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At first it’s slightly disconcerting, as a Radiohead fan, to see Thom Yorke flanked onstage by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea instead of guitarist Jonny Greenwood. But once the opening notes of Yorke’s “The Eraser” start, the disorientation immediately dissipates. Thom Yorke’s Atoms for Peace began their first proper tour of the U.S. last night with the first of two sold-out shows at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom, treating a packed venue of fans, including Michael Stipe, to a complete performance of Yorke’s 2006 solo album The Eraser, obscure and familiar Radiohead songs, and a few new tracks making their stateside debut.
Although Yorke was the sole author of the evening’s music, Atoms for Peace’s incredible backing band breathed new life into The Eraser. Beck drummer Joey Waronker and percussionist Mauro Refosco replicated and surpassed the album’s complex beats, and producer Nigel Godrich, who fans call the unofficial sixth member of Radiohead, seized the opportunity to show what he really brings to the table, alternately tackling guitar, keyboards and backing vocals. And then, of course, there’s Flea, with his hair dyed teal and a Minutemen T-shirt on, who provided the heartbeat and added a sizable dose of menace to bass-driven tracks like “Harrowdown Hill.”
Look back at Thom Yorke’s history with Radiohead in photos.
Flying Lotus, the tour’s opening act who tells RS he was recruited in a psychic dream, came dangerously close to blowing out the venue’s speakers during his 40-minute set, concluding with a manic take on Radiohead’s “Idioteque.” A half-hour later, Atoms for Peace took the stage, performing a set that didn’t deviate from those Yorke performed at his first Los Angeles shows in Oct...
Article Source: Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily