This Friday afternoon from 4pm Will and Chris will be chatting so Steve Lamacq, the man who first played them back in 1999

 

BBC6music can be found on UK digtal radio and Digital TV and online at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/steve_lamacq/

 

If you miss the interview, you can listen again via the website for upto 7 days.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTvj4xLZD_4

Thanks Phil :D

 

I'll be listening for sure.

 

Will and Chris again! :stunned: Other two must be on holiday :P

THanks! Not only can you listen for up to a week, but if you right-click you can save the interview in RealPlayer format. Let's hope Chris can stay in his seat the whole time,lol.

THanks! Not only can you listen for up to a week, but if you right-click you can save the interview in RealPlayer format. Let's hope Chris can stay in his seat the whole time,lol.

 

So you'll be tuning into the BB-squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee will you??:rolleyes:

Thanks!

Phil I'm guessing you work at 6music? What job do you do exactly - just wondering :P

BAD LIGHT STARTS 'PLAY

 

• Steve Lamacq
  
• 12 Jun 08, 01:28 PM

The last I heard, The Falcon pub in Camden, north London had literally been left to rot. The boards went up when the pub shut and the insides - witnessed by one potential purchaser - had grown dank and begun to disintegrate. If that's still the case, what an ignominious end for a building which once witnessed so many aspiring young indie rockers.

No matter that the backroom was dark and tiny and scruffy and that the walrus of a landlord used to seemingly delight in keeping you waiting at the bar until your hair fell out; The Falcon was still a reliable place to watch bands en route to the Top 40.

The lost nights just coming flooding back! Ride at their most earnest; a very drunk Teenage Fanclub making their London debut; The Sundays; a first glimpse of Elastica - and the night I sat outside on the pavement blissfully unaware that Suede were inside being crowned the Best New Band In Britain.

And then at the dawn of 1999, there was Coldplay. Looking handsomely anonymous despite the curly haired singer sat centre stage at a piano (on which was perched a rather nice globe atlas) they played to a crowd of about 30 people - 25 of whom they'd probably shared Halls Of Residence with.

I could almost feel myself sharpening my critical blade as they came on (already imagining the half hour of apologetic student rock that was to follow). But no. We whooped and cheered with the best of them.

For such a novice group, they were jaw-droppingly good. Out of step with lad rock and rock-rap their songs were angelic and embracing; already anthemic, but still a little insecure.

I mention this because it struck me the other day that this gig was over nine years ago. NINE YEARS! And here they are, the dress sense of a drunk Bono, back with a new record which marks the most interesting point in their career for ages.

The defiantly titled 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' arrives with all sorts of pressure attached. Like a gambler chasing his bets, EMI need it to sell to pay for their bus fare home; but this is an important album for the band as well, make no mistake. After the overly long 'X&Y', there is a sense that they need to prove themselves all over again with this record. They've had a relatively easy ride for a few years and now it's time to pay us back.

I think this is why Chris Martin frowns so much in photos. Martin is likeably weird at the best of times, but come the release of a record he appears to come out fighting...only to start beating himself up. It's that odd mix of pride in their songs and embarrassment at their own popularity.

And you can accuse Coldplay of many failings. But not, in this instance, complacency. Martin, told me unashamedly the other week that their plagiarism is still rampant: "We decided we could rip off anyone this time...the only band we wouldn't rip off was ourselves." Very telling don't you think? There is no going back to being the old Coldplay.

And although it's obviously still them, 'Viva La Vida' is a different sort of Coldplay album. It is shorter than 'X&Y' but has much more to it. It departs at tangents, where, you imagine producer Brian Eno opened the musical cupboard and pushed them in. Not only does it veer toward My Bloody Valentine at one point, there is a reawakening of the subtleties of their early days (Have they been listening to Simon & Garfunkel or Dylan?). It does have its big anthemic, swooping string-led, stand in a field and rejoice moments....but essentially this is Comfort Rock slightly outside its comfort zone.

For what it's worth, having lived with it for a few weeks I think 'Viva' is a honest, and very positive progression. Martin writes for the first time from other character's perspectives (again, challenging himself) while the rest of the band seem to have more freedom to roam. There are a few loose ends which - although dangling tantalizingly in the direction of the future - leaves it unfinished (like a two part ITV crime drama). But rather that than the predictable ZZZZZs to follow 'X&Y'.

Most of all, I like the fact that they've given themselves a kick up the backside. Let's face it, if they hadn't, there would have been no shortage of takers.

.

Phil I'm guessing you work at 6music? What job do you do exactly - just wondering :P

 

 

I basically run the place ;)

:lol: Sounds like a great job.

 

Quick question, is the interview pre-recorded or are they going to be there live?

:lol: Sounds like a great job.

 

Quick question, is the interview pre-recorded or are they going to be there live?

 

It's pre-recorded from yesterday

Thanks :D

It's pre-recorded from yesterday

 

then I hope Chris was not on a bad mood 'cause Radio 4 episode

I'll be looking foward to it :)

Can't wait to hear it when I get home...that is cool if you can save it too.

Let's hope no strange things happened.

I can't imagine it would with Steve, they like Steve, Steve isn't a snooty nobhead :P

Let's hope no strange things happened.

nah they've known steve for ageeeess.....the guy on that "front row" interview was just ...not friends with coldplay at all

Who's listening now then?

crap! He just said after 5...:dozey:

crap! He just said after 5...:dozey:

yeah i know :( might just work out "lovers in japan" on guiitar till then then :D

Not that bad, the show is on until 7 so he could've left it til 6 :idea2:

is there anyway I can unblock a site?...I am able to get to the site, but can't get to the realplayer part.

 

:( aww...I loved it when I could hear online radio hear at work.

Not that bad, the show is on until 7 so he could've left it til 6 :idea2:

 

 

Damn you Mich! Quit being so reasonable!:P

Not that bad, the show is on until 7 so he could've left it til 6 :idea2:

ya suppose......i like never listened to the radio before coldplay started doing a million interviews at once lol...just the odd russell brand or zane lowe show before that...anyone else listen to the russell brand show?

Damn you Mich! Quit being so reasonable!:P

 

:lol:

 

Sorry.

 

I mean DAMMIT I WANT THEM NOW :bomb: