Text originally published on Mad Sound
The second edition of the Soundhearts Festival took place at Allianz Parque, where Flying Lotus, Junun, and Aldo, the Band also performed.
The final Brazilian edition of the Soundhearts Festival took place last Sunday, the 22nd. After passing through Rio de Janeiro on the 20th, headliner Radiohead Junun project (by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood ) and producer Flying Lotus came to Allianz Parque. In São Paulo, the event's line-up gained a national addition, Aldo, the Band .
The São Paulo-based band, originally formed by brothers Murilo and André Faria, took to the stage with few people in the stadium, and the sun still obscuring the artificial lighting. With the lineup completed by Érico Theobaldo and Isidoro “Snake” Cobra, the group strived to show that the Brazilian independent scene has enough weight to share the stage with representatives of living musical history, Flying Lotus and Radiohead.
Junun came next, impressing with the instrumental complexity of the project. Israeli composer Shyen Ben Tzur and members of Rhajastan Express focus on Indian music, exploring rhythms, lyrics, poetry, and folklore from Rajasthan, a region in northern India. The unusual performance was well-received, even prompting a request for an encore at the end.
The intense heat was interrupted by the screen separating Flying Lotus from the audience. The American DJ's performance reinforced Soundhearts' "festival" concept, which, beyond its name, offered musical diversity. The audience, largely expecting Thom Yorke and company, was presented with a Brazilian band, an Indian-focused project, and a high-quality electronic set.
A few minutes after 8 pm, Radiohead took to the stage at Allianz Parque. With an unusual delay for British bands, they began their set with a sequence of tracks from their latest studio album, A Moon Shaped Pool (2016). “Daydreaming” and “Ful Stop” kicked off what was expected — as the band hadn't played in the country for almost 10 years.
Thom Yorke, Ed O'Brien, Jonny Greenwood, Phil Selway, and Colin Greenwood took a journey through his entire discography, revisiting great songs from OK Computer (1997), In Rainbows (2007), and Hail To The Thief (2003). During "15 Step" and "Myxomatosis," Yorke showcased some eccentric (and famous) dance moves, becoming increasingly uninhibited on stage. Even when he sat down to create a calmer atmosphere, the singer continued to move, always appearing at ease.
Between sing-alongs during “All I Need” and “Pyramid Song,” groups of friends could be seen hugging and celebrating Radiohead's genius and energy on stage. “Let Down,” “My Iron Lung,” and “No Surprises” sent shivers down the spine and filled the stadium.
Thom Yorke barely spoke to the audience, limiting himself to a few thank-yous – sometimes in Portuguese. Even so, he showed warmth through his gestures and movements. As for the rest of the band, they were happy to deliver a beautiful show – both musically and visually, with screens displaying live images of the members combined with graphic elements.
With a carefully curated setlist, Radiohead left no doubt about their power when they kicked off the first encore. With a string of “Exit Music (For a Film)”, “Nude”, “Identikit”, and “There There” – a song rarely played on the current tour – it seemed the energy in the venue couldn't get any better.
For the second encore, the band left fans speechless by playing "Present Tense" and finishing with the emotional and classic "Fake Plastic Trees." The most dedicated fans expected to end the night with "Karma Police," as they did at the Rio de Janeiro show, but the ballad took them on a sensory journey that was cut short by the surprise ending.
Radiohead delivered a solid show based on a captivating career, meaning the band didn't have to resort to a repertoire of hits, covers, or showboating to fill the Allianz Parque stadium.
Radiohead's setlist in São Paulo (April 22nd at Allianz Parque)
- Daydreaming
- Full Stop
- 15 Step
- Myxomatosis
- You and Whose Army?
- All I Need
- Pyramid Song
- Everything in Its Right Place
- Let Down
- Bloom
- The Numbers
- My Iron Lung
- The Gloaming
- No Surprises
- Weird Fishes/Arpeggia
- 2 + 2 = 5
- Idioteque
BIS 1: - Exit Music (for a Film)
- Nude
- Identikit
- There There
- Lotus Flower
- Bodysnatchers
BIS 2: - Present Tense
- Paranoid Android
- Fake Plastic Trees
Photo by: Rogério Grassa