25-Jul-08: Philadelphia - Wachovia Center - Tickets, Preview, Meetups, Review/Photos

[icedude2010]

don't be sad. Look forward to seeing them again sometime.

[Mimixxx]

some pics :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are great! I love the close up of Jon :D

[Starlight]

Yes, I'll definitely see them again next tour. I really want to go to the Jersey show, but I don't think I can get to Jersey on a school night. But for sure, next tour I'm going to be there! :D Whenever that might be.

 

Although I'm sad, I am still high off happiness from last night. :lol: If that makes sense. But wow it was just great!!!! I still can't believe I saw them...lol.

[forcin]

Awww Pallavi you're so cute! Thanks for the pics and vids everyone. Can't wait till November for the Phoenix show! Squeeee!:dance:

[CRYSTAL]

thanks!

[jasmynebirch]

I got some and brought them home and my husband liked them

did any dude get a bracelet? I did, haha. i thought they were cool! and chris wears them!!! And they go to a good org. :)

[musicman1990]

Ok...my review:

 

So I got there shortly after the doors opened cos I wanted to see if they sign crew needed help handing out signs. I didn't initially sign up to help (mainly cos I didn't want to have to print signs myself...I'm pinching pennies haha). But luckily I ran into Professa95 (Sean) and got right in there helping. FIRST OF ALL...I have alot of respect for the Flyers and Sixers. I was SOOO worn out after covering that floor! As we were handing out signs and people started filing in, everyone was really curious as to the purpose of them. The biggest question people had (at least to me) was "Why do they say 'USA STILL Loves Coldplay?'" So I had to explain (like 15-20 times) why. Did alot of promo for the site, though.

 

The lights came down for the first opening act, and the sign handing out kinda seemed like it would come to a halt (we couldn't see!), but we kept plowing forward! The band was...eh. Good for them for winning the contest, and I've certainly heard worse music in my life, but they just didn't seem...polished. I don't know. Luckily they didn't play for too too long, and the lights came back up. And the crew was out in full speed. It was amazing. By the time the lights came down for the second opening act, it seemed like we were pretty much done (at least on the floor). She/They were better than the first one, in my opinion. The music was a little obscure for the Coldplay audience, but they seemed a little more together and finished, etc.

 

The wait in between the 2nd opening act and Coldplay seemed like for-ev-er. And that ticking, intense music they were playing before hand DIDN'T HELP! It seemed like the crew was on the stage testing the instruments, etc for so long. I just wanted them to get off and bring Coldplay on! Finally the lights went down and the crowd got on their feet. It was one of the most exciting moments in my life! The music to "Life In Technicolor" started and they were off. The song sounded exactly like it did on the CD (not a bad thing) and was the perfect opener to the show. They immediately went into "Violet Hill" which sent the crowd into a frenzy. Now, I was pretty much dead center in the arena. I was on the floor, a little less than half way back, in the middle section, and in the middle of my row. So I pretty much had the entire crowd surrounding me on all angles. When Chris started singing, I could barely even hear him the audience was singing so loud. I have NEVER heard anything like that before! The song rocks live, too (as I knew it would). It was PERFECT...litterally sent chills down my spine.

 

So the lights came down and there was a bit of a delay. It was probably only 5 seconds, but it felt like much longer. The crowd was just waiting in anticipation for something familar to start playing. An opening chord or drum beat or piano part. You could just feel it. Luckily, they got it. "Clocks" started playing and the place ERUPTED. I've heard the song a million times before, and every time I've seen the band live, but it STILL gets me excited to hear it! As soon as the signature lazer lights come on, you're just taken to another place. It was just brilliant. The song was a shorter version than they've played in the past (especially in comparison to the Twisted Logic tour version! EPIC!)...it was about the same as the radio edit. Then that familar drum beat started. You could tell who the REAL fans were because they immediately recognized it, but everyone caught on when the rest of the band came in on "In My Place." No matter what, the song always brings the house down. It's a classic. The audience was litterally SCREAMING the "yeah"s at the top of their lungs! But it was a run-of-the-mill "In My Place" performance. Not to say that it wasn't special...because it was. It always is.

 

So the lights go down again, and they do a quick change in set. As soon as I saw them grab the bell I knew what was coming. When the strings to "Viva La Viva" stated, I swear it was like the second coming. Everyone in the Wachovia center knew that song, loved that song, and was dying to hear that song. Everyone sang every single word at the top of their lungs. Again, I could barely even hear Chris. And when the "whoa-oh-oh-oh" part came in, it was an UNBELIEVABLE feeling to hear the crowd scream-singing along. Unbelievable. At this point in time it was a very hits-heavy set, so when "Yes" started, it was very welcomed. Alot of people have cut up this track live, but I L.O.V.E.D. it. Replacing the strings with guitar worked perfectly and it really made the song rock more than I ever imagined it out. And the extended outro...Oh my God. It was incredible! There was very little downtime in between "Yes" and "42" which worked great. Instead of the audience screaming and going nuts when the song started, they just all immediately came in singing. The whole first 1/3 or 1/4 (depends on how you look at it) on piano was again accompanied by the audience singing their frickin' heads off. The song rocks live, let's be honest. I think they could've extended it a little bit, to be honest, to keep the momentum going, but it was still great. The crowd loved it.

 

So then Chris took the keyboard again and played a chord with the organ sound. I immediately knew what it was, but when he actually started playing the crowd went bizerk. "Fix You" was without a doubt tied for the biggest sing alot of the night (I'll get to that later). Chris didn't even have to sing a note. In fact, he didn't during the chorus. It was a shock to see it in the middle of the set, but almost a welcomed surprise. The song has become a Coldplay staple and classic. There's no doubt about it. It was...I couldn't believe it. So then "Strawberry Swing" started almost right away. It was good. I love the song, but it was a very generic perfomance of it. Good, just not alot to comment on it.

 

Then they moved to right catwalk extension and immediately broke into "Chinese Sleep Chant" which I LOVED. One of my favorites on the album, and it rocked live. The effects on Chris' voice were great! And they brought out the lazers again. Perfect. A dancy song started playing and the crowd had NO idea what it was until Chris started sining "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face." To be honest, I thought the song was half-assed. It had so much potential, but they just stopped after the first chorus. Oh well.

 

The band then went back to the stage and immediately broke into "Speed Of Sound." It was so welcomed. It's almost like everyone forgot about the song, and remembered it when they started playing. Excellent use of balls, too. Chris grabbed his guitar and had a little chat with the audience while it seemed like they fixed something and talked about how they were doing the song that "brought them to Philadelphia." When they started the place, once again, went nuts. "Yellow" was tied for the biggest sing-along of the night. In fact, Chris immediately turned the mic to the crowd at the beginning. It was nothing more than "Yellow" but it was still an amazing performance. At the end Chris held out the note on "yoouuuuuuuu" and it immediately went into "Lost!" The transition did not work for me. The songs were just too different and it was awkward for a little while. But "Lost!" is a Coldplay classic and everyone loved it. The song had a great crowd reaction.

 

So then they moved to the back, much to everyone's surprise/pleasure. They talked alot at this point and seemed so in tune with the crowd. When they played the acoustic version of "The Scientist" I, honestly, almost cried. It was so special. You could hear the whole crowd singing their heads off. It was simple, yet completely effective. Chris then introduced Will (making reference to Genesis) and they played "Death Will Never Conquer." To my surprise, people knew it. A couple people in my section were singing along, and it was nice to see. They said their fake goodbyes and left.

 

The "Talk" video was hilarious, and a PERFECT introduction for "Politik" which was a surprise to everyone. The song is AMAZING live (probably their best) and the crowd went nuts. It was the full version of the song and just...I can't even describe it. It was one of the best feelings ever. Coldplay then broke out in "Lovers In Japan" which was the best "performance" of the night. The projections and confetti were just perfect additions to the song and everyone loved it. I still can't get over it. The crowed loved it, too. It should be a single. The band ended the show was "Death and All His Friends" which was another big sing along. I wish they had extended it a bit, but again it had a warm reception. After the song the signs went up while the band took their bows and left.

 

About a minute later they came back out and Chris said "All of the sudden we've got the best fans in the world." They grabed their instruments, nodded to eachother, and broke out "Green Eyes." The crowd went NUTS. He stumbled through the lyrics a bit, but it was great none-the-less. They finished up with "The Dubliner" which confused everybody. Haha. No-one knew what it was, but they all still loved it. They left, the lights went up and that was it!

 

Overall, it was a much different show than "Twisted Logic" but a much more effective one. It was just a band playing their music. No real frills or whatever. They are a live band, and always will be. I loved every second of the show (except for the transition into "Lost!" haha)

 

 

 

PS - It was nice to meet everyone!

 

 

 

Dave

[Chavi]

Dave, that's an AWESOME review ! I was reading out loud and gave me goosebumps ! thanks a lot :D

[CookyMnstr]

some pics :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh HIIII! You were there last nite?!! remember me, I was the one who did you the huge favor of taking those MSG tix off your hands;). You're my coldplaying HERO:D, I'll never forget it. Seems like you had awesome seats, these are great pictures!!!!

 

And seeing all the vids for Green Eyes and The Scientist, DeathWillNeverConquer, The Dubliners...makes me wish they'd do a completely acoustic show. Just the 4 of them, a couple guitars...simple. I'd LOVE it!!! I'd pay good money for 1.5hr of just that. To me those moments are more memorable, sincere, and feel more "Coldplay"(the way I think of them) than all the lights and gizmos. (not that they're not fun!)

[Starlight]

Hey guys...do you think that they'd still be in town today? Or they already left?

[icedude2010]

I talked to someone on tour with them, and he said that the band members stay in the previous city until like a day or so b4 the next show ( if its far away )

[Odvan]

Talk (Remix Video Interlude)

 

Anybody has video or photo? I'm beg and plead!

[Chavi]

I dont think they're still in town now. they probably stayed for the night and took a plane to Pemberton early this morning. But huh, I dont know .. I wish I did :(

[Starlight]

I talked to someone on tour with them, and he said that the band members stay in the previous city until like a day or so b4 the next show ( if its far away )

 

Oh really? Does anyone know if they will be around the city, or just at their hotel?

[CRYSTAL]

you want to meet them annie?:D

 

i think they might be still in the town only because pemberton is not that far to go though.Canada and northern part of US are just so close to each other.

 

even i can go to Toronto now well.:Dwell if i wish to:P

 

 

 

 

 

and yeah if any one wants to check out there is already a roadie # 42 15th blog about philly in coldplay.com

[icedude2010]

Oh really? Does anyone know if they will be around the city, or just at their hotel?

 

I was told they do some sightseeing in each city, but in reference to pemberton, idk if maybe they would have left by now. Check the airport ? LOL jk idk

[Starlight]

Hahaha yes, I'd like to see them. :D I probably won't but oh well.

 

Sightseeing??? Ooooh so possibly Old City then? Stuff on Ben Franklin Parkway? :D

[blombloz]

Amazing show. i was able to get rid of my tickets, so that was a load off. so i was able to enjoy the pure epic awesome. I don't have much to add when i comes to words, but i have a few pics/videos i may share.

 

Am i the only one who noticed that Chris said something, about two or three songs in, that we were going to be better than the forum? Crowd liked hearing that.

[Starlight]

Did he?? I didn't notice. :lol: If he really said that, that's really an honor for us!

[icedude2010]

did you find them? Lol.

It would be so awesome to meet them. I would prolly pass out on the spot.

[ccg]

I would bet money they all went back to NYC right after the show. Chris' family is there so why wouldnt' he go back to spend the night with them and then fly out from nyc the next day. but, that's just a guess.

 

Has anyone but me noticed that Chris is acting a bit different in these shows. He looks exhausted and like he might pass out right then and there. And his "dancing" around the stage is so much more erratic.? A couple of vids I've watched and also from last night, he looked like he could just pass out from exhaustion. He also seems less focused, more in a tizzy. Just my humble opinion.

[ccsg]

Seems I have two long in names. I was posting last night after the show as ccg, but the name I always use here is ccsg. Oops.

