18-Jul-08: San Jose - Tickets, Preview, Meetups, Review/Photos [ORIGINAL DATE 7/24]

[A RUSH OF VIDA]

i dont get it .......is it good or bad^^

[talkingonsquareone89]

Some of my concert footages from San Jose are already up on YouTube :)

 

 

(Life in Technicolor & Violet Hill)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNEWOF-S7xk

 

(part of Square One, going into Speed of Sound)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdEVV2U_iWo

 

(ALL of The Hardest Part and Death Will Never Conquer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AreW2h2TPNM

 

 

LoL I also recorded "Politik" too, and tried to upload it on YouTube, but it isn't working at the moment. Perhaps it's because of the 'strobe light' effects. :lol:

 

 

((btw: how the heck do I put up the video windows on here??))

 

**edit**

Never mind, got it. Thanks :)

[busybeeburns]

use media [] tags :)

[busybeeburns]

Friday Night: Coldplay at the HP Pavilion

 

Coldplay

HP Pavilion

July 18, 2008

Review by Alan Mayer & Robin McCall

Photos by Christopher Victorio

 

As part of a tour to promote their newest album, Coldplay’s Viva La Vida concert Friday night the HP Pavilion did exactly what it was supposed to do. The band performed all but one of the songs from the new album, along with several gems from previous albums.

 

Frontman Chris Martin is a consummate performer who knows just how to walk the line between modesty and self-assuredness. He had the audience in the palms of his hands all night. Looking at times like the scarecrow from the “Wizard of Oz” and at other times like Mick Jagger on happy pills, he hopped and skipped and emoted and blushed his way into our hearts and minds.

 

All four members of the band--Martin on vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, drummer Will Champion, bassist Guy Berryman, and guitarist Jonny Buckland are virtuosos. Their vocal harmonies were studio-perfect on every song. By the look of things, Martin and his bandmates were at the top of their game, having great fun and enjoying the energy from the enthusiastic crowd.

 

One note on the opening act: They didn’t announce who they were at the end, when the place was full and people were paying attention. To the band: Marketing 101 requires a quick plug on exiting. Shame on Coldplay for not thanking them, either.

 

The audience was very much part of the experience. Very enthusiastic, most were on their feet from the beginning. Row by row they performed “the wave” while waiting for Coldplay to assemble, and once it did, the songs were greeted with loud lusty applause. The audience was heavily but not overwhelmingly female. Many couples were on dates. After all, it was Friday night, as Martin quipped several times during the evening, thanking us for “risking our Friday night on an aging rock band.”

 

“There’s all sorts of good TV and strip clubs you could be spending your time on,” he said.

 

Coldplay has a reputation for appealing to the ladies; however we think that the new album, “Viva La Vida, or Death and All His Friends” being a bit more aggressive and energetic compared to their previous outings, may be responsible for their increasing popularity among the male rock audience. (Personally, Alan was not a Coldplay fan going in, but he is definitely one now.)

 

The setting was another essential element of the concert. The stage was laid out in a “U” shape with ramps on either side of the main stage, so band members could move “into” the audience, which they did on many occasions. Also, as Martin played several different keyboard and piano setups throughout the evening, the pianos were easily moved on tracks as needed. The guitars and bass were all wireless, which also facilitated the band’s interaction with the audience. Some of the best moments of the concert could not have been done with a conventional stage setup.

 

The “Viva La Vida” album cover artwork was used as a backdrop for most of the night. It showed the French Revolution painting “Liberty Leading the People” by Eugene Delacroix. Even more attractive to the eye were the video projection globes hanging from the ceiling. A contemporary response to the old-fashioned mirror ball, they were lovely to look at and high-tech enough for this sophisticated Silicon Valley crowd. The balls projected a live video feed of the action on stage, including close-ups, the light show and sometimes other media. Eventually all six globes descended, and during the last two songs, the painting backdrop was replaced by full-scale video with painterly effects. The size of the screen dominated to the point where you might not look at the real band member almost in front of you; it was a good choice by Coldplay to save the full screen for the end.

