The streets outside the Chicago Auditorium Theatre were paved with giddy enthusiasm as concert goers waited, most patiently, for a chance to see Radiohead on one of the most sought after tickets in the nation right now. While I didn’t see it personally, I talked to numerous individuals that reported seeing a guy in search of a ticket with $4,000 cash to offer for a chance to get inside the theatre. Had I run into the aforementioned gentleman what follows would probably involve myself, my ipod, and the best steak Chicago has to offer, but because we didn’t cross paths I had to settle for seeing a concert that was the best of my recent memory, and may possibly be the show that makes all future concerts seem a little underwhelming.

The Black Keys started things off last night, and while I’m a huge fan of the band, or so I thought, I was only familiar with two of their songs. That leads me to believe that the majority of their extreemly short 35 minute set was derived mostly from their recent effort, Chulahoma: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough, which I have yet to check out, but was recently reviewed by Pitchfork who gave it a 7.0. Right before Radiohead took the stage there was a computer generated voice that guided the band to the stage complete with off the wall references and tales from the bizarre. By the time Thom Yorke was seated for the opening notes of “You and Whose Army?” the Chicago crowd was on their feet cheering so loud rendering the first couple of lyrics mostly inaudible. Above the stage there were ten obtuse looking movie screens that individually displayed a number of different views of the band, though mostly Yorke, which added significantly to the concert experience.

The performance provided a perfect equilibrium of new songs and fan favorites. I found myself enjoying both of them. The band seemed quite comfortable with the new material, as they should after road testing them on many dates thus far. The second encore of “House of Cards,” which is the most un-Radiohead song they have done to date, proved to be almost a ballad and bring the crowd to a quiet hum before ultimately tearing the roof off of the venue with the frantic final performance of “Everything It It’s Right Place.”

I didn’t leave disappointed. There were tons of other songs I would have loved to have been on the setlist, but as the house lights came up, I didn’t feel the least bit let down, instead I felt appreciative. It’s shows like this that reinforce all the time you spend traveling to concerts, the money you spend at the show, and ultimately, the reason music is the one of the most amazing things that life has to offer. There’s a lot to be said about a band that leaves you silent with the windows down on the ride home as you sit with your thoughts about how you will probably remember the preceding evening’s hours for the rest of your life.

01 You and Whose Army?
02 The National Anthem
03 15 Step
04 Morning Bell
05 Exit Music (For A Film)
06 Open Pick
07 Videotape
08 Knives Out
09 The Gloaming
10 Nude
11 Down Is The New Up
12 Paranoid Android
13 Bangers ‘N Mash
14 Like Spinning Plates
15 Spooks
16 Idioteque
17 There There

Encore 1
18 A Wolf At The Door
19 4 Minute Warning
20 Bones
21 Lucky

Encore 2
22 House of Cards
23 Everything In Its Right Place ["Forever" scrolls across geometric shaped screens]