Radiohead Returns: A Brutal Bacchanal for the Apocalypse's Bards
It's been nearly a decade since Radiohead gifted us with new music and over seven years since they graced a stage. During that time, the future they once sang about with such worry seems to have arrived at warp speed. Animal-borne diseases, invading armies, bomb shelters, endless rain – it all felt eerily predicted in Thom Yorke's lyrics.
While his reputation as a soothsayer has grown, perhaps a bit overblown by the band's legendary status, let's be clear: Yorke is a genius. But he's not alone. The rest of Radiohead is a constellation of monumental talent. Even with Yorke's recent brilliant work, including collaborations with Jonny Greenwood in The Smile, fans have waited an eternity for the full five to reunite.
Now, seemingly out of the blue, they've returned for short residencies in select European cities. Performing in the round, they're shielded by a gossamer projection screen. But as it turns out, no protection is needed. This is not a tentative return.
"Shell smashed, juices flowing," Yorke sings to open with "Let Down." A deep cut from OK Computer and a long-time fan favorite, its recent resurgence on TikTok gave the band their closest thing to a hit in this century. This song, both gorgeous and self-mocking, carries a peculiar message of hope passed from Gen X to Gen Z.
The vocal shimmer and Greenwood's unique guitar melody are amplified by a powerful rhythm section. This sets the tone for the night. While the top end sometimes suffers in the arena, the drumming of Phil Selway, Clive Deamer, and Colin Greenwood deliver a stunning show of force on tracks like "2+2=5," "Bloom," and "Ful Stop."
Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead's secret weapon, shifts from soulful to brutal in his playing. His basslines have guided listeners through the band's most challenging material. Tonight's selections from Kid A – "Everything In Its Right Place," "Idioteque" – complete their 25-year transformation from icy sonic shocks to crowd-pleasing anthems.
By "15 Step," even the upper levels are bouncing. Yorke reminds us that "it comes to us all," likely referring to old age or death. Now nearing 60, Yorke is energetic and dances around the stage to "The National Anthem" with its great bassline, which he wrote at 16.
Yorke has always kept an eye on legacy acts. Radiohead, however, is different. Their fanbase is known for its purism, and some will quibble about the setlist, but the energy is undeniable. It's pure joy. Yorke says little beyond "gracias." But here's where it gets controversial... some feel he should have spoken out more in recent years. Others remember the young man who seemed freaked out by the speed of progress, and would still choose him to sing to us in our current state of terminal velocity.
And this is the part most people miss... The setlist includes "Let Down," "2 + 2 = 5," "Sit Down. Stand Up," "Bloom," "Lucky," "Ful Stop," "The Gloaming," "Myxomatosis," "No Surprises," "Videotape," "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi," "Everything in Its Right Place," "15 Step," "The National Anthem," "Daydreaming," "A Wolf at the Door," "Bodysnatchers," and "Idioteque." The encore features "Fake Plastic Trees," "Subterranean Homesick Alien," "Paranoid Android," "How to Disappear Completely," "You and Whose Army?," "There There," and "Karma Police."
What do you think? Did Radiohead deliver? Do you agree with the critics, or do you have a different take on their return? Share your thoughts in the comments!
