Thom Yorke (Radiohead) and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) from and Atoms for Peace stopped by The Daily Show with Jon Stewart last night to promote their world tour and make their television debut. The band, which also includes Nigel Godrich (Radiohead), Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M.) and Mauro Refosco (For in the Dark), released its debut album, Amok, back in February.
Before the performance, Stewart asked Yorke and Flea about the band's genesis. Yorke explained that the idea came about when he was backstage at a Red Hot Chili Peppers' show talking to Flea about his solo record, The Eraser. A few months after the show, Yorke emailed Flea and a few more friends asking if they would like to perform the album live with him.
"I received the email from Thom," Flea said. "And I went and danced around the house like an unhinged animal for about an hour screaming."
Stewart also asked how the two men's respective bands feel about side project and how they manage to keep a balance between bands.
"It's very much like a romantic relationship, being in a band," Flea said. "To have the opportunity to play with...musicians I respect that are interested in pushing boundaries and really reaching forward and are curious about new sounds is such a great opportunity, so I'm just humble."
Yorke explained what his vision was for the band at the beginning. "I could only think of Flea because Flea plays bass like a lead instrument. And that's what I really wanted to happen. ...When we got together, it was one of those things where you have no idea, you just don't know. ...The sound it created straight away as not something I expected. It was really exciting. It was an experiment that actually worked."
The band performed two tracks: the Amok single, "Default" and "Harrowdown Hill" from Yorke's 2006 solo album, The Eraser. Yorke's comment about Flea playing the bass like a lead instrument became clearwhen the band hit the stage. There was no guitarist, so Flea's bass sort of became the lead "guitar." He also may or may not have been wearing a kilt during the set.
Atoms for Peace begins the U.S. leg of its tour this week. Watch clips from the performance here, and let us know what you think in the comments section below!
Atoms for Peace U.S. Tour Dates:
9/27: Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
9/30: Fairfax, VA @ Patriot Center
10/2: Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavilion
10/3: Nashville, TN @ War Memorial Auditorium
10/6: Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival 2013
10/13: Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival 2013
10/16: Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
10/17: Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
10/19: San Francisco, CA @ Treasure Island Music Festival
© 2024 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
