It’s not often anymore that you get to see a god like musician/band like The Smile in a smaller venue (The Mission Ballroom), but my partner and I did. Parking was easy, and although cold, nothing too remarkable for a winter night in Denver. Entering the venue was seamless that made me wonder was it Denver, the venue, or maybe just fans of The Smile are super cool, chill people that came to hear their Radiohead idols, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, pull off another night of extreme talent? Our seats were to the right of the stage (wrist band access only), and we had an excellent diagonal view of the band. More daring patrons stood in the general admission “pit” which was totally packed. Also, if you like to have a drink while you enjoy a concert, the Mission Ballroom has plenty of bar access. As a result, you don’t have to worry about waiting in line. Our idols came under a different band name w/Radiohead elements but more experimental and subtle as The Smile. It was the first time I saw Thom Yorke live. My partner saw him twice at the Hollywood bowl (Very jealous by the way). But his memory of those times coupled with my newfound love of The Smile (and Thom Yorke) made the event a must see. Thom’s beautiful voice, the best instrument in the band, was intense, often lilting and haunting (“Skirting on the Surface”) and edgy and intense (You Will Never Work in Television Again”). Watching two masters make music on stage, that at often times was otherworldly, was the most satisfying part of all. We left smiling.