Congratulations to Emily VanWinkle and her fiance for getting engaged at the Alpine Valley Radiohead show.

Review by Zack:
For those fans who allow Radiohead's music to enter their soul and let it become an intensely personal experience, a live show is, at best, bittersweet. On one hand, to see the band members play the music before your very eyes is sublime. On the other hand, to know that the band is before you and being unable to see or even concentrate is heartbreaking.

Alpine Valley is a terrible place to view a show. Cables and girders and useless metal contraptions make is nearly impossible to find a good view once everybody stands up when the band enters the stage (unless, of course, you were one of the lucky minority with pavilion seating). The security guards constantly flash their lights into your face and threaten eviction for standing in the wrong place. The lawn hill is uncomfortable, and nobody would get off their cell phone during the highly-emotional songs.

Should anyone accuse me of being obstinate, I would retort by arguing that Radiohead's music should be kept sacred at all costs. For anyone who keeps Radiohead in a cozy place in their heart, purchase reserved seating or do not go at all - you risk feeling angry, disappointed, and cheated out of a beautiful experience.


Review by Jona
Although Zack may be right about Alpine Valley, its not as bad as one thinks. And even though I sat pavilion and had the most amazing view of any concert I have ever been to, the night wasn't exactly spectacular to begin with. Considering that alpine valley is in the middle of nowhere and it it takes 2 hours to get there from Chicago, it's not exactly my favorite venue. To begin with, Traffic caused me to arrive at the gate entrance to the music theatre halfway through Sail to the moon. Regardless of the fact that I missed a good number of songs and most importantly the opening, the rest of the concert was the greatest experience of my life. During songs like Idioteque and The Gloaming, Thom was dancing and seemed to be using dance moves familiar to those that can be seen at a Outkast concert. The crowd went crazy for every song(or atleast all those in pavilion) and it seemed that Colin Greenwood was having the best time of his life. All in all it was the best concert I have ever seen, even if i only saw 3/4 of it and I hope that radiohead can come back to play in chicago, hopefully not so far away.

Review by Matt
The review posted by Zack is pretty accurate when describing Alpine Valley Music Theater. It's an old relic of a venue but there can't be too many places these days that can hold a band of Radiohead's growing popularity...therein lies the tragedy.... when bands become great, large groups of people like them and they've got to play somewhere. Enter Alpine Valley.

Those of us fortunate enough to see the band the last time they were in town were blessed with a unique experience. The Hutchenson field show was a glorious event on a glorious night at a glorious location. ( http://www.ateaseweb.com/live/2001/20010801.php) Unfortunately, the city of Chicago chose to offer the coveted bill to none other than Shania Twain....So it's safe to assume the folks in charge of booking that location have completely lost their minds. I digress....

Having pavilion seats was surely a bonus. Although we weren't close, we had a perfect sight line to the stage. The projected video screens that flanked the stage were a good visual aid....but hardly enough to keep you staring at them and not the stage itself....which is good I guess. The sound was great and the light show was done really well. The boys were in good form, but one could not help but feel that they were at a Huge show...and by huge I mean the amount of people (I heard 35,000). The band 'filled the room' with music and everyone really enjoyed it.

Considering the size of the crowd, there were a few 'Intimate' moments where it seemed as if Thom was playing to you personally. "You and Who's Army" was a perfect example of this. The camera mounted near his microphone provided the crowd with some very up close and personal moments with Mr. Yorke as he 'tongue and cheeked' his way through a powerful rendition of the song. Quite the showman. "We Suck Young Blood" also had a Fun vibe to it as well. The crowd was a bit off on the clapping part in the beginning...but by the chorus, they had honed it down to the correct rhythm. It was pretty cool to hear and be a part of. I would think the band enjoyed it as well.

The song selection was somewhat predictable but nevertheless good. The opening selection was excellent. 2+2=5 is one of those great opening tracks and it transferred to show opener nicely. But I have to admit, when they played "The Gloaming' later in the evening, I could see that being a good opener as well. The prevailing haunting vibe of the track is accentuated by the chill in the night time air. Really spooky....but nice. In addition, Colin threw in a little twist on the base line at certain times....really cool.

All in all, it was a great show. The entire band seemed to be really into it. Johnny's guitar work was frantic and precise at the same time. Colin jumped around and smiled as if he were one of us. Phil was dressed like he had just came from a summer wedding in Oxfordshire, and Ed was really into whatever it is he does. (we love ya Ed) But Thom really did a spectacular job of singing, playing, dancing and entertaining. A true host with the most. Lets hope they come back again and play somewhere smaller and we all get tickets....nice dream.

Review by Andrew:
Just wanted to correct something in Matt's review of the Alpine Valley show.

"Unfortunately, the city of Chicago chose to offer the coveted bill to none other than Shania Twain....So it's safe to assume the folks in charge of booking that location have completely lost their minds. I digress...."

Here is a link to Greg Kot's interview with Thom Yorke, where he discusses playing Grant Park again. http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/search/mmx-0308170404aug17.story

Thom's answer: "The first time was a great experience, and we were tempted to repeat it, because it had quite an effect on us, playing underneath that skyline. But there's nothing worse than just repeating something that you're really fond of. It was one of the highlights of that year for us, but we wanted to do something different this time. It wasn't a case of someone in Chicago telling us we couldn't do it."

In any case, yes, Alpine Valley is a trek from Chicago. But done with great friends, on such a beautiful moonless night with Mars shining down, it was a very special event. Despite the massive throng of people (we were towards the top left-center of the lawn, looking at the stage), the band managed to convey what a great time they were having, and put on a magnificent show.

Andrew

Review by Randy:
Well, this is maybe a slanted opinion, but last night was the crowning moment in my existance. I can die now. It was the first time I had the chance to see Radiohead live. While I was over halfway up the hill, I was able to see Phil very easily and at separate points all five band members (though only saw Thom during EIIRP). I personally loved the whole experience. There were moments where everything just seemed perfect, such as Thom's antics during You & Whose Army. The light show was spectacular, during Street Spirit I felt as if a blue light was aimed straight at me (I know it wasn't of course, but that doesn't change the feeling). The crowd really got into everything which made the concert even more enjoyable. I thought the setlist was excellent, in fact my only disappointment was not getting to hear Wolf at the Door, but everything else considered, it was one of the best experiences I will probably ever have. Can't wait till I get to see them again...
Randy J

Review by Erik:
Last nites show, contrary to these other reviews, was amazing. standing on the side of a slanted hill for a few hours isn't ideal, but if you are going to let that ruin an incredible evening with radiohead-well, that's too bad. the sound was incredible(as always) and we got three songs from the bends. the gloaming and idioteque back to back was absolutely sick! jonny was in good form all nite, really letting loose esp. on go to sleep, paranoid android, and just. the night was magical, and i don't feel the other reviews did the show justice. i was in the lawn, right in the front, and had a great view with no hassles. and nobody was singing in my ear, which was nice(except maybe during fake plastic trees) the show left me buzzing, like i just saw a great exhibit at an art museum. radiohead soundtracked an incredible evening, and those beautiful songs will be ringing in my ears for the rest of the summer. erik t, minneapolis

Review by Shiera:
The show was contagiously electrifying with the bands enthusiasm and heartfelt performance. Thom's energy is high rocketing and the songs were perfectly delivered I came prepared and all psyched up for the show and I would say there was no disappointment on my part whatsoever except the venue was not that great. I missed a few songs because the bathroom was so far and the slope was not helping at all after getting a good buzz. Radiohead once again have not disappointed their biggest fan of all. I hope they will play in Chicago soon. If anyone took pictures of the show or recorded it, please e-mail me: splaza77@yahoo.com