 

Regarding the sound, HP Pavilion is a big old barn (or Shark Tank if you will) but excellent engineering blended the sound well and used the acoustics of the place, such as it is. The facility itself has everything a fan could want. We ate dinner beforehand but we could have just as well had a hot dog during the opening act, like everyone else did.

 

The band took the stage at about 9 p.m. They opened with the ethereal instrumental “Life in Technicolor.” From behind sheer black curtains, with their backs turned from the audience and locking into each other like a garage band improvising, they seemed more intent on each other than the audience. But as the intensity of the song picked up, they came alive, the curtains drew back, and they embraced the audience as if letting us in on their little secret jam session.

 

This segued nicely into the opening strains of “Violet Hill,” a powerful anthem and radio hit from the new album, which rocked the house and set the tone for most of what was to come. The mix from where we were “stage right” was pretty good and the song sounded every bit as good as the album version.

 

“Clocks” was next and this got the audience going. The band employed a slightly different feel than the version we are all familiar with, showing the band’s growth as well as sensitivity to their new audience. KFOG fans may recall the fireworks version of “Clocks” during the 2003 KaBoom! While no concert could compete with that, the song holds up and it’s good to know the band still enjoys playing it.

 

They followed up with “In My Place,” “Viva la Vida,” “42,” “Yes,” “The Scientist,” and “Chinese Sleep Chant.” Chris Martin seemed to float on the crowd’s energy as he moved around the stage. Light on his feet and self-effacing, at times he almost seemed embarrassed by his obligatory rock-star-god persona. However, that didn’t keep him from hamming it up and thoroughly enjoying the crowd. Like Mick Jagger, he knows how to have fun even with songs he must now have done a hundred times.

 

The hit and title song from the new album, “Viva la Vida” was a definite crowd pleaser. In a nice bit of show biz, Will Champion grabbed a marching drum and joined the other three on the edge of the stage. The audience sang along and you could see on the faces of the band how much they enjoyed hearing it.

 

Going back to “Rush of Blood to the Head," the oldie “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face” was definitely not moldy. All four band members moved to the end of one of the ramps, where a microphone tree and an electronic drum pad popped out. They performed the song standing close together with Champion playing the drum pad, the others on guitars and bass. It was great to see and hear the four singing and harmonizing together so intimately.

 

At this point, they returned to the X&Y album for “Square One.” Ceiling projection balls started to multiply here and spin. After a rough segue they emerged in another great song from the X&Y release entitled “Speed of Sound.” This one featured a very cool piano theme reminiscent of “Clocks,” but a quicker tempo. It was another audience favorite.

 

An exquisite “Strawberry Swing,” then a sunshiny “Yellow” followed, then a less-than-perfect but still entertaining “Lost.” It was too loud and certainly not their best effort of the night. Toward the end, Martin admitted, “Shit! I got lost,” to the crowd’s amusement.

 

As if to make up for that, they came roaring back with “Death Will Never Conquer.” Sexy, spine-tingling, and aggressive, no one can say Coldplay was a wimp on this one.

 

At this point the guys exclaimed, “We are tired of playing on this end of the hall” and headed toward the back, where they reassembled in a small corner with microphones and a couple of acoustic guitars. After commenting that Will’s guitar wasn’t working, they launched into a soulful version of “The Hardest Part” from the X&Y album. Even though we were not familiar with this song, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Champion then sang “Death Will Never Conquer,” a new song available for free download at the band’s website.

 

Coldplay thanked the crowd, disappeared, and eventually reappeared on the first stage for an unforgettable “Fix You. ” This was our favorite and we were thrilled it was the first encore. Buckland’s guitar solo was so intense and beautiful; the very emotion of trying to save someone, especially from themselves.

