Hey all,

 

I'm just wondering whether Radiohead are good live?

 

Also, is there a site/interview or something that goes into detail over what each band member plays and how they all contribute to the music??

I'm especially interested in the 3 guitars etc.

 

Also, Radiohead are touring right? What are the chances they'll come to Australia??

 

Lots of questions. Give me your opinions on the live question.

Imo Radiohead are astonishing live. I went to my first concert in London in June and I was absolutely blown away. They know how to get a crowd going and obviously their music is brilliant.

 

It's possible you could find the info on the band members on a fansite like AtEase or Green Plastic (i recommend the latter for that kind of stuff).

 

And yes, they've just finished up touring Europe and are moving on to their second leg of the US. It's rumoured that they might play South America during the spring but I don't think they've ever had a single show in Australia :( . You could probably check that out on Green Plastic too. www.greenplastic.com

Yeah, they're amazing live. It really depends on the crowd as well. You can find yourself among the assholes, you know. BUT most of the time it's brilliant no matter what. :)

 

Yeah, they're discussing the dates for South America and maybe Mexico, too (for March/April, I think). Nothing's set in stone so far, though. But for Australia ... I don't know. :(

I haven't seen the band live yet, but i'm seeing them in a little bit over a week. From what i've read and also seen (from youtube video's) they are one of the greatest live acts today probably

Radiohead is a-a-a-mazing live.

 

as for what instruments they play, they're all multi-instrumentalists and it all depends on a song...Thom usually plays the guitar or piano (upright or electric), but has played bass on at least one Radiohead studio track (that i'm aware of) - The National Anthem on Kid A, and he also plays drums live sometimes . Ed usually plays the guitar and makes all the cool weird ambient noises with his pedals galore...although i've seen him play a keyboard type of synth as well. Colin - normally bass, sometimes chips in on a synth/midi controller. Phil - drums, percussion, although he does play the guitar as well, but not in Radiohead. Jonny is the only member of Radiohead who got classical music training (on viola) and hence can read sheet music...in Radiohead he plays the guitar, piano, all sorts or synths, glockenspiel, ondes martenot, what have ya..give him any instrument, the chances are he can play it. he also does all the strings arrangements for Radiohead. also, Thom and Jonny do the electronica/computer programming.

Saw them ten times.

 

I don't pay bucketloads of cash for a band who's either crap or mediocre live.

 

So yeah, Radiohead are a brilliant live band.

Also, Radiohead are touring right? What are the chances they'll come to Australia??

 

They are planning a South America tour in march/april next year.

So they might drop by Australia around that time as well...

Yes, they are super live... gets chill bumps! Saw them twice in May in FL and seeing them in Camden in two weeks! Gots to get one more time! They are the most brilliant group of artists of today! Can't wait, cause I know it's gonna be all good night! :)

I would see them here in America but they aren't coming anywhere near me. :(

So. If you had to summarise the instruments they all play. Would you say that its 3 guitars, bass and drums?

Also, are they good live in the sense that they can produce the same sound of their studio music?

Also, I may be wrong, but Thom doesn't look like the type of person who could get to the crowd as much as Chris (Martin).

What type of venues do they play at? Are they arenas or stadiums, or just theatre style places??

So. If you had to summarise the instruments they all play. Would you say that its 3 guitars, bass and drums?

Also, are they good live in the sense that they can produce the same sound of their studio music?

Also, I may be wrong, but Thom doesn't look like the type of person who could get to the crowd as much as Chris (Martin).

What type of venues do they play at? Are they arenas or stadiums, or just theatre style places??

 

1. did you read what i said in my previous post? no, it would be inaccurate to summarize it as 3 guitars, drums and bass, because it all changes and switches around depending on a song.

 

 

2. yes, they reproduce the studio sound live brilliantly and so much so that many would say that they prefer the live performances to the studio tracks. it's certainly a different sort of thing live, more in-you-face, whereas the studio tracks often are more subtle.

 

3. you're very wrong about Thom Yorke, he's one of the most charismatic frontmen to ever grace a stage. he's absolutely mesmerizing to watch and listen to. and let's not forget the dancing! :dance: :wacko: combine that with Jonny Greenwood's spastic aggressive style of guitar playing, the band's overall skill, chemistry, near unparallelled musicality and the electrifying energy, and you've got yourself a killer of a show.

 

 

4. they seem to favour outdoor venues on this tour...outdoor stadiums and amphitheatres.

^ i'd say it's rather 2 guitars, bass, drums and synth stuff (or any other more electronic instrument).

I guess they can produce the same sound of their studio music, but it really depends on the song. They don't play the same Like Spinning Plates, for example.

I haven't seen any of Chris's attempts to motivate the crowd, but I guess Thom doesn't do anything like that. He does say "Thank you" and perhaps some other stuff, but he doesn't really stop singing because he wants the crowd to sing.

But the band has some jokes I suppose. I've seen them laughing at each other during the concert, but I don't know exactly why.