Thank you,

Shiera

Review by Kyle:
Hey all,

I have been to Alpine Valley many times for numerous shows, and about the complaints, they're what I expected. Alpine is not the type of venue to see Radiohead in. It is a Grateful Dead, or Dave Matthews venue, purely for it's history and capacity, respectively. I was lucky enough to have made some business transactions just hours before the show, and somehow ended up with two 10th row pavillion tickets. When I got to my seat, I was ecstatic, but I couldn't help looking up the massive hill only to see the thousands of equally excited people in a horrible spot. Luckily, the weather was amazing, so I think that was definitely a plus for them. Yes, the setlist was predictable, I think in part because of the new venue for Radiohead. However, the show was pulled off with gust and lots of energy, which made it see as if they were playing just for the pavillion. Since situations merit your full attention, and because you listen and get into every song about equally, I c
ouldn't say any songs they could have play better/worse. You and Whose Army was a lot of fun, but so was the gloaming. For a minor complaint though, it could've been the venue, but I couldn't hear Johnny's guitar very well, but I could make it out almost always. I think when I looked around at the crowd in the pavillion, everyone was having a great time, but up on the hill, things looked less exciting. I'm just thankful for the place that I got. It was an amazing experience for me and I hope SOME in the lawn seating.

Review by DH:
I would first like to start out by saying this show was amazing. I was completely mesmerized the entire time. I have seen Radiohead twice before this show, and the first time was at Rosemont Theatre at a more intimate setting, which was also amazing, but there was just something about the show last night that was by far the best time I have ever seen them! I never wanted it to end! I did have great center stage pavillion seats and would of seen them no other way. The lights were spectacular and the performance left me speechless. Radiohead has to be the most talented group of musicians you can see live. They put so much detail into their performance that you can't believe your eyes and ears throughout the entire show.
Thom was definately in good spirits and seemed to enjoy the show as much as the crowd did, and believe me we did! His voice was flawless, especially at the end of Karma Police when he did a short solo at the end of the song. The news songs sounded better than you could imagine, opening with 2+2=5 and then Sit Down, Stand Up, just like on Hail to the Thief. I personally am a huge fan of songs with Thom playing the piano, and just like at the Hutchinson Field show, during You and Whose Army, they set up the camera directly on the piano so you were up close and personal with Thom, and he was definately entertaining the crowd.
Radiohead is amazing and I hope it is not long before they come back to Chicago. When they do I hope that it is actaully in Chicago, but if not I will always travel to see them play anywhere! They are always worth that!
DH

Review by Ryan:
Alpine Valley--East Troy WI--Aug. 23, 2003

Do you ever have one of those moments when you compare everything to one of the greatest experiences of you life. Well for me that night would have been this concert. Like the majority of the people posting about this concert I agree, the theatre sucks! This place is a horrible monstrosity with a parking lot that's about a mile away from the place, lying security guards that say you cannot bring blankets or sealed water bottles into the show when the voice over the P.A. is saying that they are allowed, and a lawn section that is number one, impossible to see from and number two, steeper than the average ski slope, BUT I DIGRESS. I was willing to put that all behind me because I was here to see one of the greatest live acts in music. But that wonderful enchanting night back in 2001 kept picking at my brain as I waited for Radiohead to come on. I tried to push it out of my head but i couldn't. When they came on stage some of that frustration went away. Of course, they were brilliant as usual. The "Hail" stuff was really cool to see live and they mixed in some classic older stuff. But the show lacked the intensity and the emotion that Hutchinson Field had. Alpine Valley proved to me how magical two years ago was. The one thing that sticks out in my mind was the final encore of "Everything in it's Right Place" and the lighting in the background scrolling FOREVER until they were long off the stage. Forever would've been a sign letting us know how long we'd be sitting in the parking lot after the show. Two hours to get out of a parking lot! Don't get me wrong this is the greatest live/recorded band in the world but my heart will always be in Hutchinson Field. Would I see this last show again ABSOLUTLY. But next time I will get better seats.

Ryan-DeKalb, IL

Review by Eli:
Bad venue aside, I can't complain. I know the last few reviews were pretty much all about that, but this being my first time seeing the boys, it just blew me away in more ways that I even expected.

For starters, and those of you Radiohead fans who don't know Malkamus and the Jicks (as I didn't) they were a great opening band. There weren't a ton of people there by that point yet, but the put on a good show anyway, and seemed to be having fun.

Radiohead. The setlist didn't have any real surprises from the last shows, but it was still great. Thom and Colin especially seemed as though they were having the time of their lives, and I believe at one point Thom specifically said "this is so much fun!" His faces during You and Whose Army brought the song into a much more intimate feel, for us in the lawn area. Myxomatosis was introduced as "...a dirty song for dirty people!" and then proceeded to stand out as one of the concert highlights for me. Other highlights, for me at least, were Just, Idioteque, Street Spirit, and 2+2=5. Absolutely a phenomenal concert all around.

I have no idea how many people were there (30,000 wouldn't surprise me, it was almost two hours before we could even get out of the parking lot), but it was a truly surreal experience for me. Thank you Radiohead, for finally coming to Wisconsin, and for keeping me awake, the entire 3 hours home.

Review by Alison:
From the minute the band walked onstage the crowd was going completely nuts. It was absolutely amazing. I was fortunate enough to be in the pit, and when I turned around the place was packed. The setlist was amazing. All of the guys seemed really into the whole experience. A few general highlights: Thom announcing "Myxomatosis" as a "dirty dirty song for dirty dirty people". After "Karma Police" Thom sang the last chorus without music so we could all hear the crowd. Everyone was singing and it was amazing! The band looked equally amazed. Colin was super excited throughout the whole thing- it was fantastic The drums played by Ed and Jonny on "There There" were amazing As he played "You and Whose Army?" Thom sang into a camera that was displayed on large screens (I couldn't see what he was doing very well but it got quite a reaction from the crowd) Thom's dancing during "Backdrifts," "The Gloaming," "Idioteque," and "The National Anthem". The fantastic lighting for each song And the final song "Everything in Its Right Place" ended with Ed and Jonny leaving the stage with the background sounds still going- very dramatic

Review by Ed:
This was my first time seeing Radiohead. For me, the show was simply phenomenal. Yes, Alpine Valley is an old amphitheater and yes, lawn seats are a bummer. But the sound quality is second to none and the show was blistering intense.

The band was completely into their performance...from the opening notes of 2+2=5 to the prolonged conclusion of Everything in its Right Place. Ed and Colin grooved the entire night, Phil was all smiles and played great and Johnny was a mad man with his guitar work, especially during Paranoid Android. Thom stole the show. He danced around the stage like a possessed pixie…going from being completely lost in the moment of the song to simple crowd pleasing entertainer. The Gloaming was crazy intense. Colin's bass shook the entire valley…bringing you into the song by allowing you to feel the bass go right though you. Other highlights for me was hearing Fake Plastic Trees…was not expecting to hear it, witnessing Kid A live, and ultimately just being able to finally say that I have seen Radiohead.

So, despite the frustrations that do coincide with any Alpine Valley show, this fan left feeling extremely satisfied. Just a great, great night seeing one of the most intense 2 hours of rock I have ever seen…
ed

Review by Scott:
Unlike many of the other reviews, I am not going to butcher Alpine Valley. I think that is a very good place for Radiohead to play. They sounded magnificant, as usual. For those that have not gone to the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park, Il you might be a little spoiled from Alpine. You have to learn to appreciate the venue and the fact that it's a wooden roof and not metal. And about the lawn, IT'S THE LAWN!!! Of course it's gonna have its sucky parts to it. There is no good lawn to watch a concert from. About Radiohead, they were awesome. I went and saw them in Ohio on Thursday and I'd have to say that they played better at Alpine, but the concert goers were definitly better in Ohio. Radiohead should not be viewed drunk, you drunk people ruined it for everyone else. Trippy music should not be mixed with alcohol. Back to the band. I think the strong point of the show was when Thom just started singing "Phew for a minute there I lost myself." The AcApella of that was just amazing and beautiful. Another strong point was when they busted out with Fake Plastic Trees. That song has to be one of the best Radiohead songs and it was just performed without flaw. I think the great thing about seeing Radiohead perform live is knowing that all that work that went into the album that you just can't stop listening to is being performed perfectly right in front of your eyes. Radiohead is a band that you feel and hear more then just listen to. Every time i see them it just gets better and better. That was my fourth show and I must say that it just might be the best I've seen them. I was very satisfied with the venue and the lawn was awesome b/c it was kinda steep which made it easy to see the stage. Radiohead has just gotten to the point where you can see the enjoy what they do and you know that they aren't going anywhere for quite a while, and that pleases me. Radiohead has to be my favorite band ever and will continue on being so whether they put out quality music or crappy music, although I can not imagine them putting out bad music. Radiohead will be around forever, just like the scrolling marquee was saying. I still can't understand how thom, phil, jonny, colin, and ed put out such amazingly beautiful music. I just can't imagine being able to put together music that is so tight and flowing. I will love wathcing Radiohead anywhere and I can't wait till they come back around the chicagoland area b/c I am definitly going to go see them again as many times as I can. The only bad part about the night was, and i think everyone who went will agree with me, leaving the venue. It took like an hour and a half just to get out of our spot we had parked in. Other then that, the night went great, Radiohead played a fricken awesome show and I went home so incredibly happy and satisfied knowing that I had just seen one of the greatest bands ever. Peace. Scott

Review by Lon:
I cant believe so many people are complaining about the venue. Alpine is one of the nicest places in around chicago to see a show. It used to be much nicer but the added a lot of dirt to the hill to add capacity. Its a great setting out in the sticks, and they sound is really decent. If you couldn't see anything at alpine i don't know how you can compare it to Hutchinson field that was flat and you really cant see anything there, and the sound out in the field at Hutch was all over the place with the wind and LSD right next door. If you moved around on the lawn you could get sight lines straight down to the stage, although the stage was way down there. The pavilion is the place to be. The crowd was raging, but a bit uptight. I was a little surprised to see so many people lock them selves into there cars with the windows up and the air running, get out people (free your ass and your mind will follow). Not everyone a lot of people where out having a good time tailgating before the show, added bonus of the grass and country atmosphere. Thom was dancing all over the place like a elf, the band was hot, but the show ended a a little early, i could have gone for another set. They also moved everything up a half hour which was kind of bogus. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks where great even playing to like 10 people in the pavilion the played a rocking set, the girl on the bass had a nice touch.

Review by Jonathan:
Seeing a Radiohead show live is a unique experience. They never cease to amaze me. In August 2001 I stood within talking space of the band in that grassy knoll known as Hutchinson Field. It was the hottest day that summer, the moon was full and I was soaking wet from the massive amounts of water sprayed on any audience member within 100 feet of the stage. Thom was in good spirits, jumping around, playing to the jumbotron cameras like Bono on pay-per view and throwing his head around until it nearly came off. That was a great show. Was it because I was so close to the stage? Was it the positive aura that shone through 25,000 people hanging on every word from the world’s greatest modern band?

Last night behind a ski-resort outside of East Troy, Wisconsin at 8pm Radiohead entered the stage. The lights flashed as the band broke into 2+2=5 and the evening was set. Thom danced around the stage wearing two shirts both two sizes too large. Johnny hunched over with his hair hanging down over his face swaying. The rest of the band was in top shape and Colin smiled and sang along with all the songs.

The best parts of the show included Thom’s improv on the words and some of the melody as he sang. Nearly every song he sang something a little different than on the records. During ‘you and whose army’ Thom spoke like he was an upper-class corrupt politician promising to hunt us down and kill us with this fingers crossed. At the end of ‘fake plastic trees’ the band stopped in perfect unison as the last verse echoed throughout the hill. (not to mention some newbie next to me in the crowd who turned to his friend and asked,"What song was that?" His friend responded," I don’t know, it was great though, I think it’s on The Bends.")

It doesn’t really matter where you are at a radiohead show, because, they are so good and have so much spirit and play these songs so well that even from my view watching the jumbo-tron and sometimes peering down at the ant sized band I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Despite getting lost on HWY 50 on the way to the show due to bogus mapquest directions and having to stand on the lawn and look at the vast amount of space still left open in the seats and the pit, this was the best performance I’ve seen, better than Hutchinson Field, better than any live video on TV or concert bootleg. There were surprises at every turn and still after two encore’s I didn’t want the show to end. I still wish I was there in the cool breeze with my good friends Radiohead enlightening my life.

Review by Ben:
Apart from the distance from chicago I enjoyed Alpine Valley. I had pavilion so that might be why. Even being short there was a good view of the stage. Now onto the show. Thom and company were great. I was at the Grant Park (Chicago) show in 2001 and this was even better. Thom seemed to just be going through the motions during the first few songs, then really opened up to the crowd and appeared to have a blast; talking a little and just generally being goofy Thom. Colin also seemed to have lots of fun, mouthing along to the lyrics and helping the crowd's timing during The Gloaming. They really had amazing lighting and FX throughout. Great renditions of all the songs and apart from A Wolf at the Door and A PunchUp at a Wedding they played all their best new and old songs. Without the encores the show seemed fairly short but any Radiohead fan wishes they'd play for 8 hours straight. The greatest moment of the concert was You and Whose Army. Like 2001's Grant Park show Thom mugged it up for the camera in the piano, to the cheers of everyone there. To finish up the second encore Ed and Johnny looped Everything In It's Right Place while the big lights behind spelled out FOREVER, the song and message playing for about 5 minutes after the band left the stage. As usual, an amazing show and for anyone about 20 rows back and directly in front of the stage it was a good venue.

