Andrew Youssef/OC Weekly
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Indio
April 14, 2012
Coming into the show, audiences knew a few things: the set would draw heavily from King of Limbs; the band would feature live member in electro-percussionist Clive Deamer; and, as always, the performance would be spot-on and huge-sounding, with intense visuals. And that's exactly what it was -- two hours and 21 songs worth of near-flawless execution.
The band wasted no time featuring its newest stage member, opening the show with "Bloom," a song built upon a tapestry of polyrhythms woven by Deamer and drummer Phil Selway. With Deamer, Radiohead sounded fuller and busier and has a subtle tribal lilt that sneaks into even its older material. Last night's most obvious example of this was during Kid A staples "Idioteque" and "Everything in Its Right Place," both of which grooved harder than ever; and "15 Step" from In: Rainbows sounded denser and more visceral than on the recording. 
Christopher Victorio/OC Weekly
Visually, the focal point was an overhead array of two dozen jumbo rectangular LED screens that shifted arrangement throughout the set. During "Weird Fishes," it projected wavy patterns of shimmering aquamarine for an underwater effect; for "Staircase," the monitors were arranged diagonally, flashing in sequence to imply ascent and a sense of urgency.
But the show wasn't all frenetic energy. One early set highlight saw the band rein it in for haunting version of "Pyramid Song," showcasing Radiohead's trademark quiet intensity. Another quiet song, "Daily Meal," came next. Fans who took the opportunity to make a beer run were seen moments later hustling back toward the stage as the band exploded into the opening notes of the hard-charging "Myxomatosis."
Only a handful tunes from Radiohead's first three albums made it into the set list: "Lucky" from The Bends was a gem, the first of six songs in the encore. From OK Computer, "Paranoid Android" rained down to close the show. Earlier in the set, the festival audience sang along to "Karma Police" to which Thom Yorke quipped, was "just like an '80s rock film." And then, "The '80s were shite in case you missed it, which you probably did," acknowledging that the Pablo Honey record outdated a good chunk of the audience.
Andrew Youssef/OC Weekly
Surprises were never Thom Yorke's thing. They make him nervous. And standard classic-rock clichés, like inviting the audience to sing along or floating a giant inflatable pig over the stage, aren't really his style either. Nothing will ever be disappointing about a Radiohead concert. But then again, when you're the Saturday headliner at Coachella, it's best to have at least one extra trick up your sleeve.
Critic's bias: Radiohead has a permanent spot in my all-time top ten.
Overheard in the crowd: Give me some more OK Computer!
Random notebook dump: At "Give Up the Ghost": Too cold for acoustic ballads. C'mon, Thom.
Set list:
Bloom
15 Step
Weird Fishes
Morning Mr. Magpie
Staircase
The Gloaming
Pyramid Song
The Daily Mail
Myxomatosis
Karma Police
Identikit
Lotus Flower
There There
Bodysnatchers
Idioteque
Encore:
Lucky
Reckoner
After the Gold Rush (a capella)
Everything in Its Right Place
Give Up the Ghost
Paranoid Android