 

Coldplay topped that with “Lovers in Japan.” The backdrop “movie” was one of those 60’s type mishmashes of various Japanese images, including cherry trees, geishas, Emperor Hirohito, and Hiroshima, but also lots of lovers kissing. A fluttery surprise from the ceiling ended the song beautifully. We won’t tell you what the surprise was, in case you catch the concert elsewhere.

 

For the final encore, Coldplay appropriately ended the evening with “Death and All His Friends.” A rockin’ good time was had by all. Viva la Coldplay.

 

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2008/07/friday_night_coldplay_at_the_h.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[A RUSH OF VIDA]

i think by the ending it was a good review :smug:

[CRYSTAL]

Coldplay's continuing mission to become the world's biggest rock band could use a little work. Near the end of its triumphant sold-out concert at the HP Pavilion on Friday, after leading the audience through 90 exhilarating minutes of wide-screen guitar solos, chest-pounding tribal rhythms and tear-wrenching choruses, the British quartet reached for its secret weapon. As the chiming chords of "Lovers in Japan" started up, there was a sense that we were in for a full-on spectacle involving topless trapeze artists and dogs with jetpacks. Instead the arena air abruptly filled with ... butterfly-shaped confetti.

 

In any case, Friday's show wasn't about the spectacle, which was minimal; it was about the music, which absolutely wasn't.

 

By imagining the way U2 would sound if it ever decided to become an Arcade Fire tribute act, Coldplay has made its most dynamic and universally praised album since the release of its 2000 debut, "Parachutes." Produced by Brian Eno (U2), Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire) and Rik Simpson, the preposterously titled "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends," the group's fourth studio recording, is multilayered, muscular and melodic, an album that has pushed the band out of its sleepy piano-ballad comfort zone.

 

The group appeared in 19th century military garb inspired by the album's cover artwork, a painting by Eugène Delacroix depicting French revolutionaries. The tattered jackets seemed to have a transformative effect, especially on poofy-haired singer Chris Martin, who soaked through his shirt even before the pounding opener, "Violet Hill," was over and continued to fall over himself, racing between instruments and lurching about on one leg throughout the rest of the evening. He put in as much effort as Justin Timberlake and at least 15 backup dancers combined.

 

The other band members - guitarist Johnny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion - seemed energized by the material as well, not only making new tracks like "Yes," "Chinese Sleep Chant" and "Lost!" loom larger than life, but by bringing renewed vigor to old favorites such as "Clocks" and "Politik."

 

They stripped back Coldplay's first and biggest hit, "Yellow," letting the audience do most of the work over a simple arrangement. Then Martin announced, "I don't like playing this end of the building, let's change it." So the whole band ran up to the nosebleed section in the back of the arena and finished its set surrounded by ecstatic fans with an acoustic version of "The Hardest Part" and "Death Will Never Conquer," a folky B-side that featured Champion on vocals.

 

Martin was eager to play up his role as the bumbling guy who pushes when a door is clearly marked with a sign that says "pull," pretending to forget song lyrics and profusely thanking the audience for coming out. He need not have bothered. Despite the Hannah Montana butterflies, by the time his band soared through the encore with a particularly rousing version of "Fix You," it seems safe to say that Coldplay's mission is nearly accomplished.

 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/21/DDNU11SAAA.DTL

 

 

its a pretty good review! i am so happy with it.:)

[CRYSTAL]

Coldplay

HP Pavilion

July 18, 2008

Review by Alan Mayer & Robin McCall

Photos by Christopher Victorio

 

As part of a tour to promote their newest album, Coldplay’s Viva La Vida concert Friday night the HP Pavilion did exactly what it was supposed to do. The band performed all but one of the songs from the new album, along with several gems from previous albums.

 

Frontman Chris Martin is a consummate performer who knows just how to walk the line between modesty and self-assuredness. He had the audience in the palms of his hands all night. Looking at times like the scarecrow from the “Wizard of Oz” and at other times like Mick Jagger on happy pills, he hopped and skipped and emoted and blushed his way into our hearts and minds.