Review by Joe:
i'll preface this by saying that i skipped a willie nelson show in dubuque IA (my home) that i already had tickets for to journey to alpine valley in order to attend this show. i did this because i had not been to church since 8/1/01 grant park in chicago, which is still the most affecting musical performance that i have ever witnessed. since that day i've felt a strange void in my life that i knew must be filled at the earliest opportunity. also, my girlfriend had not seen them yet, and i wanted her to experience what i have been so obsessed with since grant park. as i expected, radiohead put on a great performance in alpine valley. there were many moments when i felt the bittersweet exhilaration and joyful tears welling up that were both with me throughout the grant park show, for months afterwards, & everytime i listen to that coveted recording. this show was my first time @ alpine valley. unfortunately, i must say that ALPINE VALLEY IS ONE OF THE WORST VENUES where i have ever attended a concert, & i am glad that others who have reviewed the show expressed similar sentiments. the show itself was a masterful high-energy performance. at best the parking and venue were stone age, & somewhat dangerous. we were at the end of the lawn seating, where there is a drop off of 2-3 FT overlooking concrete that signals the beginning of the reserved section. there is no real barrier between the drop and the concrete, presumably so people will not get squashed against it. however, falling off & landing on the concrete would not be too good either. due to drunkenness, mental deficiency, & overzealous security, many people were weaving their way up and down the hill through the skintight crowd, as well as climbing up & down that dropoff before the concrete. some people just figure "there's always more room". to those who put others in jeopardy & distracted them from the performance because of that nonsense: i wish you ill. the parking lot was also horrible after the show. it took us over 2 HRS to get out. now for the good part. i was surprised that none of the reviews i have read so far said anything specific about jonny. i have never witnessed such wailingly intense shredding on a telecaster. the man was a whirling dervish during the best solos of the show (backdrifts, just, paranoid android, & go to sleep), with his gyrating head of awkward length hair serving as an added special effect. i'll call him the james brown of guitarists. he must have sweat off at least 5 pounds. i'm still in awe when i think of the go to sleep solo. as rollingstone has said, phil's timekeeping is still their secret weapon, & his attire (white dinner jacket complete with ascot) was the biggest surprise of the show. thom's voice was haunting as always & i was unaware that he played guitar on the national anthem until that night. he also played the piano for everything in its right place. i suspect jonny hurt his hand somewhat with the feverish & recklessly brilliant guitarwork i witnessed that night. thom's acapella reprise of the karma police refrain when he sang with the crowd was a highpoint. i also loved the elvis-like hip swivels he added to his repertoire of dance moves. i didn't see as much of colin & ed as i did @ grant park, but they sounded great. i would have loved a 3rd encore, or climbing up the walls, or some old gems added to this setlist (they soundchecked bulletproof), but i guess you can't have everything. i hope that this isn't too long to post. :)

Review by Alex:
Yes, alpine valley is not a great place to travel to see a rock band. But since it IS Radiohead, it was worth it. We left around 3PM and arrieved around 5:30PM. Once we got in and had a beer, we were surprise to hear Steve Malmalukes and the Jicks go on really early around 6:30Pm. The show tickets says that it should start at 7Pm. Oh well, the sooner the opening band gets their set done -- the sooner Radiohead goes on. I was one of the lucky ones who got those Pit tickets. I was in the Pit. Thank you EBAY! Anyhow, Steve M. and company played an hour long set that was pretty good. It was the drummers birthday. Anyhow, around 8:PM Radiohead went on. It was the greatest thing to see. Radiohead in their prime ready to go. They started off with Hail to the Thief songs. To hear them live is a must see/hear. The setlist was a mixture of their last albums. Kid A was especially cool to hear as Thom had what seemed to be a beat box of the beats that make up the song. He was very charasmatic and had tons of energy. Jonny was raw power. To see him and his guitar, it's a powerful thing. Because he can shake his head up and down -- move all over the place, shake his hair all over and still be insync with all of the songs! Guitar god. To hear songs like Scatterbrain and The Gloaming and to hear them live is worth the drive. This time around they played more songs from The Bends like Just. Their light show is spectacular a la Pink Floyd. I felt like I was at a flashy disco when they played the National Anthem and to hear it's cousin, Myxomytosis was a plus. I still couldn't believe how close I was to Thom Yorke and company. At the end of the show as we were heading out I saw a friend from work. I asked her if she liked the show and she said that she had gone to the one in Cleaveland and that this show just kicked more ass! She love this one better. After all of this, I think [for me at least] it was worth the drive, it was worth the money and it was worth it all! I will FOREVER remember this night!
Alex Chaparro

Review by Cal:
i love alpine valley! of the twenty or so shows i've seen there, not one has been from a reserved seat, and any disappointment i've felt has been from the sound system being too quiet from an act playing there for the first time, so i was a bit nervous for radiohead, but after being able to hear the jicks loud and clear, my fears were alleviated. the way the lights play off the beautiful wooden canopy; the backdrop of trees and a clear, starlit night; the sheer energy of 30,000 or more people in tune with an incredible night of music...there's a lot to be said for small club venues, but alpine moments are some of the most memorable of my life, and last night was no exception. grant park two years ago was a unique and beautiful experience, but the outrageous water prices, coupled with the fact that on flat ground, vertically-challenged people couldn't see or hear very well, made it difficult to enjoy for some, even though i loved every minute of it. but this year was even more rewarding for me. it was clear to me after the show was over that radiohead has created its own musical genre. while they will forever be tied somewhat to rock and roll, a radiohead concert is unlike any other experience on this earth. the brilliant backdrop onstage combined with an amazing light show to enhance music that doesn't even need enhancement. songs like "backdrifts," "go to sleep," "the gloaming," and "idioteque" got my body moving uncontrollably, feeling the rhythm coursing through me like a drug. the intense dynamic of "fake plastic trees," "there there," and "myxomatosis" brought me to tears and left me shaken with indescribable emotion. the band was incredibly tight, not a note misplaced, building wave upon wave of intensity, creating an eerie sense of disturbing beauty with songs like "sail to the moon" and "we suck young blood" that made me shiver. i was moved by so many different emotions. songs like "there there" and "karma police" took on new meaning and relevance for me. it was a magical and unique experience, as every radiohead show will be.

if people are talking too loud, relocate, or ask them to quiet down. if you want to avoid obstructions, get there early. don't let asshole security guards distract you from the experience. and don't avoid alpine valley, especially if it's the only venue in the area that happens to be hosting radiohead. tune everything else out, and tune in to the music. i could have enjoyed the night fully with my eyes closed. and i will always be appreciative of the fact that i'm blessed enough to see a band like radiohead play an amazing show on a beautiful night. countless others aren't so blessed.

-cal

Review by Tweaker:
I had seen concerts at Alpine Valley before and I knew I had to be in the pavilion. I think you learn your lesson the first time in that absolutely massive lawn. I'm sorry for all those who did not enjoy the distractions of the lawn ... cell phones, huge packed crowd, distance from stage. The show was amazing! I thought the crowd was really great ... nobody really clapping all the time and everybody more focused on connecting with one of the best bands in the world. Even during songs like 'sail to the moon' and 'street spirit', the crowd really just sat back and took it in. I've been to shows where are a little too rowdy during songs like these and it just ruins the song and the performance. None of that tonight though ... just beautiful to see this huge crowd chill out, settle down, and enjoy. Don't get me wrong, people went crazy during songs like 'national anthem' and especially 'paranoid android.' 'Paranoid Android' was the highest energy of the night ... freakin' awesome! Other highlights for me were 'EIIRP', 'gloaming' rocking the crowd with some phatty bass, thom's antics during 'you and whose army', and the light show was cool too. Keep on rocking Radiohead, you guys are doin' it right. I look forward to future shows, albums, and any music these guys are making.

- Tweaker

Review by Will:
This was my first Radiohead concert. My uncle and I tried to see them at Bull Run a couple years ago, but that venue flooded the night before the show, so it got cancelled. :-( The wait to see their first show was well worth it.

I can sympathize with those who were on the hill because I too have been on the hill for a concert at Alpine Valley, but I was in the pit for this show. Consequently, I saw an unbelievable performance by Radiohead. I was about 15 feet back and off-center towards Johnny's side. I had perfect vision of every member of the band, and I could look at the screens when I wanted to--no complaints here!

For those who haven't seen any lives shows of them yet, you have to check them out live! I have a nice collection of live shows (both video and audio), and they don't do them justice. For the complexity of the arrangements, Radiohead is extremely tight on stage, and I'm always surprised how well they capture their recordings in their live shows.

The energy of their performance also was a nice surprise. Everyone seemed to be in great spirits, a lot of smiling and joking went on. I don't remember which song it was, but Colin was up there mimicking Thom on the other side of the piano (lip syncing and making exagerrated facial expressions) when Thom was singing. Could Thom see him? Colin also led the crowd with the hand-clapping to "We Suck Young Blood".

I know Jonny, the guitarTist, is an excellent musician, but I didn't believe it when he played the keyboards and the guitar at the same time. He was playing notes on his guitar while he was pounding the peghead of the guitar against the keys on the keyboard. I've never seen that done before. I guess he needs to challenge himself once and a while to keep himself entertained. There were a couple times when Jonny acknowledged the crowd, but he was mostly the consummate professional, keeping his mind on his music (switching between instruments and attacking his guitar).

I especially enjoyed "You And Whose Army" with Thom's antics. He was flirting with/teasing the audience with his different facial expressions (moving his eyebrowns up and down, winking, smirking coyly, etc.) in the camera when he played piano. Then during the breaks in the song, he'd turn to the crowd and stoop low and slowly raise his arms up. The crowd responded by increasing the volume of their cheers as his arms raised. Then he'd turn around (the crowd stopping their cheering) and get back to his camera, cat-and-mouse games. I wonder if he does this at other shows because it was definitely a great moment of the show, and I think he should keep doing that--it went over quite well. I've never seen that side of Thom before.

In fact, I believe every band member played to the camera at one time or another during the performance. I like the idea of splitting the screens, so they show each band member doing their thing because it's difficult to see everything everyone is doing--especially when Ed and Jonny are down messing with their electronic equipment.

I will replay this concert in my mind FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER. :-)

By the way, if anyone has any pictures of the show (I know someone in front of me took about 50 pictures of them) or any recordings of the show, I'd really like it if you'd share them with me. You can reach me via my website: www.wpw3.us. I'd like to put the pics in my review of the show.

Will Westphal, MN

Review by Maureen: I had never seen a Radiohead show or any other at Alpine Valley before this one. I had a lawn ticket but arrived early enough to get a spot in the second row on the lawn, where the view of the Jicks was great and so was the set - with raw guitar hooks and playful lyrics. I had assumed the view for Radiohead would be somewhat compromised by people standing, but was still suprised that, when the band took the stage, the view was totally and instantly eclipsed by a curtain of jet-black hair. The first three numbers were subliminal for me as an accident was being narrowly averted in my section of the crowd. This venue's lawn area, a slippery slope of a midwestern hillside, combined gravity with thousands of adoring fans all crammed together in hopes of getting a better view, and in my case, some drunken teenagers who possibly thought they could rush the stage from the top of the hill, and came barreling down through the crowd nearly driving some of us in the front over the hill's threshold and onto the cement below. As chaotic as this was, however, it was still poetry as it was happening to the tune of "Sit Down, Stand Up", which decribed the tension of the crowd at that moment as perfectly as could without adding to the mantra "Fall Down". But then again, none of us did (fall). This was very good.
Aside from my missing Jonny on the Ondes Martinot, and the crowd shuffling continuing throughout the evening, Radiohead coaxed us all into a state of love and relative peace soon enough. I was astounded by the sound of this show. I could hear every word of the vocals - unprecedented in my experience as a rock concert go-er. Thom's voice itself sounded stronger than ever, and just as beautiful. I loved that he played alot of guitar, especially on big jams like "Go to Sleep" and "There There" (the latter being my favorite of the evening). I was also happy to hear the gothic "We Suck Young Blood", which captured the magic of his stage presence as well as the irresistable faces he made to the audience from a camera on his piano while singing "You and Whose Army". His dancing the night away in white sneakers recalled to mind the description I think someone once gave him of a white man's James Brown. While my boyfriend, who I attended with, says that Jonny is really the James, I would have to say that he's more like Jimmi (Hendrix), as he is so obviously and genuinely into it. Whipping around the stage like a cobra at moments, and frantically attacking the strings at others, he himself seemed just as plugged in (and in overdrive) as his guitar. " Go to Sleep" and " There There" blew me away, "Just" and "Fake Plastic Trees" were unexpected treats, and every note of his electrifying solos on "Paranoid Anderoid" lept forth in beautiful 3D.
I wasnt in a good position to see Ed or Colin get down on their instruments, but they sounded great . Colin's joyful grooving was infectious. Ed's percussion on "There There" really helped to make this the best number of the evening, and Phil looked as cool as an ocean breeze experienced from the deck of a Yacht in his posh white suit. The overall energy of this band is through the roof, and the sky was the limit there. Despite the venue creating some challenges, it was physically beautiful to behold, with a lush green valley as a backdrop for that of the stage. The gorgeous weather, combined with the light show and the clear night of twinkling stars, especially, as someone had previously mentioned, Mars, made such moments as singing along with the entire audience on an additional, acapella chorus of "Karma Police" lead by Thom seem cosmically perfect and I felt blessed to have been there. Radiohead's music and live performances are a testement to the fantastic power of music, and I thank them very much for the experience and the inspiration.
- Maureen

Review by David: I never got to experience the alleged badness of the venue because my friend that I went with uses a wheelchair, so we had seats on the left-center aisle immediately behind the pit. But we DID experience some steep climbs as I pushed my friend up the hill (and one very helpful person pulled some of the way too!) on the way to a back entrance for wheelchairs. (No one bothered to tell us about the golf carts that could have taken us up there!)

However, my angst over those difficulties (and the pain in my calf muscles) soon faded when I realized where we going to sit — much closer than I ever had before (I was 25 rows up for Merriweather a few days earlier). From that close of a distance, the boys in Radiohead cease to be mere rock stars; they become rock GODS. (Much thanks to my friend for having no qualms about using his wheelchair to score amazing seats!)

The band. Radiohead was clearly loving being Radiohead at this show, which I thought was a marked contrast from the 2001 show in Chicago. The band members were chatting with one another, feeding off a lively crowd, and really getting into every song. I agree that Colin seemed to be having the most fun out of them all, but Thom was a total hoot. He was laughing between almost every song; it seems odd that this is the same man who seemed perpetually pissed in "Meeting People Is Easy." He totally hammed it up for You And Whose Army and his dancing was especially... eclectic... even moreso than normal. He worked the crowd quite well during Myxomatosis, too. Out of all the members, I had the best view of Ed, who might be the most sedate on stage (well, aside from Phil, but he has to sit and all), but even he was clearly enjoying himself and frequently acknowledging the crowd. This was especially evident, from Ed and all the other members, when they came out at the start of each encore. They didn't just walk out... I swear some of them were practically skipping. The pit was VERY appreciative.

The songs. 2+2=5 is really a perfect opener that allows both the band and the crowd to warm up for a couple minutes before totally going nuts. My legs were shaking I was so excited to hear it after missing it at Merriweather cause of traffic. At the end of that I was just in rapture and never took my eyes off the stage from then on. Kid A was a nice surprise, and the lyrics are actually quite nice when not garbled by a computer. This show also gave me a new appreciation for Backdrifts and Go To Sleep, which take on new life on stage. However, the "most improved over the album version" award has to go to The Gloaming, even though it's already one of my faves off HTTT. They put a great twist on the ending, with the added bonus of turning your internal organs into jelly. Nice job, guys. Also, I think the crowd handled the hand-clapping during We Suck Young Blood much better than at Merriweather. There There was f'n primal as always with Ed and Jonny whaling away on the drums. Hearing Paranoid Android is just as incredible as the first time, and the moment the third part begins (with all the lights suddenly turning a brilliant blue) gives me chills.