 

But I can't say they do the stuff I described all the time, these are only my observations from one concert. ;)

 

Venues: Hm. In Milan, for example, they played at an arena (well, at least it was called like that). I don't think this helps you much. :P

3. you're very wrong about Thom Yorke, he's one of the most charismatic frontmen to ever grace a stage. he's absolutely mesmerizing to watch and listen to. and let's not forget the dancing! :dance: :wacko: combine that with Jonny Greenwood's spastic aggressive style of guitar playing, the band's overall skill, chemistry, near unparallelled musicality and the overwhelming electrifying energy, and you've got yourself a killer of a show.

I forgot to mention that. He's still great to look at. While he doesn't really interact with the crowd the usual way, you can still see he's there for you and that he's into the song he sings. It's not like he's there just for the sake of being there. If you get what I mean.

crestingwaves,

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2n_ljBBB3Kk (plus check out the related videos)

^^ it's just a youtube video, the quality of the picture and sound is crappy..of course it's no comparison to experiencing Radiohead live, but at least it gives you some sort of an idea...

 

 

I guess they can produce the same sound of their studio music, but it really depends on the song. They don't play the same Like Spinning Plates, for example.

 

yeah, usually the arrangements are pretty close to the studio tracks, with a few exceptions, like Like Spinning Plates, Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box, etc

 

I forgot to mention that. He's still great to look at. While he doesn't really interact with the crowd the usual way, you can still see he's there for you and that he's into the song he sings. It's not like he's there just for the sake of being there. If you get what I mean.

yeah, totally.

^

But the band has some jokes I suppose. I've seen them laughing at each other during the concert, but I don't know exactly why.

 

 

Well, I can answer that.

When you play live in a band and things are just going well or sounding good. You just laugh at each other. For some reason thats just how you express that what you're playing/hearing sounds fantastic.

Are any of their DVDs worth getting? Did they release anything for In Rainbows live?

Also (sorry bout all these questions lol) but does anyone have any good pics of them all standing around with their instruments (a la the coldplay one where they're all in that room together playing)?? Especially if it shows the effects boards etc.

Are any of their DVDs worth getting? Did they release anything for In Rainbows live?

umm ... there's astoria dvd ... nothing's been released for In Rainbows. You better check out Greenplastic for that.

 

Also (sorry bout all these questions lol) but does anyone have any good pics of them all standing around with their instruments (a la the coldplay one where they're all in that room together playing)?? Especially if it shows the effects boards etc.

I'll try to find something but i doubt i have anything like that.

thanks :)

Are any of their DVDs worth getting? Did they release anything for In Rainbows live?

 

I'd say get the Astoria DVD which was filmed in 1995, which has loads of stuff off The Bends and Pablo Honey on it. Also if you want to have their music videos I'd say either get 7 Television Commercials or get the new Best Of DVD which has every video they've ever made on it. I know EMI are making more money out of them by releasing this DVD but at the end of the day it's worth getting as it has all the vids they've made.

 

Meeting People Is Easy is another DVD they've got out which is a documentary filmed during the OK Computer tour in 1997. It's a really interesting documentary which has live footage mixed with interview footage and backstage footage. It also has studio footage of them working and recording on new songs that were never released from 1997-1998. Some of it is really hard to watch tho as it shows just how much of an effect that tour had on the band and in particular Thom.

 

I've seen them three times and each time they've been absolutely amazing live! If you get a chance to go see them, GO!!! :dance: :dance: :dance:

Also (sorry bout all these questions lol) but does anyone have any good pics of them all standing around with their instruments (a la the coldplay one where they're all in that room together playing)?? Especially if it shows the effects boards etc.

 

they don't normally pose for pictures with their instruments, i've only been able to find one picture of the whole band with their instruments:

here are a couple more good quality pictures:

That first pic is really good! Thom is smiling...hehe :nice:

What's the little box thing I think Jonny has in the 2nd to last pic??

If you'd like to get an idea of Radiohead live - the vocals are just amazing - check out this review and video http://stereogum.com/archives/concert/lollapalooza-radiohead_011871.html

 

I hadnt seen them in years (which is an understatement as it was when pablo honey was released) and i was just blown away by how great it was. thom's vocals were top notch. the best of any artist out there. the reality is - radiohead is in a different league when it comes to live shows. theyre in a league of their own. If anyone can create the magic (and i dont mean an arena singing along in unison to a song) id be surprised. maybe U2 has an atmosphere like that, but a friend of mine (who loves and sees everyone) has said the same thing about radiohead.

 

oh and ill post this somewhere else. but while coldplay wasnt at lollapalooza - god put a smile... was played courtesy of mark ronson (sans vocals). oh man that was insane but radiohead was the show to see.

What's the little box thing I think Jonny has in the 2nd to last pic??

 

it's a Korg Kaoss Pad. He uses it on Everything In It's Right Place to sample Thom's voice. I want one they are so fucking cool :D

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaoss_Pad