The Smile Close out 2022 with first LA show

The Smile performing at The Shrine Auditorium, LA by Jacob Alvarez

NIGHT ONE OF TWO SOLD OUT DATES IN A NON-SNOWY Los Angeles DAYS BEFORE XMAS

The night was crisp, with hundreds of fans scanning their tickets into the historic Shrine Auditorium near USC campus. Some wore Radiohead shirts, others Atoms for Peace; all were here to kick off their holiday weekend with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood’s new endeavor, The Smile. “We were born during the pandemic, how was your pandemic?” asked Yorke sarcastically eyeing the audience. Once I caught wind of their existence, I was a fan.

The Smile (while not 100% when exactly they formed during the pandemic) began as a project of riffs that guitarist Greenwood came up with during all this time spent not touring. The band hinted that other Radiohead member Ed O’Brien’s absence while working on his solo record at the time contributed to this new group being created. My first glimpse of The Smile came during an article I read most likely on Pitchfork then a real introduction came during their surprise performance at Glastonbury 2021 online. That stream in May of 2021 showcased Yorke, Greenwood, and final member Tom Skinner absolutely tearing it up, rocking out like you’d expect. Yorke offered up his traditional hypnotic moves while wailing into his mic and Greenwood seemed to be hypnotized himself, never looking up like his was underwater refusing to come up for air. They performed songs that would later make up their debut record, A Light for Attracting Attention. Similar to Radiohead, many themes are shared on this LP plus the artwork is done by longtime collaborator Stanley Donwood. The Smile itself came from a poem, but represents someone who isn’t necessarily happy but who “lies to you every day.” Little is known since all members agreed to not do interviews regarding the band, but the night proved just as the livestream, this was not some cute off-shoot project; this was a real fully fleshed band.

The Shrine Auditorium, LA by Jacob Alvarez

I arrived about an hour before the band took the stage so I went to will call and gathered my credentials as the other photographers spoke in circle. The photo passes were amazing as I expected, and the merch was interesting; I grabbed a holographic poster that featured the name of the record along with the band’s logo. The lines were incredibly long for the sales being hidden in a nook that most couldn’t find, and I can’t imagine what it became after the show. Opener Robert Stillman went out a bit late, causing The Smile to come on some minutes late as well. I walked around the venue which I had attended twice before, being a fan of the architecture and design, but not of its limitations. Photographers were allowed to photograph from the sides of the building only, trying not to obstruct any views of those who paid for the event. This made it extremely difficult and limited to get great intimate shots. Once 9:10 rolled around, I followed the rest of the photographers to the left side wall which Yorke was to be closer to. Five minutes later, the band came out one by one: Skinner then Greenwood then Yorke. Each member gave thanks and waived to fans who all stood from their seats (another obstacle for us).

The Smile performing at The Shrine Auditorium, LA by Jacob Alvarez

Photographers ran back and forth from wall to wall trying to get their best shot which I knew I wasn’t going to be getting. There will always come a time or situation where you could have been better prepared if you had so and so. In this case, a more expensive adaptable camera, but honestly I was just happy to be in the room. Yorke is one of my all time favorite musical heroes and to be covering him under my own publication with no one breathing down my neck besides myself was an absolute dream. This year alone, MMC* was able to cover Interpol, Radiohead, Tame Impala, and now Thom Yorke with The Smile. The night also marked the 62nd show covered by MMC* in 2022 alone. That blows my mind truly. The band shifted through most of their debut LP, playing “You Will Never Work in Television Again” and “We Don’t Know What Tomorrow Brings,” both of which grasped me since performed on their livestream. The lighting jumped from flashing whites to drowning reds, with a long wall of LEDs that resembled mini stars behind the band.

I wasn’t expecting any Radiohead covers or anything, and it was great that the group didn't feel obligated to feed fans in that way. They did however, play a handful of tracks dubbed “new” by Yorke as he introduced most of them. This tells me there is enough material for a follow-up album and a continued tour possibly. This time around, they opted for small theaters and intimate settings, but can easily sell out arenas. Fans filtered out of a rather stuffy auditorium into a cold night life, which on the east coast would have featured snow, but I imagined anyway. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that MMC* covered four of its top ten artists of all time in one year. The finale was spending a night with Yorke four days before Christmas, not to mention it was the band’s first headline show in LA ever and the second to last of the tour. Not a grin, not a smirk, The Smile stand on their own. Check out the setlist here!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!