Coldplay, Monday night at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Pelham, Alabama. Review rating: Four out of five stars.
Who: Coldplay, four British pop-rockers who've enjoyed great success and endured scathing criticism. Some regard their music as exquisitely accessible; others slam the band as U2 lite.
When and where: 9:15 p.m. Monday at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Pelham. It's been six years since Coldplay performed in the Birmingham area.
Turnout: Ticketholders came close to filling the 10,650-seat amphitheater on a chilly night in May. Some empty seats could be spotted near the middle of the third tier, and a few remained open in the first tier.
Set list: About two hours of music, with an intense emphasis on "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends." The band played nearly everything from that 2008 disc, and pulled a couple of tracks from the EP that followed it, "Prospekt's March." Coldplay reached into the past, as well, including a few songs from each of its three previous recordings.
Frontman: Singer-guitarist Chris Martin (who also played keyboards) was the main attraction. He exuded charm and humor throughout the show, balancing extreme self-confidence with goofy self-deprecation. Martin was an ultra-physical presence on stage, using his body as a dramatic prop. He jerked to the music like a puppet on strings. He bounced like a kid on a pogo stick. He careened from corner to corner, knocked over the microphone stand and flopped on his back. Martin's voice? An expressive tenor that occasionally cracked on the sky-high notes.
Other band members: Impassive bassist Guy Berryman, energetic drummer Will Champion, reliable (and reliably non-flashy) guitarist Jonny Buckland. All performed skillfully, but Champion stood out for the muscular, animated style of his playing.
Music: Coldplay has matured with "Viva la Vida," an impressively layered music suite with orchestral leanings. It's serious and joyful, personal and political, expressing views on love and war. This show followed suit. Even Coldplay's older material ("Yellow," "Clocks," "The Scientist") seemed to acquire more depth and punch.
Visuals: Well conceived and creative, from the opening march (the band appeared waving sparkler torches, with an image of Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People" in the background) to the blizzard of butterfly confetti for "Lovers in Japan." Included jump-cut videos, screens shaped like Japanese lanterns, hallucinogenic lasers and a flurry of huge yellow balloons.
Locomotion: Two smaller stages were set up at the rear of the first tier and front of the third one. Coldplay moved to these -- raced, actually -- and performed a few tunes for faraway fans. Mini-sets there included an acoustic cover of the Monkees' "I'm a Believer."
Cons: Coldplay's faux-military costumes evoked a few giggles; after all, brass buttons, ornamental patches and shiny epaulettes are so Michael Jackson. Martin hit a few bum notes, and if you're immune to his spell, some of his theatrics would make your eyes roll.
Verdict: A highly entertaining show with a life-affirming sensibility. Also, Coldplay offered everyone a free live CD on the way out. What's not to like about that?
Source: blog.al.com
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