 

All four members of the band--Martin on vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, drummer Will Champion, bassist Guy Berryman, and guitarist Jonny Buckland are virtuosos. Their vocal harmonies were studio-perfect on every song. By the look of things, Martin and his bandmates were at the top of their game, having great fun and enjoying the energy from the enthusiastic crowd.

 

One note on the opening act: They didn’t announce who they were at the end, when the place was full and people were paying attention. To the band: Marketing 101 requires a quick plug on exiting. Shame on Coldplay for not thanking them, either.

 

The audience was very much part of the experience. Very enthusiastic, most were on their feet from the beginning. Row by row they performed “the wave” while waiting for Coldplay to assemble, and once it did, the songs were greeted with loud lusty applause. The audience was heavily but not overwhelmingly female. Many couples were on dates. After all, it was Friday night, as Martin quipped several times during the evening, thanking us for “risking our Friday night on an aging rock band.”

 

“There’s all sorts of good TV and strip clubs you could be spending your time on,” he said.

 

Coldplay has a reputation for appealing to the ladies; however we think that the new album, “Viva La Vida, or Death and All His Friends” being a bit more aggressive and energetic compared to their previous outings, may be responsible for their increasing popularity among the male rock audience. (Personally, Alan was not a Coldplay fan going in, but he is definitely one now.)

 

The setting was another essential element of the concert. The stage was laid out in a “U” shape with ramps on either side of the main stage, so band members could move “into” the audience, which they did on many occasions. Also, as Martin played several different keyboard and piano setups throughout the evening, the pianos were easily moved on tracks as needed. The guitars and bass were all wireless, which also facilitated the band’s interaction with the audience. Some of the best moments of the concert could not have been done with a conventional stage setup.

 

The “Viva La Vida” album cover artwork was used as a backdrop for most of the night. It showed the French Revolution painting “Liberty Leading the People” by Eugene Delacroix. Even more attractive to the eye were the video projection globes hanging from the ceiling. A contemporary response to the old-fashioned mirror ball, they were lovely to look at and high-tech enough for this sophisticated Silicon Valley crowd. The balls projected a live video feed of the action on stage, including close-ups, the light show and sometimes other media. Eventually all six globes descended, and during the last two songs, the painting backdrop was replaced by full-scale video with painterly effects. The size of the screen dominated to the point where you might not look at the real band member almost in front of you; it was a good choice by Coldplay to save the full screen for the end.

 

Regarding the sound, HP Pavilion is a big old barn (or Shark Tank if you will) but excellent engineering blended the sound well and used the acoustics of the place, such as it is. The facility itself has everything a fan could want. We ate dinner beforehand but we could have just as well had a hot dog during the opening act, like everyone else did.

 

The band took the stage at about 9 p.m. They opened with the ethereal instrumental “Life in Technicolor.” From behind sheer black curtains, with their backs turned from the audience and locking into each other like a garage band improvising, they seemed more intent on each other than the audience. But as the intensity of the song picked up, they came alive, the curtains drew back, and they embraced the audience as if letting us in on their little secret jam session.

 

This segued nicely into the opening strains of “Violet Hill,” a powerful anthem and radio hit from the new album, which rocked the house and set the tone for most of what was to come. The mix from where we were “stage right” was pretty good and the song sounded every bit as good as the album version.

 

“Clocks” was next and this got the audience going. The band employed a slightly different feel than the version we are all familiar with, showing the band’s growth as well as sensitivity to their new audience. KFOG fans may recall the fireworks version of “Clocks” during the 2003 KaBoom! While no concert could compete with that, the song holds up and it’s good to know the band still enjoys playing it.

 

They followed up with “In My Place,” “Viva la Vida,” “42,” “Yes,” “The Scientist,” and “Chinese Sleep Chant.” Chris Martin seemed to float on the crowd’s energy as he moved around the stage. Light on his feet and self-effacing, at times he almost seemed embarrassed by his obligatory rock-star-god persona. However, that didn’t keep him from hamming it up and thoroughly enjoying the crowd. Like Mick Jagger, he knows how to have fun even with songs he must now have done a hundred times.