Hearing three songs off The Bends was nice. Just and Street Spirit were incredible. Fake Plastic Trees was, too, but I think the way the lighting was handled made it slightly less amazing than at the Chicago 2001 show. Of course, the first time hearing it is always the best, so my judgement may be clouded.

Finally, hearing and seeing Thom do the end of Karma Police a capella with 35,000 people singing along (mostly on-key, no less!) is enough to make you misty-eyed. That may be the moment from this show that stays with me the most.

Review by Lance: My first radiohead show and i saw it from the perfect spot. We got to the venue at 2 o' clock. We could here the sound check around 3 o' clock and they sound checked Bulletproof, Knives Out, Sit Down, and 2+2=5. As soon as they started letting people in my girlfriend and I ran to the pit. We were right up front directly between thom and jonny. Alpine Valley went nuts once the boys took the stage. Thom was wearing sweat pants and a long sleeve shirt with another shirt on top of it. The band sounded amazing and there weren't any major technical problems like they had in previous gigs. The only problem I saw was ed had to switch guitars at the beginning of Sail to the Moon. Thom was acting like an aerobics instructor throughout the whole gig. He was continually dancing and jumping and getting the crowd pumped.The highlight of the show for me was after Idioteque when thom just sat down on the stage exhausted and stared up at the mass of humanity in front of him. Other memorable moments were The National Anthem and Myxomatosis, We suck young blood (thom began the song by doing mad scientist laughs), Fake Plastic Trees, Just, and Karma Police. Thom did the whole "Phew for a minute there....." singalong which was magical. All in all it was the best two hours of my life and i can't wait to see them again. Oh, and to all those who complained about the venue you should've gotten up early on June 21 and gotten pit tickets because it was utterly ridiculous.

Review by Nate: As probably one of the few defenders of Alpine Valley out there, the venue really isn't that great if you're in the grass. I've spent a few shows out there and it just blows if you want to be comfortable and hear the music, but awesome if you just want to be mildly psychotic. I have connections now, so I can sit in the pavilion at all shows, but definitely it is an odd place for Radiohead to play. I'm just happy they finally came to my home state so I don't have to drive to Chicago (Alpine's closer to Milwaukee and Chicago, despite the listings).

As for the show, I was kind of hoping for more. I saw them at Grant Park in Chicago a few years ago, and that had to have been one of the coolest concert experiences of my life, so really any show after that would have been a disappointment. The crowd was totally different this time around, Alpine kind of breeds the party-goer personality, something I wouldn't expect out of RH fans. But there it was, people bouncing up and down, screaming, whistling, just a totally different crowd than was at Chicago in '01 (reserved, standing still, dead silent between songs, etc.). Even the band seemed more energetic, with vintage Thom on the 'nose camera' during You and Whose Army.

Overall, a solid show, I'd see them again, maybe 20 more times.

Nate
Milwaukee, WI
cranberrysauce78@hotmail.com

Review by Andrew: There was alot of good energy to be had at this show! In between songs the crowd rocked the place. Having never seen the band live before, I was pleasently surpised how nicely they incorporate the electronic elements of songs into their live show. Having driven down from Minneapolis to see the show, I can't understand why the Chicago folks complain so much about the location. Heck, I thought this WAS a Chicago venue! And next time, get a room at the Alpine Valley Resort. No traffic to deal with after the show, just the hot tub and a cold one!

Andrew McGibbon

Review by Gretchen: I would have to agree almost wholeheartedly with Zack’s review of the show. Radiohead were amazing. The new songs were awesome, and the band played a flawless show. I am sure that those who were lucky enough to get pavilion seating had a great experience. For many of us on the lawn, however, it was very upsetting to not be able to appreciate the show fully because of what I suspect was an oversold and understaffed lawn seating area. While this was my first show at Alpine Valley, I’ve been in lawn seating at similar venues, and it has never been this uncomfortable. I couldn’t see a thing from where I was standing and the staff were unable to keep the walkways clear, so it was next to impossible get up the hill if you happened to end up in the mob that rushed the front part of the lawn once the show started. Although, I did discover later (in time for the encores anyway) that getting back a few yards and up the slope a little actually gave me a much better view.

Aside from the venue and the crowd (Thom made some comment about drunkenness and bad vibes before “Karma Police” that pretty much summed it up), it was a great show. Once I got a view, I could see that everyone in the band was having a great time, especially Thom. Radiohead is really in top form on this tour.

I was at the Hutchinson field show, and while Radiohead’s performance there didn’t seem quite as tight as this one, I would have to say the overall experience was better. The venue was better, it felt like there was a better connection between the band and the audience there, and hearing “True Love Waits” live was a real treat. The crowd at the Hutchinson show was better too - I’m guessing this was because it was harder to get tickets and, unlike at Alpine Valley, people couldn’t tailgate and get smashed beforehand.

I think I’ll be holding out for better seats at a decent venue next time. It’s just too frustrating to go to such a fabulous show and know you’re not getting the full experience.

Gretchen

Review by dep: after being flooded out in bull run, va, and having the carpet pulled from under my feet at field day festival, i was beginning to think that i would never get the chance to see radiohead perform live... i wasn't about to give up, though, so my girlfriend and i made the trek from charlotte, nc -- about 14.5 hours -- to see them in wisconsin.

the concert was awesome, in my opinion... the sound was wonderful, the visuals (lights, video screens) were awesome, although it took them a short while to get all the kinks out of the video screens.. for a while you could even see "s3" in the bottom left-hand corner of the video screen. kinda cute, but mostly annoying.

hearing thom live was like nothing else i've experienced. he sounded unusually clean... pure... clear... if you're obsessed with radiohead and haven't heard them live, then you really haven't heard them at all. the way they are able to perform their tracks live is astonishing.. 'the gloaming' stood out as a highlight in my mind. at the beginning, very monotone, thom announced "this is the gloaming" which was then recorded and mixed into the song much like it would be done in eiirp.

watching jonny at work was awesome, as well. he truly is a musical genius, moving gracefully from one instrument to the next, hardly looking up from his gear at all. i think it's wonderful the way he can truly emerse himself into the music. it's inspirational.

colin was truly upbeat almost to the point childlike, the way he danced around on-stage, his antics adding to the wonderfully pleasant atmosphere of their set.

phil was in typical form, doing his thing back on the drums... it was nice to actually see him singing backup at one point.

and, of course, ed was ed...

thom, though fairly quiet between songs (he doesn't chat much, does he?) was a true warrior poet throughout the entire show. he seemed fairly serious throughout the initial set (which went out the window as he came back on to perform 'you and whose army' while making faces to the camera and showing off for the crowd). it was nice to see him in such a good mood. he looked like he was truly enjoying himself, dancing merrily around the stage the entire night. i still believe his voice was in rare form that night... during 2+2=5, sail to the moon, scatterbrain, fake plastic trees (which brought tears to my eyes), and lucky (which i always wanted to hear live), i would prefer those vocal recordings over the studio copy any day...

i was thrilled to hear 'street spirit,' and jonny's work done on the kaoss pad throughout their finale, eiirp, was fantastic... the ending of the concert was breathtaking; as the word "forever" repeated across the lightboard behind the stage and the chaotic voice reverberations from eiirp continued for (what seemed like) several minutes, the guys of radiohead modestly left the stage, as ed stopped to cheer and give thanks to the crowd before he, too, vanished.

i would describe the night in one word: magical -- i can't wait to see them again in atlanta.

Review by Mike: This being my first time at Alpine Valley, I didn't know what to expect, but we had reserved seats so I can't complain. And to all the people complaining about how far it is from Chicago, consider the people who live closer to Alpine Valley who got a break this time. I saw people from many states and I think at least some people would agree that driving through Wisconsin is preferable to going through Chicago.

