I had been looking forward to this so with much anticipation. The only live Coldplay that I'd ever heard besides the DVD was the Camden show on the day of X&Y's release on June 6th, 2005. I was also absolutely thrilled that I was going to see Fiona Apple, also one of my favorite artists, for the first time. I got 6th row seats through the pre-sale. So, we get to the show and our seats are more like 4th row because of how the lip of the stage comes out in a semi-circle. I was so excited. I'm sure all the kids around me where thinking to themselves 'that guys is as old as my Dad!'. We seemed to be the only ones without the MTF sign on their hand. I was amazed just looking at the stage and seeing all the production that had gone into this. The lights go dark and I see Fiona and her band coming in from the right. She launchs right into 'Get Him Back' which was killer. The sound, crystal clear. I was now even more excited about Coldplay and commented to my friend how incredible the sound was. Fiona was like a woman possessed as she played her nine song set (see the end for setlists). She was great! I will drive anywhere within five hours and might be willing to fly to go see her as a headliner on a small theatre tour. I want to see an hour and a half of her instead of an all too brief 40 minutes. But she definitely made the most of her 40 minutes. So, the lights come back on and the excitement builds. It was fascinating watching the army of roadies tear down Fiona's stuff and replace with Coldplays. The roadies were like a fine-tuned machine. So, the lights go dark and the crowd explodes. Chris is leaning on the 'clock' that is counting down as he sings the first lines to Square One. And about half way thru the song I'm thinking to myself "what's wrong with the sound?!?! Surely the sound guy will fix it". But they never did. The guitar and bass were way too loud compared to Chris's voice. And overall, the sound had way toooo much bass. There were no highs because the bass drowned everything out. I was so disappointed. If the Camden bootleg's sound was a 10, then this show I was seeing from 15 foot away from the stage was maybe a 6. The set was the same as it is every night. Which is exactly how Coldplay treated it, much to my disappointment. Jon didn't seem to be into it at all. Chris seemed to be trying to make up for Jon's lack of euthasim, but it all seemed phoned in. Like 'this is the same set we do every night and we're completely bored and going thru the motions'. I was crestfallen as I had incredibly high hopes that this would be one of the best shows of my life. Unfortunately, it wasn't. The sound problem was unforgivable and the sound man should be fired. And it's not the arena's acostics either because Fiona and the music between sets was absolutely perfect. And if the band is going to be that bored with the songs they are playing then play something different!!! Why couldn't they play Proof instead of Yellow if they're bored of Yellow. I hate it that some bands feel they have to play certain songs even if it makes them want to put a gun to their head because they're so sick of playing it. They just didn't seem like they were having a good time. But if the sound would have been good, I would have enjoyed myself even if the band wasn't giving 110%. Overall, I'm sure I'd go see them again because I have heard good bootleg performances so this could have been just an off night. I think they are one of the most talented bands on the planet and I love virtually every song and b-side they've ever released. That's my review. Fiona A+, Coldplay C.

 

Setlists

Fiona

 

Get Him Back

Better Version of Me

Shadowboxer

Criminal

Paper Bag

Tymps (The sick in the head song)

Oh Well

Limp

Fast as you can

 

Coldplay

 

Square One

Politik

Yellow

God put a smile on my face

Speed of Sound

X&Y

How I see the world

Don't Panic

 

Til Kingdom Come

Ring of Fire

Trouble

 

The Scientist

White Shadows

Clocks

Talk

 

Swallowed in the Sea

In my place

Fix You

 

I could have gotten a song out of order in the middle, but those were defintily the songs played.

Are you sure that you were at the concert in Oklahoma City on the 27th? I was there too and I thought the sound was incredible through the entire Coldplay performance. I also thought the band gave it 110% effort. My entire group thought so as well. What the heck have you been smokin' on?

 

By the way, to give Fiona Apple an A over Coldplay......................INSANE! She was HORRIBLE. And a little spastic too. She kept screaming at the audience like a mad woman.