I finally saw Radiohead play live on Saturday night. A full eleven years since I gave up my tickets (yes, in 1997-the OK Computer era) to take part in a mission as part of my church ministry training).
I enjoyed myself but Rachel and I were left to discuss the merits of their approach to playing live. No simple matter of just playing the greatest hits for this band. You get all the new stuff, a few older classics but certainly none of the greatest hits. My personal favourite, Paranoid Android, got an airing on the Friday gig but not at the show I attended.
Now, you could say that the paying crowd should get what they have come for, and bands like U2 and Rolling Stones certainly make sure they play the hits that the people coming to the show know and love them for.
But I can't shake the feeling that Radiohead's approach to not being what the crowd expect can give me an insight into what happened when Jesus' preaching caused a whole bunch of people to get up and walk home. Was it when they didn't hear what they expected to hear from a rabbi's teaching that they walked?
And I was reminded that it not always the right move to court the popular path. Sometimes what you think is right will get you into conflict, especially if you you present something different to what is expected.
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