The autumnal chill doesn't soften what looks like a burnt out discotheque and my friend and I nearly walk past the Astoria
thinking it's a ticket agent (or smth). Richard Foster tells us it's a good venue. As it's only nearing noon we make our way to
various pubs in Covent Garden and Leicester Square returning at around five in the evening, by this time the band don't appear
to be arriving at the venue early enough to soundcheck, so we give up on looking out for the band, and wait the couple of hours
before the doors open.

First thing I see on my right-hand side is this sign on the wall:

DOWN IN THE MUD
WITH ALL THE
PRIMITIVE FUCKS

Once at the barrier-front of the theatre I sleep. They play this bizarre techno while we wait; echoey wooden stuff which makes
me think of squares, bricks being laid on one another and xylophones. I can only place it as being similar to music on the
Coming Up From The Streets compilation. Who chose this?

It's nearly quarter to nine. Fitter Happier plays over the PA and the 30 seconds seem endless. Ed, Jonny (in white long-sleeved
top and pale blue jeans, Thom (sporting a dark mauve shirt and khaki baggy combats) Phil and Colin (mustard top, dark jeans)
come out. Thom smiles broadly to the cheers, and they open with a splendid Airbag. People sway for Karma Police. The
earlier pace then continues with My Iron Lung, and Thom walks right up in front of us the part of the audience our side and is
nodding and smiling and looking and smiling.

As Dan has mentioned, before Lurgee Thom mentions that after the Doncaster gig last night he had suffered from food
poisoning and had been puking all night and Wednesday which added new meaning to that slower tempo part of Paranoid
Android. Despite this, however, oftentimes Thom steps forwards on the edge of the stage and is just grinning happily, my
neighbour comments that he's chirpy - though the last time she saw the band was at the fairly tense and technically perturbed
Glastonbury. That said, Thom was in a good mood, responding to the crowd, sharing small exchanges about song requests
which I couldn't really make out except this one: "Phillipa Chicken! Phillipa Chicken!".

Lurgee is the song that makes "you feel better" (--Thom). Colin drinks Purdeys when he's not playing bass. You see a girl on
the left side of the front row waving a dessert spoon to the music.

?

The band are horseshoe-shaped for the serene Subterranean Homesick Alien; Thom sits behind a keyboard for this one, Jonny
is sometimes walking over to talk to Ed. More to do with the (crushed) live situation at the time I think, but it had a healing
numbing effect. Before another song, there are shouts for Lift to which Thom replies "One day..." and sighs, smiling downward.
Thom strums the opening chords to Nobody Does It Better before they launch into Just. And somewhere else (I can't
remember where) a girl lets out exasperating screams for Jonny, who doesn't appear to hear. So Thom, who *did* hear, says
to his friend "Look" and nods in the girl's general direction. Jonny unhunches and looks up blankly.

Dan Smith wrote:

> Maquiladora was excellent too.

I must agree with Dan on Maquiladora, though I am biased on this one. There was not a lot of crowdsurfing - more to do with
the people, or the sign outside asking people not to? Exit Music is their last song of their main set, Thom rocks slowly from side
to side, a blue light is on him alone, eventually pouring over the other members of the band as their part comes in. Jonny
comforts the unwell lead singer, and the band leave the stage.

Lots of "We want more!" shouting and thumping on the floor, as people eagerly await an encore. A few minutes later, Thom
comes back to the centre of the stage, a blue light shining on him from my left he positions himself on a stool, he remain seated
for the rest of their only encore "I might need a bucket" he laughs "bleurgh..".

To cries from a chap near the front for Creep, Thom shrugs: "As if..". Then, before the next song, the girl who was holding that
spoon throughout the set throws it to Thom's feet. She shouts: "This is for you Thom! Keep it FOREVER!" Thom gives her
confused thanks.

Despite Thom's health, the next performance shows a calm and absolute top form. Motion Picture Soundtrack is breathtaking,
and, aided by the hush, his voice touches every corner of the theatre.

"I will see you in next life"

The last two words hanging, or floating, or doing something magic, in the air.

Thom misses a line or two during their last Fake Plastic Trees because he's laughing with someone in the middle-front. Ed is last
to wave. Everyone would love them to come back, but it's unrequited.

---

Full setlist:

My setlist (from acronym - eek) goes this way:

Airbag
Karma Police
My Iron Lung
Banana Co.
Paranoid Android
Maquiladora
Talk Show Host
Subterrranean Homesick Alien [Uptight]
No Surprises
Just
Lurgee
The Bends
Exit Music [For A Film]

Encore:

Motion Picture Soundtrack (lyrics have been changed ever so slightly)
Nobody Does It Better
A Reminder
Fake Plastic Trees