Coldplay Concert Review- via email

a friend of mine drove down from duke to see it:

"The Grady Cole Center seemed like the strangest place for Coldplay to perform at. It's a converted gymnasium, used mostly for basketball games, that only holds 3,000. My two friends and I showed up at 1pm, and were the first ones in line. When the doors opened at 6:30, we burst in and ran to front row center. That's where we were the whole concert, about 6 feet from Chris. It looked like a concert hall inside, which was a nice surprise, and the sound was very good.

Ron Sexsmith came on at about 7:30, and I was really impressed. He's a great vocalist and guitarist, and his band is real musically talented. The drummer played the cello for one song, and the bass guitarist played upright bass at times. Great opening act, loved the sound.

The stage crew changed all the equipment, and the fun started at 9:14 when the boys came out. Chris came skipping onto the stage, the second one out. He was wearing black pants, black sneakers with blue shoelaces, and an unbuttoned black polo-type shirt. Underneath he wore a red t-shirt with white center that said "make trade fair." He also wrote "make trade fair.com" on his hand in black magic marker. The rest were also casually dressed in plain black, except Jon, who wore a shirt that said "sacred heart booster."

Onstage: 9:14

Politik- I knew this was coming, but it was still unbelievable. Chris was on piano, and was going absolutely nuts during the chorus. White flashing lights added to the effect, and I can see why the band opens with this song repeatedly. Really set the mood.

Shiver- Chris took up the guitar, and again went nuts. This was to be a theme for the night. He has such an amazing stage presence, and he really commands an audiences attention. Boy can this dude perform, exceeded all my expectations.

Spies
Daylight
Warning Sign

These were all great, with no let-downs from Chris.

One I love- Awesome to hear this B-side! I really like this song, and Jon was bad-ass on the electric.

Don't Panic- performed despite a techie on-stage fixing some wiring. Amazingly, while watching Chris, you didn't even notice the guy. That's how much the guy can draw your eyes. Sorry if this review neglects the rest of the band a little, but I can't emphasize enough what an incredible performer Chris is. He's all over the stage, really gets into it. Also, it's amazing how out-of-control he looks while being totally in-control. He spins and teeters around, looking as if he might fall over, but always keeping his balance.
Jon had a sweet harmonica solo during Don't Panic, and threw it into the crowd when he finished.

Everything's Not Lost- Really sweet, slower song. At the end, Chris turned the piano mic to the audience and we sang the refrain while he played. I saw a couple notes thrown on-stage during this song.

Moses- Let me be the billionth person to say this song is awesome. I'd bet a lot on it being a single on the next album. Just amazing full-band.

God Put a Smile On My Face- I really like this song, sounded just like the ROBTTH version.

Yellow- one of the higlights of the night. Chris started the song by jumping up and down as high as he could multiple times, really got the audience into it. Everyone was going crazy, singing all the words, etc.

Scientist- Chris went back to the piano for this one, and told us in between verses that it would be the last of the night. This song is incredibly beautiful, and the band performed the hell out of it. At the end they waved and walked off-stage.

The crowd cheered and screamed non-stop until they came out maybe 2 minutes later.

Clocks- first of the two-song highlight of the night for me. This is my favorite Coldplay song, and I was so excited to hear it. Chris was on piano, and when he finished, Jon and Will started jamming out, Chris stood up, kicked the piano stool over, and they went into...

In My Place- HIGH ENERGY!! Best version of this song I've heard (though I haven't heard many). For the chorus part where he sings "Yeeeaaaah!" Chris kept running to the front of the stage and throwing the mic to the crowd for us to sing it. Then he'd bring it back and sing "how long must you wait...." Just amazing, and I love how he encouraged crowd participation the whole night. Crowd went nuts when this one finished. The band was loving it, you could tell. Chris was smiling, and looked at Guy and raised two fingers, which I took to mean two more songs. Guy nodded.

Trouble- Back to piano for Chris, this song was very emotional. When it got to the "they spun a web for me" part, Chris turned the mic to the crowd. We kind of got caught off-guard, and the first effort was pretty poor. Chris laughed and said something about how "we've been so good the whole night, and this is the last bit of singing we're going to do this evening, so let's make the best of it." The whole crowd got into it then, and Chris and Jon were all smiles.

"I guess we can do one more song for you guys, if you like," Chris said when he finished. We went nuts.

Ladder in The Sun- another new one, and I like this one even more than Moses. The chorus at the end where he sings "lift me up to your soul" (I think) is really beautiful.

When it ended, Chris said how great it had been, and the band all came forward and applauded the crowd as we screamed for them. Jon and Guy threw their guitar picks, and Will tossed both drumsticks into the crowd. I got one!!! Pretty thrilling stuff. The band was off-stage at 10:45, making the concert a short but sweet hour and half.

The experience of this concert was incredible. I've been to Weezer, Incubus, Tom Petty, Jack Johnson, Roots, John Mayer, Dispatch, Guster, and a bunch of DMB concerts, and this was one of the best. The only ones that compare are DMB. I'm so incredibly impressed with the band in general, and Chris as a performer in particular. This was my first Coldplay concert, and the experience is going to increase my obsession even more . If you get a chance to see the boys sometime, don't miss it! I know I won't."

 

Trouble- Back to piano for Chris, this song was very emotional. When it got to the "they spun a web for me" part, Chris turned the mic to the crowd. We kind of got caught off-guard, and the first effort was pretty poor. Chris laughed and said something about how "we've been so good the whole night, and this is the last bit of singing we're going to do this evening, so let's make the best of it." The whole crowd got into it then, and Chris and Jon were all smiles.

lj43: thank you so much for posting this. i almost forgot about this song! this is my absolute favorite of coldplay... i like "in my place" but not as much as "trouble". i remember posting the lyrics of this tune in the "moment" thread.

you know jimmy kimmel has a new show and is on after the SB and coldplay is gonna be in it, dontcha? well, they are!

cool thread. cool update. you rock, lj.

 

thanks lex. turns out, i couldve gone to the concert if i had a been in charlotte, but i was in raleigh which turned out to be ok.

my favorite song is 'amsterdam' personally. you going to the denver show?

heres another pic from the charlotte show:

 

amsterdam? that is the last track of their "a rush of blood to the head cd! i like that track.

the denver show in feb is at the fillmore. not exactly the best part of denver. kinda bad part of town even. very rough. so no. the parking is terrible. it isnt sold out, tho. i jut cant go.

well, i go with another female friend so, we try to go to concerts that we know the area well and parking is safe. friend of mine and i have tickets to david gray. same week coldplay is here. my friend twinks posts here. you should say hi to twinks sometime. she has that cd also. i know bec i borrowed it.

cool pics! thanks.

 

Coldplay @ the Grady Cole Center...

... was like seeing the hottest girl you know in your grandmother's oldest underwear.

Talk about sucking the energy out of a moment

Coldplay are fucking awesome though. Chris Martin is a star.

Enjoyed it overall.

 

oy! i mean ..... yay!

now i wont be able to shake that comment off my head....i dont even know how that is!