As he did this last year for the Radiohead European tour, Vincent Cornelli went to both Atoms for Peace show in NYC and took some great photos for us. – Jonathan
I was really amped for the two Atoms for Peace shows. But I was a lover of The Eraser. Some of my buddies, people I would travel a bit with to see Radiohead on tour, were not as excited for the side project…but, then again, others seemed to really enjoy it. I was one of them.
So I checked out both shows in NYC at Roseland Ballroom on April 5 and 6 – one night with cam in hand, and both nights with the right attitude. Obviously, attitude is a big part of every facet of life…but, given my expectations – they delivered.
Unfortunately, Tuesday, April 6th, the night I photographed, there was a huge buzzkill going into the evening. A manhole, and in turn, all of the neighboring manholes, decided to explode in front of the entrance of Roseland Ballroom. As a result, the show was delayed for a time period enough to throw off a perfectly timed stone. I mean, I could imagine how it would. Due to the ~20 fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, fans waited for about an hour and a half (at least) in a line wrapped around a few city blocks.
Flea? Dude just enjoys what he does. He was as into it as you could get. His energy and style fit quite well amongst the four other superstars. I think most of us would agree that we already admired everyone in their own realm before Atoms for Peace formed. So, there’s really little question as to the potential of something special, and unique about their formation.
For the Radiohead fans out there, do yourself a favor if you’re going to see Atoms for Peace on their current tour, or in the future – don’t expect Radiohead. Don’t expect anything other than Thom Yorke, Flea, Nigel Godrich, Mauro Refosco, and Joey Waronker. They really put on a show.
I mean how can you not enjoy each of these musicians share a stage?
I’ve had the opportunity to see each artist perform (with the exception of Nigel, of course), and in their own right. I used to hit the NYC’s intimate NUBLU Records/Bar to see Mauro with Forro in the Dark. I saw Mauro with Forro in the Dark as recently as this December at Webster Hall with Gogol Bordello. In all three settings – small, large, and mixed amongst a different crew, his style ain’t to be fucked with. And musically, like all of the other artists, you hear their individual style mixed succinctly.
Photos after the jump.