I also remember Johnny's guitar being quiet on at least two songs. The setlist was yes pretty standard, no surprises (no pun intended). During "No Surprises" the line about the government got a big reaction. "Backdrifts" was awesome. "Idioteque" seemed to really get the crowd into it, definitely a highlight. "You and Whose Army" was great though with Thom making faces at the camera and signaling to the crowd. Thom also sang something at the end of "The National Anthem" if I remember, but I don't remember what. I think before "Street Spirit" Thom said that they were hippies with short hair. "Karma Police" was introduced as a song about people who give off bad vibes called Karma Police. Overall the show wasn't emotional or anything, but I can say Thom (and the rest of the band) was really having a good time and thanked the crowd several times. I would have loved at least one surprise, but what can you do.

Only complaint: There were 2 or 3 large screens besides those next to the stage that could be viewed mainly by the lawn people. They seemed to automatically cycle through the various cameras. Well obviously you'd want to see the band, but it would often just show the piano camera with no one there (during a song with no piano). So instead of a shot of one of the band, you see an empty part of the stage, pretty amateur if you ask me.

Review by Brian: This was the 1st time I had seen Radiohead. Amazing show. One of the best live performances I have ever seen. We had pretty good seats in the pavilion (dead center about 25 rows back) and had an awesome view of the band. The light show and sound were terrific. Thom & the boys seemed to be having a great time, and it came across in the music. Setlist was great, and many of the songs on HTTF were the best of the night. There, There totally blew me away.

I think some of the concerns about the venue are warranted, but it is difficult to accommodate a band that draws so many people. The exiting the parking area was a chore to say the least. Not very well planned by the venue, in my opinion. But still, all in all, well worth the 5 1/2 hour drive from Minneapolis (you Chicago folks get no sympathy from me on your 'long drive' :).

The only bad experience of the night was during the encore when two drunk frat-boy types who must have had lawn seats 'snuck down' and stood next to me (for some reason the 2 people next to me left early). I wasn't too jazzed to here them scream at each other 'duuuuude! were at fucking Radiohead!! Wooo-hoooooo!!!!!!!' every two seconds. Plus trying to concentrate on Karma Police while he held his cell-phone up for the whole song for his buddy, and listen to him scream 'For a minute there, I lost myself' in a drunken singalong wasn't exactly my idea of a good time. Luckily they were only the for a couple of songs :).

Great, great show!!

Brian

Review by Gina Pantone: All Hail Radiohead
Feature's Editor The Xavierite Chicago, IL

Everything was certainly in its right place as Radiohead astonished a sold out crowd at Alpine Valley Saturday night. Hippie vans and compact cars lined the gravel parking lot as 40,000 people packed into one of the most anticipated shows of the season. People of all ages, genders, races, and chosen subcultures planted themselves within earshot, as preschoolers sit on the carpet in anticipation of an enticing tale. The secluded atmosphere of the massive venue (located in rural East Troy, Wisconsin) mixed with the mild weather produced a lax crowd begging for the earth to shake—and Radiohead was there to make it happen.

These five lads from Oxford were there in support of their sixth LP Hail to the Thief, a hybrid of Radiohead’s two forms: melodic guitar driven misery and experimental electronic chaos. This tour, like anything the band touches, is void of corporate sponsorship and logos. The basic yet meticulous lighting formed what looked a giant futuristic rake over the side of a spaceship that landed on the stage. The lack of elaborate props and plain dressed members were of no concern as Radiohead plowed through a spectacular setlist, mixing new material with old favorites.

Singer Thom Yorke, a wound up ball of ingenious energy, flashed a coy British smile at the crowd opening with album starter “2 + 2 = 5”, a gradual crescendo ending with Yorke pleading for recognition scolding “You have not been paying attention!” Following the chronological order of Hail to the Thief, “Sit Down Stand Up” was next, providing a piano intro resembling a calm tide as Yorke sprang to the microphone for the hypnotic outro chanting “All the raindrops”.

The band played some tracks from 1997’s Ok Computer, including breathtaking “Lucky”, “No Surprises” and fan favorite “Paranoid Android”. Bassist Colin Greenwood grinned ear to ear, frequently singing along to himself and dodging invisible bullets at his feet, demonstrating that rock stardom is seldom boring.

Lead multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood remained in his corner of musical contraptions, closing his hair-covered eyes as he played. He was buried under various guitars and keyboards, while frequently utilizing his trademark Ondes Martenot, an instrument invented by French composer Maurice Martenot in the 1920’s. Greenwood punished his guitar strings with a sound like no other, incorporating noise solos over “Backdrifts” and latest single “Go to Sleep”.

It seemed as the night progressed, Thom Yorke’s already perky mood turned hysteric—flailing his limbs as if they were no longer attached through the turbulent “the Gloaming” and live Radiohead highlight “Idioteque”. Sometimes the crowd seemed to be at a church revival, often parodying Yorke’s convulsions…imitating their leader. Stiff versatile drummer Phil Selway had company for set closer “There There” as the roadies brought out two toms for Jonny and rhythm guitarist Ed O’Brien. With guitars strapped to back, these side pillars of Radiohead created beats of thunder, leaving the audience yearning for any morsel of sound.

Opening act, Steven Malkmus and the Jicks (formerly of underground early 90’s band Pavement) supplied an interesting overture to the evening playing tracks off of their latest release Pig Lib. Front man Malkmus, known for his sarcastic wit and slightly crazy soloing, ended each song with a sigh of relief. Although they could be considered an acquired taste, the Jicks were entertaining.

Radiohead saved the best for last, concluding the night with two encores. Yorke took his throne at the piano for Amnesiac’s “You and Whose Army”, egging on the audience while hamming up the stationary camera. Colin Greenwood was sure his presence was known, tearing into the opening fuzzy bassline of the branding “National Anthem” in which Yorke became a deranged bobble-head doll, physically choking the microphone with every mumbled lyric. He left the audience with some romance advice before “Street Spirit”, “Here is a song to get you love at the end of the night, ‘cause we’re basically hippies with short hair.”

They closed the evening with the familiar “Karma Police”, adding an acapella ending that echoed through the amphitheater and the haunting “Everything in its Right Place”. Each member said their goodbyes, as heroes ride off into the sunset, while Jonny Greenwood and O’Brien provided the soundtrack of an electronic trance. The lights went black, unveiling the uncontrollable roar of the crowd—a sound that will never cease for Radiohead.

Review by Melissa: this was the third time i'd seen radiohead and the second on this tour. i had been the first person in line for the show and was lucky enough to actually be the first one in the venue itself so i got front row center in the pit. this was really a life changing night for me. it all started with stephen malkmus talking to me during their set and pointing me out as the first person in the pit but then i almost cried when he told me that in my hurry to get down there i had ran right past phil and not even noticed. and when i looked over at phil who was sitting at the soundboard on the right, he just smiled and nodded. but nevertheless, the concert was amazing. i was so happy to hear fake plastic trees. and karma police. and having them all less than 20 feet away from you is awe-inspiring. i felt like a little kid down there. every time one of them would look over at me i wouldn't be able to breathe. and i loved being down there surrounded by people who loved them too. it was all so surreal. and then to top it off, i got thom's setlist and one of his picks at the end. it was an amazing night. just like two nights earlier at blossom and the day after in st. louis. all three concerts i was front row center and at all three i seriously could have died from happiness. this was really the best summer of my entire life.
melissa from st. louis, mo

Review by Chris: The pit was genuinely excited and the band took advantage of it. Tom would randomly pick out someone and mimic them on stage. Johnny was 'just smiling and waving' a few times between songs where he did his best to destroy his guitar and picks. The rest of the band was bouncing, jumping, and grooving to the songs. And why not? Tom York was actually happy and everyone was enjoying it.

