Atoms for Peace, 4/10/10

I didn't realize Atoms for Peace was playing in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom until a couple weeks after tickets went on sale. I checked for tickets, fully expecting the show to be sold out. Luckily for me, they weren't sold out, because Atoms put on one hell of a show last Saturday night.

Atoms for Peace, led by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and featuring Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, played Yorke's solo effort, The Eraser, in entirety before taking a short encore break. Yorke returned to the stage alone and played three songs solo, including "Everything in its Right Place" and an unreleased Radiohead song, "I Froze Up." I was a little disappointed to hear that, on Sunday, he played "Airbag" and "Like Spinning Plates" -- I really would have liked to hear those tunes as well, but I can't complain.

After the three solo songs, which were all fairly subdued, the remaining band members returned to the stage. And they started rocking. It was nice to hear songs off The Eraser, which I knew, but these unfamiliar songs to close the show were fantastic. They were high energy, and featured Flea and Yorke dancing like madmen.

I had anticipated it being a good show. I mean seeing Thom Yorke and Flea together would have to be a real treat right? Well it was -- but those two weren't the only reason. The rest of Atoms for Peace consists of Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich (who played keyboards and guitar) and percussionists Joey Waronker and Mauro Refosco. The rest of the band didn't take a backseat; they enhanced the performance quite a bit. Refosco played a couple interesting instruments, including something that looked like a giant fishing pole (Greg Kot from the Chicago Tribune confirmed it was a Brazilian bow) during "The Clock" and something that looked like an inverted metal Christmas tree. I have no idea what that thing was.

And, of course, similar to Radiohead shows, the light show was amazing. (JMOC took some videos of the show -- see below for examples.) I was kind of worried about this concert taking place at the Aragon. Most shows I've seen there have not been great. Whether it's a sound issue, or having to wait an hour to get inside the building, I haven't had the best experiences at the Aragon. But last Saturday, the sound was pretty good, and entering the building was a breeze.

Overall, a great show. No complaints from this Claptrapper.

Setlist:

1. The Eraser
2. Analyse
3. The Clock
4. Black Swan
5. Skip Divided
6. Atoms for Peace
7. And it Rained All Night
8. Harrowdown Hill
9. Cymbal Rush

Encore
10. A Walk Down the Staircase (Yorke solo)
11. I Froze Up (Yorke solo)
12. Everything in its Right Place (Yorke solo)
13. Paperbag Writer
14. Judge. Jury. Executioner.
15. Hollow Earth
16. Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses