The Smile, the new band comprised of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood and Sons Of Kemet’s Tom Skinner, gave their debut live performance tonight (May 22).
The new group played as part of Glastonbury’s Live At Worthy Farm livestream event, which was filmed at various spots across the iconic festival site.
The Smile’s involvement was only announced hours before the livestream began, while the set offered fans the first chance to hear music by the new project, which Yorke dubbed “a collaboration with Nigel Godrich”.
Yorke said little during the performance but did offer an explanation of the band’s name, which was inspired by a Ted Hughes poem. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are called The Smile,” he said at one point.
“Not The Smile as in ‘aaah!’, more the smile of the guy who lies to you every day.”
During and after the band’s performance, fans took to Twitter to share their reactions to the set and songs. “Fantastic, but The Smile just sound like a pared back Radiohead???” One Twitter user wrote. Later, after more songs had been aired, they added: “Un-fucking-real. Yorke unleashing his inner demented punk. Love it.”
Un-fucking-real 🎸
Yorke unleashing his inner demented punk. Love it 💕#thesmile #Glastonbury #LiveAtWorthyFarm https://t.co/cVyM31yx3y— Derval McCloat (@DervSwerve) May 22, 2021
“I see Thom Yorke and The Smile keeping a nice party atmosphere,” another wrote.
I see Thom Yorke and The Smile keeping a nice party atmosphere #glastonburylive
— Susi Brooks (@SusanBrooks_1) May 22, 2021
“OK I am in LOVE with The Smile,” someone else added. “Love the vibe, love the songs, vocals, LOVE THE THOM BASS. All amazing.”
Ok I am in LOVE with The Smile. Love the vibe, love the songs, vocals, LOVE THE THOM BASS. all amazing
— Aaron (@ChummyNose) May 22, 2021
See more reactions below now.
Really enjoyed #thesmile on #LiveAtWorthyFarm but think they missed a trick by not calling themselves Thom-Tom Club. Best Radiohead side project.
— J (@Gwladys_Knight) May 22, 2021
I NEED THE SMILE ALBUM. I NEED THE SMILE ALBUM NOW. LET’S GET THE SMILE’S DEBUT LP TO NUMBER ONE.
— hazel xoxo (@LiamUrARelevant) May 22, 2021
that last track of The Smile at Glastonbury. i feel alive again. i missed Thom and Jonny
— Piotr Jakubowski (@Anon11m) May 22, 2021
The #TheSmile set from #GlastonburyFestival was sublime. #Radiohead at their best and then some.
— John Reade (@DrJohnReade) May 22, 2021
Well that set from The Smile was something a bit unexpectedly awesome. #GlastonburyLive pic.twitter.com/Q98rujPYYb
— Meester Glenn 💙 (@168_Seconds) May 22, 2021
Well that was next level #thesmile
— Toby (@TobyPhilbin) May 22, 2021
The Smile is one of the coolest wee projects I have seen in a long time. Excellent. That last song was genius.
— 🕹️ cₐᵣₑₗₑₛₛ wᵢₛₚₐ 👾 (@moggyroe) May 22, 2021
Bloody hell! that was amazing from #thesmile Thom and Johnny swapping in & out on bass & guitar – a big stew of afrobeat, jazz & krautrock. #LiveAtWorthyFarm
— Steve – Upwards@45 blog (@mrtree2245) May 22, 2021
the smile remind me of a cross between radiohead, thom yorke and johnny greenwood
— Gavin Monks (@Monksey_Boy) May 22, 2021
Wow. This wasn’t what I expected. Wild. Raw. Angry. #TheSmile #Glastonbury 😳
— silvia (@dieZypresse) May 22, 2021
‘The Smile’, the new project by Thom Yorke & Jonny Greenwood, is a bit more krautrock/jazzy than what we know them by, but it’s again exciting, technically excellent music
— St⭕nehead (@stonehead) May 22, 2021
Before the livestream kicked off, organiser Emily Eavis said the Glastonbury team were “truly honoured that Thom and Jonny have chosen our livestream event to premiere their brand new project”.
The Live At Worthy Farm livestream faced technical difficulties this evening, with thousands of fans unable to enter the stream with their access codes. Eavis later apologised for the issues and promised the full concert would be re-shown tomorrow (May 23).