and even if he got pissed for missing I Might Be Wrong three times, he was so funny and happy to be there with us that night, even making jokes at Jonny, that the happiness and the greatness of the whole band will remain. I can almost say that it wasn't a gig, but a reharsal (on the second part, at least), making their own soundcheck, trying some songs again and again to be as good as possible. All in all, these retries gave the most perfect Radiohead concert ever. These five guys really know how to make music that matters and stays. We are really lucky to be able to witness Radiohead at their best, at ease and in a great mood.

I personally would like here to thank the french fanclub, Ne Pas A.v.a.l.e.r., for giving us such an opportunity. This was probably the concert of a lifetime, and I can't wait to see the broadcast version. Also, thank you to Stéphane Saunier and Canal+ for organizing the whole thing. We did realize how hard they had to work on it, but believe me, it was worth it.

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