 

The hit and title song from the new album, “Viva la Vida” was a definite crowd pleaser. In a nice bit of show biz, Will Champion grabbed a marching drum and joined the other three on the edge of the stage. The audience sang along and you could see on the faces of the band how much they enjoyed hearing it.

 

Going back to “Rush of Blood to the Head," the oldie “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face” was definitely not moldy. All four band members moved to the end of one of the ramps, where a microphone tree and an electronic drum pad popped out. They performed the song standing close together with Champion playing the drum pad, the others on guitars and bass. It was great to see and hear the four singing and harmonizing together so intimately.

 

At this point, they returned to the X&Y album for “Square One.” Ceiling projection balls started to multiply here and spin. After a rough segue they emerged in another great song from the X&Y release entitled “Speed of Sound.” This one featured a very cool piano theme reminiscent of “Clocks,” but a quicker tempo. It was another audience favorite.

 

An exquisite “Strawberry Swing,” then a sunshiny “Yellow” followed, then a less-than-perfect but still entertaining “Lost.” It was too loud and certainly not their best effort of the night. Toward the end, Martin admitted, “Shit! I got lost,” to the crowd’s amusement.

 

As if to make up for that, they came roaring back with “Death Will Never Conquer.” Sexy, spine-tingling, and aggressive, no one can say Coldplay was a wimp on this one.

 

At this point the guys exclaimed, “We are tired of playing on this end of the hall” and headed toward the back, where they reassembled in a small corner with microphones and a couple of acoustic guitars. After commenting that Will’s guitar wasn’t working, they launched into a soulful version of “The Hardest Part” from the X&Y album. Even though we were not familiar with this song, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Champion then sang “Death Will Never Conquer,” a new song available for free download at the band’s website.

 

Coldplay thanked the crowd, disappeared, and eventually reappeared on the first stage for an unforgettable “Fix You. ” This was our favorite and we were thrilled it was the first encore. Buckland’s guitar solo was so intense and beautiful; the very emotion of trying to save someone, especially from themselves.

 

Coldplay topped that with “Lovers in Japan.” The backdrop “movie” was one of those 60’s type mishmashes of various Japanese images, including cherry trees, geishas, Emperor Hirohito, and Hiroshima, but also lots of lovers kissing. A fluttery surprise from the ceiling ended the song beautifully. We won’t tell you what the surprise was, in case you catch the concert elsewhere.

 

For the final encore, Coldplay appropriately ended the evening with “Death and All His Friends.” A rockin’ good time was had by all. Viva la Coldplay.

 

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2008/07/friday_night_coldplay_at_the_h.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

again a pretty good review i so far read!:)so happy!

[Mimixxx]

GPASUYF

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO4v6ahOvqA

[martiansf]

Videos of San Jose Concert

 

I have a few videos up for the HP Pavillion concert

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shivanair]

I posted a bunch of pics/videos from the san jose show to my blog ->

http://geekdreams.net/?p=123

[Christa42]

And an excellent Blog it is I might add:rolleyes:

[guster]

this is a great review from sf chronicle

 

Music review: Coldplay - maximum music

 

Aidin Vaziri, Chronicle Pop Music Critic

 

Monday, July 21, 2008

 

Chris Martin and Coldplay gave their all for an appreciat... Coldplay let the music dominate the show, as the band mem...

Entertainment

imagemap

 

Coldplay's continuing mission to become the world's biggest rock band could use a little work. Near the end of its triumphant sold-out concert at the HP Pavilion on Friday, after leading the audience through 90 exhilarating minutes of wide-screen guitar solos, chest-pounding tribal rhythms and tear-wrenching choruses, the British quartet reached for its secret weapon. As the chiming chords of "Lovers in Japan" started up, there was a sense that we were in for a full-on spectacle involving topless trapeze artists and dogs with jetpacks. Instead the arena air abruptly filled with ... butterfly-shaped confetti.

