The dimensions they occupied could not have been more than 25 feet by 15 feet; club dimensions.  Under a crescent moon, reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, they packed themselves into a cage of three story vertical LED light towers (a conservation choice as part of their carbon footprint saving strategy), the band was a captive bird in a gilded cage for our entertainment, relishing every second of their servitude.

In what can only be described as a gorgeous illumination of the senses, Radiohead delivered to an at capacity sold out Tampa audience an extraordinary performance that not only matched but exceeded the anticipated hype. 

Led by their Rumpelstiltskinian leader, Thom Yorke, and buoyed by guitarists/effect pedalists Johnny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, and Ed O’Brien, the percussion was the true king tonight with Phil Selway patiently setting the tone with a drum triumph sowed back in June 2006 when Radiohead first presented to the public the embryonic pieces of what is now In Rainbows at the Bonnarroo Music Fest.  Using the digital self release as a backbone to the glorious spectacle, Radiohead also dusted off other late 20th century “classics,” pressing them through a rainbow tinted lens.

“All I Need,” “15 Step,” and “Nude” sounded exquisite, as they have for months through previous webcasts.  But, it was “Bangers and Mash,” the In Rainbows Disc 2 “toss off” that elevated the evening.  Sitting at his own mini-drum kit, Yorke announced to the 20,000 plus crowd that “now you get to hear some really good drumming!”  With mini-cams on the snares broadcasting the twitching of his lazy left eye, Yorke piloted through a blistering funkadelic journey, relishing the song's mid track down tempo shift, just so he could bring the crowd back up again.  Swaying his head, east to west, Yorke was under an intuitive spell, repeating the lyrics “I got the poison, I got the poison.”

The audience craved these soulful vocals, but Yorke granted access to the bay area not seen in over 13 years (Jannus Landing, Radiohead’s last appearance).  These poignant moments came through the refurbished Kid A track “Optimistic” with its Joy Division “Dead Souls” beat and Yorke bobbling his noggin around on guitar. 

The 1990’s were alive and well mid set with an MDMA rave trip on “National Anthem,” the LED bars pulsing with red ambient plasma.  “Reckoner” contrasted the mood with an uplifting Latin beat, worthy of Joe Strummer’s love of genre twisting. 

But it was the speeding up of “Everything In Its Right Place,” that elevated the audience past a mere light spectacle.  The tripped out chorus, made famous from the barren Times Square scene in Vanilla Sky, bounced along to Yorke’s keyboarding rhythms.  It set up a double encore featuring “The Gloaming,” and “Exit Music,” that poured into perfection with “House Of Cards” finalizing the show.  With its opening lyrics “I don't want to be your friend, I just want to be your lover, no matter how it ends, no matter how it starts,” the audience, clapping in unison on the four count in a seemless manner, sought to take the gilded cage home with them, no matter how it ended. 

(photo by Tony Landa from the 5/5/08 show in West Palm)

Set list (compiled by Coventry Music Blog):

All I Need
There There
Lucky
Bangers And Mash
15 step
Nude
Pyramid Song
Optimistic
Weird fishes
National Anthem
Idioteque
You And Whose Army?
Reckoner
Everything In Its Right Place
Airbag
Bodysnatchers
Videotape

Encore 1:
The Gloaming
The Tourist
Just
Faust Arp
Exit Music

Encore 2:
The Bends
House Of Cards

"Lucky" -- Radiohead at Ford Ampitheater, 5/6/08