In Rainbows, in full

Radiohead play the entire album for just 200 fans, and 6 Music was there

16 Jan 08 - From the moment that Radiohead's Dead Air Space website announced that the band would be playing an in store gig, today (Wednesday), in East London, it was clear that this was going to be a very special day.

Click here to see Lucy's video report of the gig

Click here to see the Radiohead gig gallery

Radiohead take over for Radio 1's Zane Lowe

Radiohead's management told 6 Music that the band haven't played an in-store since Paris at the time of The Bends in 1995, and that they certainly haven't done a gig as intimate as this since some small shows in the States around OK Computer.

This is the biggest band in the world, and after seven studio albums and 15 years in the business they still managed to be 2007's most important and ground-breaking act, and scored the UK's first Number One album of 2008.

And Rough Trade East, where they were playing, holds just 200 people.

Certain that hundreds of Radiohead devotees would be descending on East London within minutes of the announcement, I jumped in a cab and cursed for 40 minutes of non-stop traffic. But even though it took me til noon to get there, a quick headcount of the queue showed that only about 50 people were already waiting.

The numbers soon built up though, as word of the gig spread.

One fan told me he'd just been Googling Radiohead randomly during a bored moment at work, saw details of the gig and just stood from his desk and walked out of the office; another that he'd got a call about the gig on the way to University, and had done a 180 to get back to East London to queue.

There will be a lot of strange excuses to bosses around London in the morning.

But this was a very Radiohead queue. Numbers were counted and recounted as people speculated nervously about whether they'd make it in. There was no queue jumping, pushing or rowdiness; people co-ordinated toilet and coffee breaks with their new queueing friends and sent late arriving buddies to the back - just to be fair.

Six hours later, with very cold feet, and around 500 people now queueing hopefully - the confusion started.

The band had told fans on their website that they would try to erect screens outside the venue so those that didn't get in could watch from outside. Some screens had been put up in the window of Rough Trade, with a few more stacked down the road.

"Today has been a very strange day - might just have to have a drink at the end of it"
Thom Yorke

At 6pm though the security started handing out red, numbered, Radiohead wrist bands, and we were told 200 people would get in and the rest would have to go home. A technical difficulty meant the screens couldn't be used.

It was the moment of truth, and, thank goodness, I made it. According to the little number on my wristband, I am officially the 56th most dedicated Radiohead fan in London!

It still wasn't going to be simple though, rumours had started running down the queue that the venue was changing, and we were soon told the gig was now going to be held at 93 Feet East - just down the road.

The neat queuing went out of the window as people dashed to the new venue, including fans without wristbands who hoped the bigger venue would mean more people allowed in.

By 9:30pm we'd been shoo-ed away from the venue, queued again, let inside, herded out to the courtyard, queued again, whooped hysterically at the sight of each member of Radiohead, and Nigel Godrich, as they walked past the door, and finally been let in.

The gig was starting.

Over the last 10 hours there had been plenty of time to speculate endlessly about what, and crucially, how much, Radiohead would play. Considering that it was initially meant to be an in-store, and the average in-store is only around 4 or 5 songs, people were bracing themselves for a short, sweet gig.

Radiohead, however, had different ideas. They opened with the jazzy album opener 15 Steps, followed that with the riff-laden Bodysnatchers, and by the time they reached the delicate Nude it was clear the band were going to play In Rainbows in full and in order.

The atmosphere in the venue was overwhelmingly one of privilege and gratitude of the 200 people there knew they were watching the gig of a lifetime, with one girl repeatedly shouting "thank you!" in every quiet moment.

Every word was sung back at the band, who looked relaxed and jubilant on stage, despite the hectic day.

As Thom Yorke told the crowd: "Today has been a very strange day - might just have to have a drink at the end of it. A bad day to cut down."

It was hard to believe that some of these perfectly performed songs were getting their live debut - and Thom referred to the bands famous perfectionism as they prepared for set closer Videotape, saying "now you can see why it took so long in the studio."

It wasn't all about In Rainbows though, for the encore Thom Yorke appeared solo and acoustic for the track Upon A Ladder, which features on the In Rainbows disc box, with the rest coming back on stage for You And Whose Army?, National Anthem, My Iron Lung and The Bends.

As the band goaded the crowd comically during You And Whose Army? and belted out the final two tracks, they truly looked like they were celebrating their fabulous year.

And standing singing the words "Where do we go from here?," I was inevitably remided of my first ever gig, watching Radiohead at the Wolverhampton Civic in 1995, and asking the same question. I never thought it would be the gig of a lifetime, with the band better than ever at 93 Feet East.

Set List:

15 Step
Bodysnatchers
Nude
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
All I Need
Faust Arp
Reckoner
House Of Cards
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Videotape
Up On The Ladder
You And Whose Army?
The National Anthem
My Iron Lung
The Bends

Lucy O'Doherty