The sold-out show was nothing less than perfection as Radiohead rocked the audience at the Toyota Center Saturday.
With the masses of people filling the seats and floor, there was much anticipation to see the band who visited the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in 2008.
Because we know Radiohead to be a less traditional rock band that plays in alternative venues that are not as mainstream, it was a shocking revelation to see them play in an actual arena.
This made fans a bit hesitant and anxious to see what Radiohead would offer.
The beats and drum machines kicked in as the lights dimmed and the band emerged from the darkness of the side stage.
Liquid crystal display screens came down from the ceiling and held live feeds showing the band from different angles as they began to play “Bloom.”
The panels would change positions and height as the night went on, and later reflected down on the band, which created a surreal background on the musicians while they played the tranquil song “Codex.”
The Toyota Center was highlighted with electric blue that shined on everybody as opposed to the building’s typical Houston Rockets’ red.
Clive Deamer was on stage as the heavy bass and drumbeat comprised nearly the entire show.
As the lights dimmed, the audience danced along with lead singer Thom Yorke during “The Gloaming” and “Lotus Flower” and impersonated his performance seen in the viral music video of the latter song.
The majority actually danced to the song, which was followed by another pulsating track, “There There.”
Though there were not many songs performed from “The Bends” or “OK Computer,” the tracks that they did play were not so heavily influenced by the synthesizer and held the power that they normally would have.
During “Myxomatosis” everyone screamed the chorus back at each other to the extent that made the band become more enthralled in the track.
The last track played by the band was the famous “Paranoid Android,” which was extended in length due to the extended use of the loops the band had used on previous songs.
The band’s energy surged to the screaming audience as they moved to the pulsating rhythm of the anthem from “OK Computer.”
Fans ignited with excitement during this segment of the show and it was a thrilling sight to witness.
Much of the crowd felt disappointed due to the lack of mainstream tracks, but the majority of the true fans enjoyed the show and the spectacle that this UK band conjured.