You know how I know I’m gay? OK. Obvious, sure. But it’s important to remember that the music of Coldplay was once tagged, for an entire Judd Apatow generation, with a disparaging definition of the word, writes the Calgary Herald website, in another positive review of last night's Coldplay concert in Calgary (18th April). Catch up on even more of the latest tweets, pictures, videos from this show at the Coldplay Live forum now - thanks to everyone who has contributed so far! Read on for the Calgary Herald review article...
They were considered by some an effeminate act whose songs could be enjoyed by women and only men of non-hetero orientation. Well, that was the 40 Year Old inference, anyway. And, slur aside, it was a stigma the band, in recorded form, anyway, was stuck with for the first half decade of its career, with a catalogue that was as precious as it was often moribund — navel-gazing music for sensitive souls.
Remarkable, then, that over the course of the last two albums, beginning with Viva La Vida etc. and fully realized on the current release, Mylo Xyloto, that the U.K. quartet has embraced the word — or rather reclaimed the original context of the word. Happy. As in happy music for happy people. And Wednesday night at the Saddledome in front of a sold-out crowd, Chris Martin and Co. put on an unabashed celebration of happy, an uncontested display of fun that the sadsack Saddledome hasn’t seen in some time.
It was a night of joy, bliss, lightness and, above all else, fun, with a soundtrack and a stage show that had only those things as their focus. That tone was set immediately, the second you walked through the doors and were handed a free, high-tech wristband, which would later light up as the band took the stage and launched into an exuberant version of Hurts Like Heaven, and then intermittently throughout the show. Visually, it was a stunning moment that lifted the spirits of everyone in the room, paving the way for further eye candy by way of laser lights, a fluorescent graffiti wall, circular screens and beach ball balloons.
But while the party favours fed into the ebullience of the evening, it was the music, its energy and its delivery that truly made it one of the better stadium shows. True, the band still dipped into the drippy and dramatic piano balladry that many chose to define them by — The Scientist was an early offering and a pretty great one, at that — but it was merely one flavour, one colour in a palette that is far more complex than many are willing to give them credit for.
They laid that out masterfully throughout the next 90 minutes or so, changing the tempo, but never that upbeat mood, with a selection of songs that ranged from the classic track Yellow to the wonderful Rihanna collaboration Princess of China — diva appearing on video screen — to spectacular versions of Violet Hill, God Put A Smile, Viva La Vida, Paradise and Fix You. Musically, they’re as tight and powerful an arena act as any other — they really did sound fantastic, bringing the muscle out when necessary, pulling back when need be, and generally filling the room with their melodies and lush instrumentation.
They physically did the same, making great use of the main stage, the catwalk — where Martin exercised often and which they planted themselves in the middle of for a few tracks — and even the audience, where the band popped up in the middle of for the first encore. And as hosts, no, they’re not the chattiest of cats, the frontman offering the minimum of banter, making an exception when they screwed up a song — second show of the tour, we’ll give them a free pass — and an audience member urged them to start again.
“Even when you’re the seventh biggest soft rock band from England, you still need encouragement,” the vocalist said to great applause and to even greater delight. Which was the evening in a nutshell. It really was gay old time — in all of it’s fabulous, fantastic and flamboyant connotations. It certainly got off to a simmering, simply wonderful start with sister act The Pierces. Around for more than a decade, but new to more than a few, the Alabama-bred sibs — Catherine and Allison Pierce — and their exceptional backup band delivered a steady 30-minute cool breeze of sweet, West Coast new classic rock to a surprisingly strong early audience.
From the California Dreaming sound of Kissing You Goodbye to the suitably titled closer Glorious, they gave an impressive showcase of songs from their latest album, You & I, one which appeals with its fresh-faced take on the Fleetwood Mac feel. Fair-haired Catherine certainly invited the comparisons, with her gorgeous, witchy voice and a summery dress with Nicksian sleeves. But it never seemed as if it was affected, merely a natural musical, textural and physical display of sand, sal****er, surf and sunshine.
As for synthy, British pop act Metronomy, it was a little less successful, but still in keeping with the overall theme of the evening. The British band, too, is a decade-plus veteran, but the Coldplay slot was presumably an introduction for most of those in attendance, and the group seemed invigorated by the challenge and opportunity, bouncing around and making the most of the room afforded at the centre of the stage. Sonically, though, there was a little dark, broodiness in their nu wave set, some of that foreboding that the ’80s and its cold war environment bred, but still, there was an underlying peppiness thanks to the bleeps, blorps, beats and cowbell action in the discordantly catchy songs.
Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:
FEBRUARY 2012
8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]
9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]
10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]
12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]
16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]
17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]
21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]
MARCH 2012
2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]
4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]
APRIL 2012
17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]
18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]
20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]
21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]
24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]
25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]
27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]
28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]
MAY 2012
1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]
18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]
20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]
22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]
24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]
26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]
29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]
JUNE 2012
1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]
9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]
10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]
22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]
23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]
25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]
26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]
28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]
29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]
JULY 2012
2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]
3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]
5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]
6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]
8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]
9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]
23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]
24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]
26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]
27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]
29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]
30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]
AUGUST 2012
1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]
3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]
4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]
7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]
8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]
11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]
28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]
30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]
SEPTEMBER 2012
2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]
4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]
6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]
12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]
14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]
16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]
19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]
22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]
Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)
Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)
Read also: 2012: Live Appearances - Easy Thread Finder (last updated - 12th January 2012)
Read also: 2012 tour date rumours (please post dates for ALL countries in here)
Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]
The new range of Coldplaying merchanise (unofficial of course to the official shop) has hit our stores, with our biggest range of goods so far. Prices are as low as they can be for a Cafepress shop so more people will be able to afford them. We don't take any profits for the sale of the merchandise as a result. Take a browse in one of the online stores nearest to you: UK | US | Canada | Australia | European (shipping is worldwide, but you can choose what currency to pay in) - simply alter the country dropdown menu at the top of the shop page. [thanks to TracieMorgan and zzz]
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