They opened with 2+2=5. As usual they started slow, though it felt like the applause from the crowd lasted the first half of the song. Sit Down Stand Up marked the true beginning of Radiohead interacting with the crowd. Tom York was soon dancing, this was no seizure-esque movements but honest to god dancing between jumping all over the stage. He was jumping around smiling all over the place (and we were utterly confused at this).

The new live version of Kid A was perhaps the most memorable. The sounds of this song began to everyone's amazement. Tom sang and hit a few keys to make varying sounds while Johnny manned his station of varying equipment. Everyone else was kind of grooving a bit on stage and doing their own parts. Now if anyone has a bootleg of this from the concert I bet you are going to suddenly become a vary popular person.

As they continued from song to song with a minimal pause between them we hit a few more songs. The rest became a blur, it is hard to remember specifics when you are stick in a parking lot after two and a half hours of listening to bongo drums played by someone who lacks any sense of beat.

Eventually they left the stage for the first time and came back a bit latter with the persuasion of the crowed (I thought I heard a few "I love you Tom!" shouted out). First up was You and Whos Army. With this Tom looked away from the crowed at a camera while playing on the piano. While he sung he would wink and raise his eyebrows as if flirting with the camera or the audience, knowing some of Tom's antics that night it is hard to tell. If a part came up between playing and singing he would spin around and slowly raise his stretched out hands instructing the audience to chear in increasing volume until he spun around and continued winking at the camera. When we got to Myxamatosis Tom said "This is a dirty song for Dirty people" and then they started playing it.

In the next encore Tom said "This is a song for people who give off bad vibes" about Karma police. They ended with Street Spirit to which Tom said "This is a peaceful song because you are all a bunch of short haired hippies."

Now I shall wrap up the review of Radiohead here before continuing to the full and detailed review of the parking lot. All I can say is this: That was the best concert I had ever been to and Radiohead is probably one of the best, if not the best, live band of all time.

Hint: Despite what everyone says the best place to be at a Radiohead concert is the pit. This is because you can see most everything clearly (I am about 6' so your experience may vary, but I was standing in the back with no problem), Tom involves you by mimicking those in the pit while he is on stage, and also by addressing you during the songs.

The view from the seats is not that wonderful and the view from general admission (the lawn) is abysmal. While Radiohead was almost flawless the venue was full of problems.

The Venue(read the parking lot cuz that's what people saw the most):

There is a Radiohead drawing that best talks about the parking situation at this place… this is of course two of those stick figures with pacman like heads with one kicking the other in the crotch. Now I too can feel their pain after being stuck in that Parking lot for two and a half hours. As if that wasn't bad enough I had to listen to some supposed Radiohead fans listing to the likes of Eminem and (I swear) Britney Spears.

I was two cars away from a group of five to six people. They were doing a hippy acoustic fest. Now the guitars were not that bad, however the guy who brought the bongo drums was. He could not keep a simple beat if his life depended on it.

After half an hour we moved about two lanes up and was treated by being next to a bunch of drunks in a SUV (read as Suburban Assault Vehicle). Bear bottles were scattered everywhere and they picked up perhaps half of them (if you cant tell by now I hate litterers and I still have no idea how I survived looking at the lawn… which was basically a carpet of trash).

Half an hour after that I was up to area 9. About six lanes of cars were merging into a one lane exit row of semi moving cars. However a new lane was apparently forming ever quarter hour. One of which was made by our SUV friend.

After two and a half hours of stop and… stop and… go two feet traffic we finally reached the exit. How we did it without staying overnight is a mystery to me.

However I would like to finish this off with a guaranteed way to get out of a Alpine Valley. All that is required is a copy of Hail to the Thief (the one with the fold out road map). Now if you look at their map of the lot and the map that is in HTT and use your imagination you can see some correlation.

I personally started at "No Way Out" so I then took a left and went to "Scapegoat". Now you cut up to "No Man's Land" before making a mad dash across "We Fell Into Our" to "Rag Doll". Now here is the tricky part. At "Flyswat" you must quickly turn up to "Cannon Fodder". See if you go to "Way Out" you just fell for their trap and you stay still for half an hour extra. Now just slip past "Can Of Worms" and you are home free.

This is the only ways out without inside connections or being the band itself. If not then you may as well spend the night in your car and leave in the morning. This saves you the aggravation and prevents you forgetting about and spoiling the concert.

-Chris W-

Review by Eric: Alpine Valley is one of my favorite places in the US (large arena wise) to see a show. Yes, it's giant, but the sound is superb even 3/4 of the way up the lawn. Plus it's in the middle of rural Wisconsin and is just beautiful. To those complaining about traffic....what did you expect? It always takes an hour+ to get in and out of Alpine.

But enough reviewing the venue, how about the show? The band sounded great, but an hour and a half of music? Maybe I'm just biased from all the 3 hour+ Phish and Dead shows I've been too, but if I pay upwards of $60 for a ticket, I expect more than a show that ends before 10 PM!

This was my first Radiohead show and I was very impressed by how tight the band was. Colin and Thom really fed off of each other. I was very unimpressed by how little the songs varied from the studio versions (plus a bit of distortion here and there). Thom's voice sounded great, and played the rockstar role to the hilt. (Maybe a bit overdoing sometimes) Notable highlights of the show were the kid a, the gloaming>idioteque, there there (the drums!), and the everything in its right place closer. It was a good rock show, but didn't do much for me in the way of musical exploration. Especially after all the "Radiohead put on the best show I've ever seen in my life" reviews I've gotten from friends over the years.

I did the old 'see if pavilion tickets were released at the last minute' trick and ended up scoring a fourth row seat about 4 hours before show time. I spent the first half of the show down there and let my friend go down for the second half. Pavilion is always nice and intimate of course, but as far as lawns go, the sound was great at Alpine and the clear cool night was perfect.

A good solid show in a great venue, but nothing spectacular or mindblowing, at least from this fan's point of view.

Review by Bill: The show at Alpine Valley was like no other I have ever attended.
What you need to do is not worry about the venue as much as some of the people have.
To see Radiohead, i would stand on a rusty nail for any given amount of time. The set was preceded by a very honorable opening band. the performance they gave was a great tone setter, and a great time filler. after them though, the greatest performers i have ever seen took the stage. Thom was a god, for the 2 hours that they played he never lost the energy he started with and the personal performance he gave was astonishing. add to this the sheer awe, in which i watched Jonny and his guitar, and the amazing lights going on in the back, it truly was a tremendous show.
and ok, standing on a hill wasn't to comfortable and those lucky enough to get seats in the pavillion, wow, i admire you, the show was still as awesome for us less fortunate. the song selection was amazing, only 4 songs were left out that i had been hoping for, but hey, you can't have everything. the only negative thing i would say, would be the cost of tee-shirts, but hell, you can find them online anytime. Radiohead, if you read this, i implore you, please...please come back sometime in the future...you are one band i don't want to see only once in my life.

respectfully submitted,
bill

Review by Ben: I just wanted to throw in my two cents in another review, if it helps at all. I could not see the band at all. Not one bit. Not one glimpse. Nothing. Thanks, Alpine Valley. I left during "The Gloaming." I wish I'd just stayed at home for the whole thing, to tell you the truth.

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