Blow Out

## Description

Blow Out is frequently regarded as one of Radiohead's finest early songs. A bossanova-influenced jam vehicle, Blow Out is a good precursor to the material that would eventually compose the bulk of the band's oeuvre. It features some great restrained lyrics and a final breakdown to rival any of their heaviest moments. This song is one of very few that still seems to be well-regarded by even the band, and for good reason.

## Live history

Blow Out is one of two songs that has been played with any semblance of regularity following the mid-90s (the other being, obviously, Creep.) Played semi-regularly between 1992 and 1996, it then left the setlist for a staggering 12 years before being brought back for a pair of shows in 2008. It was then not to be seen again until 2018, whereupon it emerged for a one-off performance on the A Moon Shaped Pool tour. Blow Out at its best was an excellent live track, with plenty of energy.

### 1992

Blow Out was first played live in 1992, and is a consistent part of recordings from that year. Renditions from this year are notable for being played at a very fast tempo and with a ton of energy, so many fans like them for that reason. Notable and/or recommended performances include:

* 1992-11-09, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, England - great AUD from a great show. Shows off the extra-fast tempo as well.
* 1992-11-11, Huddersfield University, Huddersfield, England - similar to the above performance, except in soundboard quality.

### 1993

Blow Out was played reasonably regularly for the Pablo Honey world tour. It almost always took the position of set closer, a role it was born for; the maelstrom of noise at the end of the song consistently seemed to make up the heaviest part of the set. Performances were a little closer to the studio version's tempo, but not slower as they would be in later years. Notable and/or recommended performances include:

* 1993-01-28 ITV "The Beat" broadcast - the only TV performance of this one ever, and a very early rendition at that.
* 1993-06-04, Magasinet, Göteborg, Sweden - a remarkably strong run-through with brilliant contrast between the quiet and loud sections.
* 1993-07-12, The Whiskey A Go-Go, Los Angeles, CA, USA - another great take with amazing guitar work. Top-notch sound quality, too, thanks to the FM recording.
* 1993-10-15, Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL, USA - a brilliant AUD recording really adds to this song's dynamic punch.

### 1994

Once again, Blow Out was played in 1994, albeit less regularly than in past years. When it did appear, it was always as the set closer. During 1994, Jonny's guitar work at the end of the song would become increasingly complex; by the end of the year, the final breakdown became his chance to take an amazing, lightning-fast solo with plenty of harmonic craziness. This year includes what might be the song's best performance ever, as well as several other strong ones. Notable and/or recommended performances include:

* 1994-05-27, The Astoria, London, UK - Astoria being listed here is kinda obligatory, but if you *really* want a 1994 performance, there's only one real choice...
* 1994-06-26, Glastonbury Festival, Pilton, England - **this is the best-ever rendition of the song.** For me, it's not even close, and it might be one of the greatest single live performances of any Radiohead song. This is the sound of a nuclear apocalypse being summoned by five people on a stage, in front of thousands of fans. There are so many brilliant versions of this song, but this is the clear frontrunner. There's nothing else like it.
* 1994-10-06, Exeter University, Exeter, England - as with Stop Whispering, the band made the odd choice in late 1994 and 1995 to slow this song down significantly; this is the first recording with said change on full display.