 

In any case, Friday's show wasn't about the spectacle, which was minimal; it was about the music, which absolutely wasn't.

 

By imagining the way U2 would sound if it ever decided to become an Arcade Fire tribute act, Coldplay has made its most dynamic and universally praised album since the release of its 2000 debut, "Parachutes." Produced by Brian Eno (U2), Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire) and Rik Simpson, the preposterously titled "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends," the group's fourth studio recording, is multilayered, muscular and melodic, an album that has pushed the band out of its sleepy piano-ballad comfort zone.

 

The group appeared in 19th century military garb inspired by the album's cover artwork, a painting by Eugène Delacroix depicting French revolutionaries. The tattered jackets seemed to have a transformative effect, especially on poofy-haired singer Chris Martin, who soaked through his shirt even before the pounding opener, "Violet Hill," was over and continued to fall over himself, racing between instruments and lurching about on one leg throughout the rest of the evening. He put in as much effort as Justin Timberlake and at least 15 backup dancers combined.

 

The other band members - guitarist Johnny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion - seemed energized by the material as well, not only making new tracks like "Yes," "Chinese Sleep Chant" and "Lost!" loom larger than life, but by bringing renewed vigor to old favorites such as "Clocks" and "Politik."

 

They stripped back Coldplay's first and biggest hit, "Yellow," letting the audience do most of the work over a simple arrangement. Then Martin announced, "I don't like playing this end of the building, let's change it." So the whole band ran up to the nosebleed section in the back of the arena and finished its set surrounded by ecstatic fans with an acoustic version of "The Hardest Part" and "Death Will Never Conquer," a folky B-side that featured Champion on vocals.

 

Martin was eager to play up his role as the bumbling guy who pushes when a door is clearly marked with a sign that says "pull," pretending to forget song lyrics and profusely thanking the audience for coming out. He need not have bothered. Despite the Hannah Montana butterflies, by the time his band soared through the encore with a particularly rousing version of "Fix You," it seems safe to say that Coldplay's mission is nearly accomplished.

 

E-mail Aidin Vaziri at [email protected].

[CRYSTAL]

I posted a bunch of pics/videos from the san jose show to my blog ->

http://geekdreams.net/?p=123

 

 

very awesome blog and videos and pics.

 

thanks.

 

but do you have Yes video?

[busybeeburns]

Some good pics:

 

 

 

 

 

[shivanair]

very awesome blog and videos and pics.

 

thanks.

 

but do you have Yes video?

 

I'll double check once I get home from work :)

[CRYSTAL]

thanks shiva!:)

[busybeeburns]

Pics by rblino

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rblino/sets/72157606355028105/

 

[Christa42]

Pallavi, i will be there the 27th, do you want to coordinate some signs? not sure how to go about it casue i suck big time with computer and graphics but i will learn. anything for coldplay!!!

[KM]

Wonderful pics and videos... definitely saving some of these.

 

That concert seems like it was months ago. I can't believe it's only been a week... and I keep thinking they're going to be coming back here next year, like how they spoiled us Americans last time with their Talk Tour.

 

Just a couple of minutes before The Wave started, I joked to my older sister about enthusiastically starting one. "Oh yeah right. I will stand up and dance like a hippie... I will sit here and sing songs like we are now... and I will scream to Coldplay. BUT THE WAVE IS WHERE I DRAW THE LINE." Then, The Wave came. "Oh my God, what have you done?! WHAT THE HELL?!" :laugh3:

 

Anyway! What an experience. I so wanted to stand up and dance the whole time but most of my damn section (213, we were in row 10, seats 6-9) was sitting down on just about every song except for the huge hits... and I always feel bad about blocking people's view. :rolleyes: But man. Singing along to VLV was awesome, though. I nearly lost! my voice that night. It was great.

 

The ONLY thing is that Yellow was the only Parachutes song. Gah. And maybe if I hadn't been so greedy going in for tickets we could've gotten better seats!