[ericsjones]

he said something like "you guys are in great form tonight"..people went nuts

[joeymonza]

Very noticeable CCG. He had me a little scared in the beginning . Looked like he was gonna fly off the stage . But he settled down to make it another great show. Jonny , Will and Guy played effortlessly and Flawlessly . What a Party, The Philly and Northeast USA crowd always know how to Rock and Roll . The review by Dave was fantastic and I agree the beginning of Lost was awkward , Luckily it fell into place . I looked around and behind a couple of times and loved seeing everyone singing , I sang to every song ,except the Dubliner , did'nt know it . Thanks for the signs, They worked well as did the awesome Butterflies confetti and lights , Very nice to meet and party with Coldplayer friends and Coldplay lovers.. COLDPLAY , You've done it again !!! Thanks , Joey.

[Merwithani]

Ok...my review:

 

So I got there shortly after the doors opened cos I wanted to see if they sign crew needed help handing out signs. I didn't initially sign up to help (mainly cos I didn't want to have to print signs myself...I'm pinching pennies haha). But luckily I ran into Professa95 (Sean) and got right in there helping. FIRST OF ALL...I have alot of respect for the Flyers and Sixers. I was SOOO worn out after covering that floor! As we were handing out signs and people started filing in, everyone was really curious as to the purpose of them. The biggest question people had (at least to me) was "Why do they say 'USA STILL Loves Coldplay?'" So I had to explain (like 15-20 times) why. Did alot of promo for the site, though.

 

The lights came down for the first opening act, and the sign handing out kinda seemed like it would come to a halt (we couldn't see!), but we kept plowing forward! The band was...eh. Good for them for winning the contest, and I've certainly heard worse music in my life, but they just didn't seem...polished. I don't know. Luckily they didn't play for too too long, and the lights came back up. And the crew was out in full speed. It was amazing. By the time the lights came down for the second opening act, it seemed like we were pretty much done (at least on the floor). She/They were better than the first one, in my opinion. The music was a little obscure for the Coldplay audience, but they seemed a little more together and finished, etc.

 

The wait in between the 2nd opening act and Coldplay seemed like for-ev-er. And that ticking, intense music they were playing before hand DIDN'T HELP! It seemed like the crew was on the stage testing the instruments, etc for so long. I just wanted them to get off and bring Coldplay on! Finally the lights went down and the crowd got on their feet. It was one of the most exciting moments in my life! The music to "Life In Technicolor" started and they were off. The song sounded exactly like it did on the CD (not a bad thing) and was the perfect opener to the show. They immediately went into "Violet Hill" which sent the crowd into a frenzy. Now, I was pretty much dead center in the arena. I was on the floor, a little less than half way back, in the middle section, and in the middle of my row. So I pretty much had the entire crowd surrounding me on all angles. When Chris started singing, I could barely even hear him the audience was singing so loud. I have NEVER heard anything like that before! The song rocks live, too (as I knew it would). It was PERFECT...litterally sent chills down my spine.

 

So the lights came down and there was a bit of a delay. It was probably only 5 seconds, but it felt like much longer. The crowd was just waiting in anticipation for something familar to start playing. An opening chord or drum beat or piano part. You could just feel it. Luckily, they got it. "Clocks" started playing and the place ERUPTED. I've heard the song a million times before, and every time I've seen the band live, but it STILL gets me excited to hear it! As soon as the signature lazer lights come on, you're just taken to another place. It was just brilliant. The song was a shorter version than they've played in the past (especially in comparison to the Twisted Logic tour version! EPIC!)...it was about the same as the radio edit. Then that familar drum beat started. You could tell who the REAL fans were because they immediately recognized it, but everyone caught on when the rest of the band came in on "In My Place." No matter what, the song always brings the house down. It's a classic. The audience was litterally SCREAMING the "yeah"s at the top of their lungs! But it was a run-of-the-mill "In My Place" performance. Not to say that it wasn't special...because it was. It always is.

 

So the lights go down again, and they do a quick change in set. As soon as I saw them grab the bell I knew what was coming. When the strings to "Viva La Viva" stated, I swear it was like the second coming. Everyone in the Wachovia center knew that song, loved that song, and was dying to hear that song. Everyone sang every single word at the top of their lungs. Again, I could barely even hear Chris. And when the "whoa-oh-oh-oh" part came in, it was an UNBELIEVABLE feeling to hear the crowd scream-singing along. Unbelievable. At this point in time it was a very hits-heavy set, so when "Yes" started, it was very welcomed. Alot of people have cut up this track live, but I L.O.V.E.D. it. Replacing the strings with guitar worked perfectly and it really made the song rock more than I ever imagined it out. And the extended outro...Oh my God. It was incredible! There was very little downtime in between "Yes" and "42" which worked great. Instead of the audience screaming and going nuts when the song started, they just all immediately came in singing. The whole first 1/3 or 1/4 (depends on how you look at it) on piano was again accompanied by the audience singing their frickin' heads off. The song rocks live, let's be honest. I think they could've extended it a little bit, to be honest, to keep the momentum going, but it was still great. The crowd loved it.

