This band is doing everything right these days. Last night while many of us were preparing to ring in the new year (midnight GMT), Radiohead put on a live video webcast presentation of In Rainbows. The hour long private studio performance, titled Scotch Mist, was also run on the cable channel Current TV.
The songs have all made their way to YouTube and can also be listened to individually. Paraphrasing Greg’s sentiment about the the “thumbs_down” webcasts (from awhile back) these seem to both pull back the veil of the band and also add to their mystery.
Somehow though, it gives great insight into how the band works and performs away from the stage.
Highlight for me: “House of Cards.”
[youtube]2yZBE5qLw8Y[/youtube]
Other videos:
15 Step
Bodysnatchers
Nude
Weird Fishes\Arpeggi
All I Need
Faust Arp
Reckoner
House of Cards
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Videotape
Also, if you haven’t read it yet, also check out Wired’s great feature conversation between Thom Yorke and David Byrne, as well as Byrne’s amazingly informative essay on the current state of the music business. Both excellent reads.
Mike: https://hellocomein.com/?p=303
Greg: just saw this, reading now
Mike: they played their WHOLE album last night, http://youtube.com/watch?v=O3eM7i7naJg
here is the full thing
or the individual songs are also posted
and in a podcast
Greg: different performance from thumbs down?
Mike: yep
similar set up though
Greg: phil selway is wearing the same purple shirt
Mike: this band could crap in a bucket and id still watch it
Greg: damn this is great
Mike: http://youtube.com/watch?v=YFYp_AK8G3w&feature=user
really reminds me of all those bbc tv specials the beatles used to do in the 60s before ‘music videos’ existed
Greg: i was just thinking that!
damn- they are on top of their game these days
Mike: they really are
best band of our generation hands down
Greg: really embracing internet content
Mike: totally
Greg: hell yes
i love these videos
Mike: i do too
its like watching them in their natural environment
Greg: the thing i notice most… like we mentioned…. is that they are mysterious but really homey at they same time
Mike: right
Greg: so strange
Mike: this album really plays into that
it sounded so much like a band just relaxed and playing together
so these videos really establish that as truth
few gimmicks, just playing
Greg: did you see the thumbs down one with them wearing head cams?
hilarious
Mike: yeah that was great
like i said they could literally crap in a jar and id watch and love it
ha
they seem really refreshed and excited about their music
almost less brooding and more positive
even for radiohead
Greg: did you watch the version of videotape?
it’s great
Mike: yeah
i just watched almost all of them
Greg: i want a TR-909
Mike: whats that?
the knobby thing jonny greenwood is mucking w\?
Greg: yeah
Mike: what does that do?
Greg: roland drum beat programmer
Mike: OH
sweet
my brain would explode i think if i had half that gear
watch jigsaw falling into place
do you know what that half keyboard\synth\theremin thing is?
that jonny is playing
Greg: “can someone tell me what is that instrument that jonny is using?”
Mike: god that key change at the end of reckoner… they could vamp that forever and id die happy
Greg: “It’s a French Connection, a modern version of the Ondes Martenot. He’s been using it a lot since Kid A.”
Mike: OH YEAH
i read about that in this book i have about weird instruments
Greg: very cool
Mike: i want one