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The Magic Kingdom
The band have been publicly appreciative of the use of this unusual venue, which was called the 'Magic Kingdom' by one journalist.
Jonny Greenwood
"As for the tours, Jonny said that they are bringing along their own tent because they don't want to play in big venues that are designed for sport and have adverts all over the place. There will also be better sound and more control over acoustics. And as for why they are not playing Pinkpop, Colin said that they played Glastonbury before the release of OK Computer and don't want to play big festivals before the release of the album this time. Radiohead is in for a bracing jolt of culture shock when it plays the corporate, signage-strewn confines of the Air Canada Centre next month. "
After a summer of outdoor gigging in Europe, the critically acclaimed Oxford quintet has spent the past two weeks touring Britain in a custom-made, sponsorship-free, 10,000-seat tent. The initiative, incidentally, was inspired by No Logo, Toronto writer Naomi Klein's best selling treatise on the ills of global branding. "It's been kind of frustrating because we've arrived at venues in Europe and there's been adverts on beer cups and lorries being parked behind tents with big adverts on them,'' explained band member Jonny Greenwood during a phone interview yesterday. ``Being in control of your own venue you can do what you want. And (the tent) sounds better than a sports arena."
Ed O'Brien (guitarist)
In one of his diary entries earlier this year, O'Brien urged Radiohead fans to buy No Logo, a book by the Canadian journalist Naomi Klein. A brilliant analysis of the branding of planet Earth by Nike, McDonald's, Starbucks, MTV and others - and of the activists around the world who are trying to throw spanners in the works - No Logo was read by three members of the band and was even rumoured to be a potential title for the new album.
"No Logo gave one real hope," says O'Brien. "It certainly made me feel less alone. I must admit I'm deeply pessimistic about humanity, and she writing everything that I was trying to make sense of in my head. It was very uplifting."
"It was very Disney, you could see the lights twinkling away as you walk across the park." So you control the sound and you control the whole thing? "Yeah we control everything."
This shows that one of the prime reasons for Radiohead choosing to use the Kayam tent was to keep the performance pure in that sense.
Colin Greenwood (bassist)
"Certain people within the group wanted to play some live concerts," explains bassist Colin Greenwood, not sounding like he was one of them, "which I suppose dictated the curtailment of the recording as much as anything." Sitting at the kitchen table in his Oxford home, Greenwood looks pretty curtailed himself. He seems to be struggling to maintain eloquence without nodding off into his mug of tea or rubbing his buggered-looking eyes out.
He reaches for a pen and some paper. Placing the paper on a copy of Private Eye, he draws a sketch of the 10,000 capacity tent in which Radiohead will be performing their UK gigs in September and October. Designed for excellent sound, the tent has already made headlines for a different reason: it will be a "logo-free" environment as no corporate advertising is permitted. "It looks a bit like a pair of shorts," says Greenwood, sketching away. "We're here... The audience are sort of here... Where the crotch is, that's the mixing desk... ".
Phil Selway (drummer)
It was not only the band who thought that the tent worked. The reviews from fans and journalists almost always mentioned the structure. Looking through other reviews of touring bands it is rare for the venue to be mentioned at all except for complaints. The general view of the band, the sound and light engineers, and the punters is that this was an experiment that worked. Judging the response from other bands who have enquired about similar tours, this is only the first of many such tours in the future.
Review by Geoff of 'Followmearound.com'
"WOW! last night was the greatest gig i've ever been to, they played a mix of old and new, playing most of the stuff off the new album, plus a few earmarked for
the new album, including you and whose army. Exit music was magical, and another of the best was idioteque, with Thom going crazy on stage. The tent was
huge, and i really thought it was a good idea and even though the place is so big it feels like you're really close to the band. I didn't see the TV screens cos I was
too far forward, but the lights were brilliant, especially in songs like everything in its right place and street spirit was excellent too. I could go on, but i won't, the
only let down was them not playing let down, but I can't complain cos the whole thing was brilliant!!!!!! The curry wagon was great!!!!!"
Review by Ellie of 'Followmearound.com'
"I went to the spectacular concert last night, in the spectacular tent!"
Review by Rob of 'Followmearound.com'
"I must admit that I was a little unsure about wether I was going to enjoy this one as I was not impressed by the blipverts but it was brilliant. I have been around a while and just don't enjoy big national tours any more but the tent venue is pretty good and really gives an intimate feel."
Review by Deborah of 'Followmearound.com'
The tent was much different to what I expected, but a great site. Queued for an hour and finally made it in. Wandered around and inhaled the excitement. Drunk
the lemonade and ate the bagels. Due to a leg accident a few days earlier, we had to use the disabled facilities. Was a completely different perspective. Making
our way to the ramp to get to the platform, the guys there to help were fantastic.
Having seen Radiohead at Meltdown, I was apprehensive about the tent tour. I had always imagined that Radiohead are better in smaller venues, even though
they seem to be classed as a 'stadium band'. Meltdown was so personal I was afraid to be let down. I needn't of worried. Once inside the tent, with the sound
desk in front of us, we took in the centre of the tent, which was pretty inspiring. The layout meant that the stage could be seen by most areas and with the
screens up above, viewing was fabulous. We got in as Clinic came on. I felt that they were let down by the sound at Meltdown, but here, in the tent, they were
amazing. I really enjoyed them and will definitely try to see them again. Everyone I spoke to - from the W.A.S.T.E tent to the guys in orange were so great and really helpful. From the guys on lights and sound to those who erected the
tents - Thank You! for an excellent evening.
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