Not only was this the first Radiohead live show of 2003, but it is the first time they’ve played in Dublin city since a thrilling but very wet Midsummer’s night in 1997.

Unsurprisingly, the scramble for tickets for this ‘fan club show was like Celtic versus Porto and the All-Ireland final rolled into one. Fans had travelled from as far afield as the US and Japan for this über-special gig, with a crowd gathering outside the Dame Street theatre a full 12 hours before the doors opened. South London electronica genius Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet goes on at 7.30pm sharp to open an evening of astounding music. His set is essayed around his wonderful new album Rounds, and we're getting even more excited.

At approximately 8.55pm the lights go down and the Olympia wets itself, letting forth an orgasmic scream. Enter Thom, Ed, Colin, Jonny and Phil and it’s happy bedlam a-go-go. The Oxford lads look very fresh and healthy and it’s smiles all round, especially from Colin Greenwood who spends most of evening bounding around the stage and looking ecstatic.

Hot Press Single of the Fortnight ‘There, There’ leads the charge, featuring three out of five of the ’Head on percussion. Ed O’Brien and Jonny Greenwood pound a pair of snare drums, adding to the track’s groove and Phil Selway’s perfect punctuation of the song. Halfway through, Jonny puts down the sticks and does what he does best – dazzling us with a six-string.

‘2+2=5’ , the opening track on Hail To The Thief follows, the song exploding into a soaring noisy classic towards the end with brilliant Lydonesque snarling from Thom. Possibly their most Sex Pistols moment yet. Three songs in we get a double whammy from OK Computer; ‘Airbag’ and ‘Lucky’. While the performance is amazing, a few sound gremlins creep in. Jonny’s guitar packs in on ‘Airbag’, and overall the sound quality is not as good as this band or venue can achieve.

Of all the new material, the highlight is ‘Myxomatosis’ which precedes the performance of ‘Just’. It’s a stunning blend of old and new Radiohead, one which will simultaneously delight the electro-fried Kid A devotees and the older, more sonically conservative fanbase. Amidst a bumper dose of six encores we get ‘Pyramid Song’, ‘Paranoid Android’, ‘Karma Police’ and a very moving ‘How to Disappear Completely’. The line “I float down the Liffey” is greeted like Robbie Keane scoring against Germany.

In short, another classic Radiohead gig if not quite them at their very best, given that it was a first nighter, perhaps. If you scored tickets, I’m sure you are still reeling. If not, snap up ones for the Point before it’s too late as they’re bound to be on fire by then. All hail to the kings!

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Radiohead Setlist, Olympia, Saturday May 17, 2003

1. "There There"
2. "2+2=5"
3. "Where I End And You Begin"
4. "Airbag" "Lucky" "Go To Sleep"
5. "I Might Be Wrong"
6. "Backdrifts"
7. "Sail To The Moon"
8. "Mxyomatosis"
9. "Just"
10. "Sit Down, Stand Up"
11. "You And Whose Army"
12. "The National Anthem"
13. "Idioteque"
14. "Everything In Its Right Place"
Encore One
15. "The Gloaming"
16. "A Punchup At The Wedding"
17. "Pyramid Song"
18. "Paranoid Android"
Encore Two
19. "Karma Police"
20. "How To Disappear Completely"

Special thanks to Micker for the setlist.
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