Nothing in particular stands out about the renovated theatre on the corner of a Brixton street. A handle falls off of the door
while we wait, and people heave around the entrance, tickets were being sold for up to 140pounds? The security open the
impatient doors at just after seven. Once inside the theatre has an interior akin to that of the Manchester Apollo, but nicer; a
wide sloping floor, a bar at the top at the back which the balcony hovers above. The high ceiling has plush cream edges and
handsome decor.

Waiting for the support band, the music is more woody techno stuff. There are some orange and pink balloons which the
security pop. At quarter to eight the five members of Laika come onstage; the lead singer stands on my far right. Where are
they from? I forget.. I'm afraid I can't really describe the music (er, undulating-ambient-bongo-drum-rock?) and moreover her
voice was inaudible except for a deep murmur. My friend thinks the bearded bass player is very cool. The audience is generally
receptive bar a group of blokes a couple of people back from me who were shouting "Bollocks! We came here for Radiohead
not YOU!" a number of times inbetween songs. Their singing of Just as Laika began their penultimate song was grating, and no
support band deserves flack of the kind here tonight IMHO.

Anyway, whatever you thought of the music, after three quarters of an hour later, the band finish their set. While the equipment
is set up, a dozen or so photographers begin to swarm around the edge of the stage. There is black, and we hear that familiar
electronic "voice" over the PA. The band come out: Jonny wearing a long-sleeved black top and lovely denim bellbottoms, Phil
a light blue tshirt and dark trousers, and Colin clad in black. I'm one person from the centre of the barrier, by some bizarre
fluke, and Thom comes on in front of us, greets the crowd and they open with Airbag. Jonny sits behind the keyboard for
Karma Police.

Now they play My Iron Lung. I've never seen it performed as well as it is tonight; Thom comes right up to the front and walks
along the length of it his face contorting while doing this finger stabbing at the audience. He kicks and tumbles back from his
spot, and sways to and from the mike. The flashes from the photographers coupled with the heat of the red lights shine on his
sweating face. It comes to a sharp ending and Thom just stands there, huge intakes of breath. Evidently performed with
supreme confidence. Massive cheers all around.

Next, a perfunctory (sarcastic) thanks to the departing photographers from Thom flicking the Vs in their general direction. In
the quieter parts of Exit Music, before the whole band join in, there are cheers of encouragement throughout Thom's solo. After
the song ends and there are loud shouts for Let Down. From a guy a couple of rows back from where we are.

Lurgee is introduced: "This is a song from our first album" says Thom "...the one with the bad cover" he chuckles. (I love that
cover! Ah-em). The Bends is really fierce tonight, what with the use of that blood red lighting again. Talk Show Host has this
marvellous extended ending I haven't yet heard, and as the song draws to an end you see Thom standing at the front
headswaying over and over with the pounding beat. Rolling and swaying. Swift brushes of the guitar. Until he motions to the
drummer to close it with a turn and a krunkchord of his guitar.

Next up is Paranoid Android; as ever a superb one live, and exciting what with all the movement changes. After this, all goes
quiet; Thom timidly folds his arms, sort of shyly bites his lip, nods, smiles and Creep starts. The blackened silhouette strides
forward and everyone sings the last lines with him. They move onto Planet Telex; the strobe lights shoot from every corner of
the stage like sheet lightening. The white glare from the stage unbearable, but in an odd pleasant way. After which, there's more
(annoying) calls for Let Down. The lights disappear, and their next song is Climbing Up The Walls the stage is now dark
broody acid green haze. Colin played the keyboard for one of the songs but I can't remember which, anyone?

I can't really see any other members of the band except for Thom, and his contortions, during Bones, for which he is standing
on the very edge of the platform. There is surfing for Just, and the band end on Thom's favourite (has this been played at every
show?) Fake Plastic Trees. We don't wait long until we see them again.

Lanky Ed waves back on for the encore. And they begin with Lucky. After a delicate (thinking of Jonny here) No Surprises,
there is more of that call for Let Down. "LET DOWWWWN! LET DOWWWWN!". But before anything gets askew, Thom,
looking genuinely fed up at this, sighs "shaaddaaap". The crowd immediately in front of him cheer.

We listen to Banana Co. and they finish with the natural close that is Street Spirit, which is dedicated to the support band.