The Smile, the phenomenal and boundary-pushing new band formed by Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, along with Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, played a sold-out show at Forest Hills Stadium on July 7, 2023. The show was a triumph, with the band delivering a set of their new material that was both challenging and beautiful.

The setlist was a mix of songs from The Smile’s debut album, “A Light for Attracting Attention,” as well as some new and unreleased tracks, teasing an imminent release of their sophomore record, as of yet unannounced.
The band opened with the title track from the album, sparse and winding before becoming glitchy, wild, and eager to capture your attention- just as the title suggests. From the moment Yorke, Greenwood, and Skinner took the stage, the tone was set for the rest of the show. 

The music was dark and atmospheric, with Yorke’s vocals providing a haunting counterpoint to Greenwood’s guitar work. The light-show featured fracturing lasers and warping colors illuminating the musicians from behind.

The band played a number of other standout tracks from the album, including “You Will Never Work in Television Again,” “The Same,” and “Pana-vision.” These songs all featured Yorke’s trademark falsetto vocals and Greenwood’s intricate guitar work, Jonny often seen toiling away with pedal effects or playing his electric guitar with a bow like a squealing chello.

The Smile, July 7th 2023, Forrest Hills Stadium
SETLIST

1. Pana-Vision(with Robert Stillman)
2. Thin Thing
3. The Opposite
4. Speech Bubbles
5. A Hairdryer(improvised intro)
6. Waving a White Flag
7. Under Our Pillows
8. We Don’t Know What Tomorrow Brings
9. Colours Fly(with Robert Stillman)
10. Teleharmonic(with Robert Stillman)
11. Skrting on the Surface
12. The Same
13. Read the Room
14. The Smoke(with Robert Stillman)
15. You Will Never Work in Television Again(with Robert Stillman)
    Encore:
16. Free in the Knowledge
17. People on Balconies(with Robert Stillman)
18. Bending Hectic
19. Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses(Thom Yorke song)

The Smile’s performance at Forest Hills Stadium was a truly special event. The band delivered a set of music that was both delicate and powerful, and the band’s chemistry is so strong, it’s clear they that they have a lot of fun playing together. This is a band to watch, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.

Here are some additional thoughts on the concert:

• The band’s sound was full and rich, with Greenwood’s guitar work providing a powerful backbone.
• Yorke’s vocals were as haunting and beautiful as ever.
• The band’s energy was infectious, and the crowd was clearly engaged.

Overall, the concert was a triumph. The Smile is a band with a lot of potential, and I’m excited to see what they do next.