Radiohead offers old and new at first concert in four years

Lead singer Tom Yorke of the British band Radiohead performs on stage during a concert at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam, on May 20, 2016. AFP PHOTO

AMSTERDAM—British alternative rockers Radiohead on Friday night served up songs from their new album mixed with old classics in their much anticipated first live performance since 2012.

The Oxford-based group opened the tour to promote their ninth album, “A Moon Shaped Pool” at Amsterdam’s Heineken Music Hall.

Thom Yorke and the band kicked off the two-hour concert with a hard-rock rendition of the first track, “Burn the Witch” from the new record.

The song set the tone for the evening, which also saw the band perform rock tunes including the powerful and growling “There, There,” from the 2003 album “Hail to the Thief” and “Bodysnatchers” from the 2007 album “In Rainbows”.

Throughout the evening attended by some 5,500 people, Radiohead was backed by a visual display featuring six giant screens showing close-up camera shots of each member.

Usually introspective and abstract, Yorke was in a playful mood and even cracked a joke or two with the audience, thanking them at one stage with a Dutch “Dank u wel,” (Thank you very much).

Surprises

For diehard fans some of the most pleasant surprises of the evening were Radiohead’s live performance of “My Iron Lung” for the first time in seven years and anthem “Paranoid Android” from their seminal 1997 album “OK Computer”.

And the fans had high praise afterwards.

“I go to a lot of concerts and this is my fourth Radiohead concert,” Jeffrey Leeuwenhaag, 40, told Agence France-Presse.

“For me it’s certainly one of the best ever. The band has achieved greatness,” he said.

Radiohead have one more performance at the Heineken Music Hall on Saturday night, before travelling to Paris for their next gig on Monday night at the Zenith.

In total 28 concerts are scheduled including at other European venues, Japan, Mexico and the United States.

Radiohead was formed three decades ago and has become known for its maudlin rock tunes which featuring Yorke’s trademark falsetto and various music styles including rock, electronic music, jazz and 20th century classical music.

The group has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.