Thom Yorke @ Echoplex, Los Angeles 10/2/09
Stereogum.com
This was not the low-key warm-up gig ("total chaos ... kind of a rehearsal") Thom promised. Attendees of last night's pre-Orpheum preview got a full (and by most (Twitter) accounts "awesome") 90-minute set beginning with The Eraser played by Thom's new group (Nigel Godrich, Flea, Joey Waronker, Mauro Refosco). This was followed by a solo performance of three new songs: tranquil piano ballad "Open The Floodgates" ("Don't bore us/ Get to the chorus"), potential Radiohead strummer "Lotus Flower," and Coldplay-esque "Skirting On The Surface" According to ateaseweb "Floodgates" and "Skirting" are actually a few years old, but were never publicly performed until last night. The band returned for a final segment during which Thom bared his chest Moz-style. They played Radiohead b-side "Paperbag Writer," "Judge, Jury, & Executioner" (intro'd as "brand spankin' new" -- i.e., not an alternate version of "Myxomatosis") and "The Hollow Earth"/"Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses" from the new 12" one could purchase on-site while rubbing elbows with celebrity attendees Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Spike Jonze, and Rosanna Arquette. Check out YouTube footage of the new songs along with photos and setlist:
01 "The Eraser"
02 "Analyze"
03 "The Clock
04 "Black Swan"
05 "Skip Divided"
06 "Atoms For Peace"
07 "And It Rained All Night"
08 "Harrowdown Hill"
09 "Cymbal Rush"
//
(Thom solo)
10 "Open The Floodgates" [NEW]
11 "Lotus Flower" [NEW]
12 "Skirting On The Surface" [NEW]
//
13 "Paperbag Writer"
14 "Judge, Jury, & Executioner" [NEW]
15 "The Hollow Earth"
16 "Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses"
"Open The Floodgates"
"Lotus Flower"
"Skirting On The Surface"
"Judge, Jury, & Executioner"
"Paperbag Writer"
"Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses"
"The Hollow Earth"
"Cymbal Rush"
"At one point in the evening, a member of the audience shouted, 'Play some Skynyrd!'" writes NME. "Yorke responded by flashing both middle fingers, saying, 'You think I should be playing Stone Temple Pilots too?'" (Rock Is A Girl's Best Friend's quotes Thom differently: "Shouldn't you be calling out Stone Temple Pilots or something more current? 'Freebird' is so 80's!" That sounds more likely.)
And sorry New Moon fans, you'll have to wait a little longer for "Hearing Damage."
Posted at 7:53 AM by Scott in Photo, Video
Tags: Flea | Joey Waronker | Mauro Refosco | Nigel Godrich | Radiohead | Thom Yorke
Omg I wish I was there!!!
Score = 3
everybody who hated on Flea should just watch this vid from the night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd3L8SiLics
Score = 2
Damn, Thom is exposing his chest in that vid. Next time he should go full frontal. Me likey:)
Score = 0
that new tune "Going On The Surface" is beautiful
Score = 1
Thom is looking great! Has he been working out?
Score = 2
His voice sounds amazing here! And he looks great.
This was supposed to be a rehearsal? More like a legendary gig.
Love you Thom.
Score = 2
Wow, "Judge, Jury & Executioner" is amazing.
Score = 0
I love how "no more albums" really just meant, "We're gonna put out a ton of material without worrying about wrapping it up in an album." Still a bummer, since Radiohead singles become so much better within the album, but not the "end is near" proclamation it seemed like.
Score = 1
I heard that Kim Gordon and Daft Punk also went last night.
I really hope him performing with his new band is just a one-off. More Radiohead stuff please.
Score = 0
The Lotus Flower guitar sounds like a straight lift off "15 step", but slower.
Score = 0
Wow, they rocked the shit out of "Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses"!
Score = 1
not sure what everybody is looking at. i think thom looks old and scary.
Score = -1
oh shut it! You wish you had half his talent!
Score = -2
talent has nothing to do with his looks....
Score = 0
Thom is genius but he's nothing without his mates from Radiohead
Score = 1
Them playing the new songs last night only makes the rest of us wish we were there. Seems like Mr. Yorke always has something up his sleeve.. and that makes me happy to be a fan of his music. I wonder if this collision of musical stars is a trend that's just beginning.. If this new music from Thom is any indication, the new stuff Radiohead has been working on should be nothing short of brilliant. Does anyone think Thom will have a big influence on Flea now that they are working together? Maybe Flea might go and do something experimental with his other band... what's their name? ?
Score = 0
Damn. Should have gone. At $60 a ticket, I didn't think it would be worth it. I was wrong. Praise be to Thom.
Score = 0
praise his light
Score = 0
The new band does not have a name yet but, seeing people reactions and the reviews for the "rehearsal", they better get one because they are AWESOME!!!! Holy mother, The Eraser stuff is gold with that band! And Thom Yorke... hands down, everything the man does turns gold, all his songs with other people, with Radiohead, solo, now this, he is FUC KING AMAZING!
Score = 0
They already have a name. It's Fleathom & Company.
Score = -2
is it really ok to call anything radiohead-related 'coldplay-esque'?
Score = 3
The THOMOSEXUALS
Score = 1
I wish I could have a 3 some with Thom and my b/f Tim
Score = 0
"coldplay-esque"?? are you having a laugh?
Score = 1
I know, Coldplay want to sound like Radiohead not the other way around. And they wish they could write something as beautiful as "Skirting on the Surface".
Score = 1
This sounds like it was a fun show but I just can't picture Thom without Ed, Colin, Jonny, and Phil. Even when I listen to The Eraser, in my head I think of Radiohead playing the instruments.
Though it's cool that Nigel "God"rich ;) is part of the group. That man is just a genius. Any piece of music he touches turns to gold.
Score = 2
I can't believe I am the first to say it.....Radioheadless!!
Score = -1
The first video has been tweeted over 13 times
Score = 0
Got there late and missed The Eraser. Damn.
Score = 0
He should go as Sam Merlotte on Halloween.
Score = 0
i found it pretty damn funny that thom went barechested & flea didn't.
Score = 1
Tonight was the same setlist except "Super Collider" instead of "Skirting on the Surface." Flea totally owns a collared shirt. He described The Eraser as his attempt at making a dance album, and true to form the songs are bangin' live. He introduced "Lotus Flower" as something he's working on w/ Radiohead.
Score = 1
Flea has his shirt on. Are you happy now?
Score = 1
"Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus" is the title of Roxette's 1995 greatest hits compilation.
Score = 0
Calling a Thom Yorke song "Coldplay-esque" is silly. Thom Yorke invented Coldplay when Radiohead wrote The Bends.
Score = 0
I have the only full version of "Skirting On The Surface". It's not as close as these wonderful videos, but the sound is OK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7KifJZT420
Score = 0
Love Lotus Flower, but wish Fat Johnny Depp would delete his "tutorials" off YouTube...
Score = -1
LOL..Fat Johnny Depp
Score = 0
for ward me la
Score = 0
for ward me la
Score = 0