Concert Review: Radiohead

I had the immense pleasure and joy of seeing Radiohead perform live this past week, June 6th, at Blossom Music Center. It was a  beautiful summer night for a show, warm and breezy. Radiohead played an epic two hour show, coming back for not one, but two encores! They sounded better than ever, adding a second drummer to the mix (Portishead's Clive Deamer.) They didn't just play a rehearsed show. They played from the heart. The energy was palpable. Soulful and intense. They changed up the set list and added new songs from the previous shows. They debuted "Like Spinning Plates" that night. A favorite of mine! We were treated to old favorites like "Paranoid Android" and "Exit Music For A Film," as well as new tracks like "Identikit" and " Staircase." If the music itself wasn't enough, they outdid themselves with the visual light show. They had 12 different screens floating above the stage, each focused on a different band member. Flashing lights and floating screens provided for a bit of sensory overload, but in just the right way. At one point, Thom repeatedly said "thank you" into the mic and it echoed and reverbed out into the crowd and into the evening, above the dusk sky. Thank you, Thom! What an amazing experience. For a minute there, I lost myself.

http://www.blareshare.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/radiohead-concert-stage-dangling-lights.jpg

The Set List:

Bloom

15 Step

Kid A

Weird Fishes/Arpeggi

Staircase

I Might Be Wrong

The Gloaming

Separator

Like Spinning Plates(tour debut)

Morning Mr. Magpie

Climbing Up the Walls

Identikit

Lotus Flower

There There

Feral

Idioteque

FIRST ENCORE:

House of Cards

Myxomatosis

Supercollider

Reckoner

SECOND ENCORE:

Give Up the Ghost

Exit Music For a Film

Paranoid Android

Concert Review: SADE

I can't get Sade out of my head. I saw her perform last Saturday at The Q in Cleveland. She was simply amazing.Brilliant. Beautiful. One of the best shows I have ever been to, and worth every penny. Her music is a mix of R&B, jazz and soul. Backed by a band that included guitar, bass, drums, sax and more, the mood was set for an impeccable performance. And perform they did, practically sounding better live than on the albums. The visuals were stunning as well. There were 2 giant screens on either side of the stage, zoomed in on Sade and other band members. The backdrop screens were filled with videos and other graphics that went right along with the music. If you want to see for yourself, check out this video of "Cherish The Day." The juxtaposition of her red dress with the black and white background is pretty cool.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzpyQ5NGZik

Here's a review of the show from the Columbus Dispatch:
http://bit.ly/q3jDck

I am very happy I got to see Sade. You should go if you get a chance. You will not be disappointed!!

Smooth Operator