Radiohead kicked off their highly anticipated European tour last night, playing a career-spanning setlist that drew from almost all nine of their studio albums. The band, who had gone seven years without performing together, played to a sold-out crowd at Madrid's Movistar Arena, and the energy was palpable.
The concert kicked off with Let Down from 1997's OK Computer, and quickly established that it wouldn't be a greatest hits set. While they did play some of their most well-known songs, such as Paranoid Android and Karma Police, the setlist was heavily weighted towards their more experimental work. This included tracks from 2003's Hail to the Thief, as well as several album tracks.
The band's decision not to tour for so long has injected a sense of urgency into their performances, with fans eager to see them live again after years of anticipation. The tour is a testament to Radiohead's enduring popularity and influence, even as they continue to push the boundaries of their sound.
For some fans, however, the band's lack of engagement on issues like Palestine has been a point of contention. In 2022, Jonny Greenwood sparked controversy with his decision not to perform in Israel, and last year he faced criticism for walking off stage during a solo gig after a pro-Palestinian heckler shouted a provocative question.
Despite this, many fans remain committed to the band's music, which has been a staple of alternative rock for decades. The tour is set to continue across Europe, with stops in Bologna, London, Copenhagen, and Berlin before concluding on December 12th.
The concert kicked off with Let Down from 1997's OK Computer, and quickly established that it wouldn't be a greatest hits set. While they did play some of their most well-known songs, such as Paranoid Android and Karma Police, the setlist was heavily weighted towards their more experimental work. This included tracks from 2003's Hail to the Thief, as well as several album tracks.
The band's decision not to tour for so long has injected a sense of urgency into their performances, with fans eager to see them live again after years of anticipation. The tour is a testament to Radiohead's enduring popularity and influence, even as they continue to push the boundaries of their sound.
For some fans, however, the band's lack of engagement on issues like Palestine has been a point of contention. In 2022, Jonny Greenwood sparked controversy with his decision not to perform in Israel, and last year he faced criticism for walking off stage during a solo gig after a pro-Palestinian heckler shouted a provocative question.
Despite this, many fans remain committed to the band's music, which has been a staple of alternative rock for decades. The tour is set to continue across Europe, with stops in Bologna, London, Copenhagen, and Berlin before concluding on December 12th.
I've always loved Radiohead's music, but it's been ages since they've played live. They seem to have really found their groove again, playing all the old faves like Paranoid Android and Karma Police, but also some of that super experimental stuff from their newer albums.
I'm glad Radiohead finally decided to come back on tour 
, but man they really went all out with this experimental setlist... like okay guys we get it you're trying to shake things up but can't we just have a little bit of those old favorites too? 
still super stoked to see them live again tho! 
the energy at their last show was electric 
️ and I'm loving how they're keeping it urgent with these long gap tours. it's like they're trying to make up for lost time 
can't wait to see how they finish out this leg of the tour in Berlin 
. can't wait to see them live in bologna 
!
radiohead is still giving us life after all these years. their setlist was so well curated, it had a perfect mix of old and new. i loved how they included some lesser-known tracks too 
can't wait for the rest of the tour, berlin is gonna be lit 
anyone else feel like they're losing the connection with their fans over this whole politics thing? anyway, been waiting 7 yrs for new radhead content and im not mad about it 
lets just see how long they can keep up the energy without burnout 
. After seven years of hiatus, it's amazing to see them dive headfirst into their discography, effortlessly navigating from OK Computer to Hail to the Thief and beyond 
. The crowd was electric, and that palpable energy speaks volumes about the band's enduring connection with their audience 
. Bring on the next leg of the tour – I'm already counting down the days until Berlin! 
. i'm loving the fact that they're playing some of their lesser known tracks too, it shows they're still experimental and pushing boundaries, which is what made them so influential in the first place 
.
and i'm still buzzing from it! drove thru the mountains, stopped at this crazy scenic spot and watched the sunset with my squad... it was like the whole world came alive 
then i realized we were out of snacks and had to improvise a picnic with what we had in the car 
anyway, back to radiohead - have you seen that video of thom yorke's voice cracking on some of their old songs? 
Jonny Greenwood's guitar playing is insane 
. all in all, radiohead still got it 
and yeah, the crowd was SO into it, i watched the vids online and ppl were going WILD 
it's been 7 yrs since they last toured and it's clear how much they've missed performing live so let's all just vibe out to the tunes 
? idk, maybe i'm just reading too much into it... but seriously, Jonny Greenwood's solo gig was SO awkward 
, but hey, at least he stuck to his guns on Palestine 
. either way, can't wait for this tour to come to my city!!!
the only thing i'm kinda curious about is what else they'll have up their sleeve for the rest of the tour!