 

Now I just keep looking at the tour program and wanting to relive it. Come back, Coldplay... come baaack.

[Jenjie]

First post updated with all the videos

[busybeeburns]

More photos added to the gallery at http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/gallery/data/1507

 

Here are a few:

 

 

 

 

[Mimixxx]

For the Glory

 

A new album and opening for Coldplay help Picture Atlantic set sail

 

 

UNLESS they're complete wallflowers, every band seeks notoriety—to gain a following of like-minded fans, produce quality music and receive compliments on the fruits of its labor. For Picture Atlantic, those feelings resulted in a stellar full-length debut album titled Kleos, named after the Greek word used frequently in mythological works such as the Illiad and the Odyssey.

 

"Pretty much, kleos is glory or fame, but it also kind of pertains to what people hear about you and the word that spreads around about you, and most heroes sought after it in battles," says Picture Atlantic's lead vocalist, Nikolaus Bartunek. "So the reason I chose kleos is I think every musician, nowadays especially, wants to be remembered, and everybody is trying so hard to stamp their face on the music industry and not be forgotten."

Released in late June and self-produced by the band, Kleosis 14 tracks of beautiful rock music, coasting seamlessly from songs such as "Circe" and "Dove in the Clefts of Rock," reminiscent of Muse, Coldplay and the Velvet Teen, to "That's Just Me" and "Slip Into the Sea," which evoke the sounds of Hot Hot Heat, the Bravery and All American Rejects.

 

Bartunek's vocals peak with soft falsetto, but also bear down to a yell or shriek at key moments of emotional intensity, while bassist Ryan Blair and drummer/backing vocalist Rico Rodriguez lend a deeper soul and groove to the project. Guitarists Aaron Hellam and Patrick Chu at times duel but mostly make soaring, unified musical peace, and keyboardist Brian Graves adds flourishes to some songs and a beating heart to others. The result is a record that is at once youthful and mature, familiar yet fresh.

 

"I would say our music is very passionate and ... I don't feel like it stands in one place really; I feel like it moves around a lot, which is cool," says Bartunek. "It's edgy and heavy in different ways, like in more melodic ways. ... It's not necessarily such a straightforward type of music all the time."

 

Beyond the birth of Kleos, the nearly 3-year-old South Bay sextet is also garnering fame following a recent slot opening for Coldplay at the HP Pavilion after winning a contest held by Live 105. "When I found out that we even got into the top 15, I was so surprised because we'd entered a bunch of the contests they'd had before and never even gotten placed," says Blair. "So that was a shock just to get into the top 15, and then actually being in the top 3."

 

A friend tipped them off about the contest, but Bartunek says that he was initially skeptical about entering. "[Our friend] said, 'You guys should really do this contest because it's a good idea, and I think you have a good chance to win,'" says Bartunek. "Me being myself, I said, 'Oh yeah, right, there's gonna be some totally popular San Francisco band that I've never heard of before that's going to come and blow us out of the water.'"

 

That S.F. band never emerged as a threat, and following seven days topping the ranks of contestants, Picture Atlantic was chosen by Coldplay (and/or its management) from the top 3 vote getters. "That was the part for me where I felt like it kind of depended on, like, did Coldplay actually think we were a good band?" says Bartunek. "That's where it gets kind of scary. Because you put that band on a pedestal, and you're like, 'They probably listen to music from, like, 2032.'"

 

Blair said the chance to open for Coldplay was exciting but humbling. "For me personally, it was the best experience of my life—knowing that we won and that we were there," he says. "We had our terrible van next to these big tour buses. ... We didn't know what to expect. ... But they gave us as much respect as anybody."

 

Where many would step off the stage with bloated egos, tripping over their newfound stardom, Bartunek is quick to point out that Picture Atlantic, though feeling blessed by the opportunity and outpouring of fan support, isn't staking its entire career on that single moment—a defining event that does little to define the band. "Our drummer, Rico, made a really good point, and I thought this was a perfect analogy," says Bartunek. "He said this is like the pizza party at the end of the week that you get at school after you've sold enough magazine subscriptions. It's not going to make our grade, and it's not gonna make us pass high school, but it's a really cool moment that we're all very proud of. ... So for me the Coldplay thing is really cool, but I wouldn't want people to think that we're a one-trick pony in that sense."