 

So then Chris took the keyboard again and played a chord with the organ sound. I immediately knew what it was, but when he actually started playing the crowd went bizerk. "Fix You" was without a doubt tied for the biggest sing alot of the night (I'll get to that later). Chris didn't even have to sing a note. In fact, he didn't during the chorus. It was a shock to see it in the middle of the set, but almost a welcomed surprise. The song has become a Coldplay staple and classic. There's no doubt about it. It was...I couldn't believe it. So then "Strawberry Swing" started almost right away. It was good. I love the song, but it was a very generic perfomance of it. Good, just not alot to comment on it.

 

Then they moved to right catwalk extension and immediately broke into "Chinese Sleep Chant" which I LOVED. One of my favorites on the album, and it rocked live. The effects on Chris' voice were great! And they brought out the lazers again. Perfect. A dancy song started playing and the crowd had NO idea what it was until Chris started sining "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face." To be honest, I thought the song was half-assed. It had so much potential, but they just stopped after the first chorus. Oh well.

 

The band then went back to the stage and immediately broke into "Speed Of Sound." It was so welcomed. It's almost like everyone forgot about the song, and remembered it when they started playing. Excellent use of balls, too. Chris grabbed his guitar and had a little chat with the audience while it seemed like they fixed something and talked about how they were doing the song that "brought them to Philadelphia." When they started the place, once again, went nuts. "Yellow" was tied for the biggest sing-along of the night. In fact, Chris immediately turned the mic to the crowd at the beginning. It was nothing more than "Yellow" but it was still an amazing performance. At the end Chris held out the note on "yoouuuuuuuu" and it immediately went into "Lost!" The transition did not work for me. The songs were just too different and it was awkward for a little while. But "Lost!" is a Coldplay classic and everyone loved it. The song had a great crowd reaction.

 

So then they moved to the back, much to everyone's surprise/pleasure. They talked alot at this point and seemed so in tune with the crowd. When they played the acoustic version of "The Scientist" I, honestly, almost cried. It was so special. You could hear the whole crowd singing their heads off. It was simple, yet completely effective. Chris then introduced Will (making reference to Genesis) and they played "Death Will Never Conquer." To my surprise, people knew it. A couple people in my section were singing along, and it was nice to see. They said their fake goodbyes and left.

 

The "Talk" video was hilarious, and a PERFECT introduction for "Politik" which was a surprise to everyone. The song is AMAZING live (probably their best) and the crowd went nuts. It was the full version of the song and just...I can't even describe it. It was one of the best feelings ever. Coldplay then broke out in "Lovers In Japan" which was the best "performance" of the night. The projections and confetti were just perfect additions to the song and everyone loved it. I still can't get over it. The crowed loved it, too. It should be a single. The band ended the show was "Death and All His Friends" which was another big sing along. I wish they had extended it a bit, but again it had a warm reception. After the song the signs went up while the band took their bows and left.

 

About a minute later they came back out and Chris said "All of the sudden we've got the best fans in the world." They grabed their instruments, nodded to eachother, and broke out "Green Eyes." The crowd went NUTS. He stumbled through the lyrics a bit, but it was great none-the-less. They finished up with "The Dubliner" which confused everybody. Haha. No-one knew what it was, but they all still loved it. They left, the lights went up and that was it!

 

Overall, it was a much different show than "Twisted Logic" but a much more effective one. It was just a band playing their music. No real frills or whatever. They are a live band, and always will be. I loved every second of the show (except for the transition into "Lost!" haha)

 

PS - It was nice to meet everyone!

 

Dave

 

Great review, Dave! I wish I was there ~ I'm suffering from serious Coldplay concert withdrawal symptoms.