Radiohead Old Trafford Cricket Ground Manchester 04.07.2017

Radiohead

Old Trafford Cricket Ground

Manchester 04.07.2017

 

I cant believe I'm here after getting train from Sheffield back home to drop my baggage off and back out to see these guys, who I've been a fan of since 1990's and never seen live ever!!

 

They don't often tour so I was surprised when they announced the dates for 2 Manchester shows,  events of course changed the venue now merged into 1 big show here in 'Trafford's Cricket Ground but squeezed back into my  planned gigging schedule should be on Wednesday.

 

Yes I am totally knackered I've had a few hours sleep after last nights 'Green Day' gig but it is becoming morning as arrive in 'Trafford' I arrive early with a good friend of mine already in the queue, it's going to be a long day,and by late afternoon its raining, no really raining I'm so tired I shelter under my umbrella and fall asleep giving up on my hopes for a sunny day.

 

Gates open and we are ushered in after declaring our bags with security its almost going to plan until we are split into 2 queues men ,women and some people yep ..the blokes try to run through before they are told they get called back, we're told not run ,we are told not to but others do, barrier fills up fast but I spot a place at the front by my friend that is until some hostile fan blocks me and decides to lock horns there was lots of room he hogged much of the barrier for no apparent reason I have ever come accross, when he crys wolf saying I'm the bully this attracts security's attention I explain and the guy physically pinches my back leg I report him but we are told to behave or we'll leave, no surprise the guy comes from a little island not in the UK and clearly left his brains there ,most people will relate I'm sure,I persist on keeping my place theres plenty of room we don't speak or acknowledge the other throughout. 

 

Anyway the show must go on so the first act who is quite sinister and appears to play a score from a horror film (how appropriate) he plays the cello with various dramatic effects its quite soulless and empty but strangely interesting, his stare is icy and bizarre, he dosent speak after his music its fascinating but bizarre it feels lengthy.

 

 

Next up 'Johnny Greenwood & His Band' a group of Indian and Asian musicians playing bongos drums and various traditional world musical instruments while 'Johnny' of floppy fringe and slender over 6ft  in frame plays guitar. There is a singer on guitar who reminds me of one of the 'Kalikan Trio' that joined 'Madonna' on her 'MDNA' tour in 2012, he gets the crowd singing even though its in a different language we all join in.

 

 

 

 

 

By 8.30pm the strobe lights and spotlights come on and finally 'Thom Yorke' and his band walk onto the stage, his long hair tied back in a man bun,Wearing Black Leather jacket and black trousers clutching his guitar he creates a huge roar of applause, its deafening & exciting 'Ed' is over to the left and 'Jonny' on my right 'Thom' smiles as he begins the first song. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the backdrop their is an obelisk shape with coded writing possibly pertaining to Psychology or Science, stretching across the whole stage set. 

 

 

 

 

 

'Let Down' and 'Lucky' kicked everything off 'Thom's hypnotic twitchy dancing entertain the  huge crowd, and my fav track from 'Ok Computer' ,'Airbag' (it's the albums 20th Anniversary this year) it got a rapturous response and prompted huge sing a long for many here tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A particular stand out moment comes as 'Thom' takes a seat by the piano for 'Pyramid Song', the lighting and laser effects totally encapsulating the mood followed by the upbeat '2001' track 'Everything In Its Right Place' and the melodic ballad of 'No Surprises', lesser known songs like 'Weird Fishes/Arpeggi' is a strange song as is '2+2=5, absent so far is new song 'Burn The Witch' as recent as last year but not present in tonights show .  We then get a 1st encore incorporating the visual 'Lotus Flower' and its back to business 'Paranoid Android' which you'll remember the video with bizarre comic strip character 'Robin'with some political references that are still relevant today. 

 

 

 

 

 

They keep the crowd in suspense as 'Thom' dons an acoustic guitar for 'Fake Plastic Trees', and another encore after a fav from 'Amnesiac', 'There There' a rousing version of 'The Bends' not played in ages from their 1995 hit album and choosing to end the whole show with 'Karma Police' was enthralling with thousands singing in unison "For a minute there I lost myself, I lost myself" to get the band to come back on to play 'Creep' but it wasn't to be. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ed on bass looked emotionally moved by the crowd and he clapped us all, and then they were gone they played 26 songs, I wish they'd played 'Just' and 'My Iron Lung' and 'Stop Whisphering' I think they played 'Street Spirit' but cannot remember if I dreamt it because it was a epic performance. Getting back to the station from far out was a very tasking thing, no visable signs to the metrolink ,no taxis allowed near the venue to greet me I tootled my way round 'Trafford' for once lost in my own city ?? which is mainly residential I set about trying to get a cab to drive me to any station inside the city(Miles Away) to catch the last train.  Eventually I found a taxi to get me there for £15 and arriving near Oxford Road with 5 Mins to spare and went home more exhausted than I'd ever been in a gigging cycle, I couldn't wait to get to sleep til the next afternoon.

 

 

 

Til Next Time Giggers!! 

 

 

Lmi  xo