 

However, performing in front of a large crowd is something they quickly warmed to. "The one thing that I felt was really cool ... [was] we were really scared before we went up to play, like we were really nervous," Bartunek says. "We usually don't get nervous, because we play local shows. But the thought of playing for so many people is pretty terrifying. But then we got up there, and the first 30 seconds were like, uuuhhh, and then everything after that was a lot easier than I expected it to be."

 

Blair said he had the opposite experience. "I didn't get nervous at all until after we played, and then the lights went out and we could see everybody, and I was like, oh, we just played for, like, 14,000 people." Compare that to a locally produced show with a capacity maxing out at a few hundred bodies and that's a dramatic difference in the number of eyes watching your every move.

 

Despite the scope of the audience, and even the interest generated from the show and subsequent plays of their songs on Live 105, Picture Atlantic isn't treating its post-Coldplay days as a sudden popularity contest. "We got hundreds of adds [on MySpace], but at the same time you can't really tell who's going to care the next day. We're being realistic about it," says Blair. The group has also received various offers since the show, but has yet to make any major changes and remains unsigned.

 

In terms of the future, Bartunek doesn't want to see Picture Atlantic trapped into a box of what others think they are or want them to be. "I feel like we should keep doing what we like and not worry so much about how it's going to end up ... but at the same time not be afraid to try different things, and really in essence get weirder without getting too weird," he says. "Because things have to change or you might get stuck in one spot and stay forgotten."

 

Blair has a similar goal to Bartunek and the millions of other bands in the world. "I just want to be able to make the music we want to make while gaining more recognition and respect for what we're doing, and touring full time," says Blair. In other words, he's seeking a little kleos—and deservedly so.

 

http://www.metroactive.com/metro/08.20.08/music-0834.html

[busybeeburns]

I know some of you on here like arse shots (I'm not too bothered personally :P) so here within is one you might be interested in ;)

 

http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/1507

 

 

 

 

[Christa42]

hooray!!!! :rolleyes:

[Ben Joven]

Welcome to the thread for the above show which can be used for all discussion prior to, during and after the show.

 

One thread one show - should hopefully keep everyone organised and up-to-date with Coldplay on the road.

 

Did you get tickets?

Are you looking for tickets?

Are you looking for ticket swaps?

Need help/directions on getting to the show?

Not sure what the arrangements and rules are for the particular venue is?

Are you just bloody excited?

Do you have a review for the show?

Did you take any pictures... share them here!

 

------------------------------------------------------

 

Setlist & Reviews

 

Photos

 

 

Coldplaying Charity Club Tour Merchandise. All proceeds go to Oxfam Unwrapped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the shop for more items and other colours.

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ4STMLqWgA

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTFx4MYnnYY

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ10EdM0AI8

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk1CEQdGAJY

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF_Nq9QUAC0

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOtN2jE8ZLk

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huE7vIqnsE8

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEm_aSHPdEY

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXor8jGHL40

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w74K5vDtHR0

 

 

<embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-3038161540502160845&hl=en&fs=true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed>

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NjWsLaocZc

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4808mkR_fOY

 

 

(Life in Technicolor & Violet Hill)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNEWOF-S7xk

 

 

(part of Square One, going into Speed of Sound)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdEVV2U_iWo

 

 

(ALL of The Hardest Part and Death Will Never Conquer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AreW2h2TPNM

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO4v6ahOvqA

 

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4808mkR_fOY

 

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hutKubfGVcM

 

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9133xxiA6uo

 

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_VUeSOdV1LY

 

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hufeekN2Ods

 

Thank you for posting that mate! I was there! Center stage 20 rows back...good times...best concert I've ever been too...my fav song was "lovers in japan"