QUICK TAKES - Sept. 30, 2009

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke revealed Monday night that he will perform two nights at downtown’s Orpheum Theatre -- Sunday and Monday. Tickets went on sale Tuesday, but the short notice on the concerts was not Yorke’s biggest surprise.

The Orpheum gigs will be a coming-out party for a new band of sorts, one that unexpectedly contains Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. Also backing Yorke will be his longtime producer and collaborator Nigel Godrich, noted session drummer Joey Waronker (R.E.M., Beck) and percussionist Mauro Refosco (David Byrne).

Early Monday, Yorke’s publicity firm sent out a release announcing the show and stating that “Radiohead is not breaking up.”

Yorke released one solo album, 2006’s “The Eraser,” and has dropped hints that more solo material is on the horizon. He recently released a pair of songs, “Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses” and “The Hollow Earth,” which will be released digitally on Tuesday and is currently available on vinyl.

Yorke writes on the Radiohead site that there is no name for the group, which will perform new songs.

-- Todd Martens