When a Palace of Auburn Hills employee handed me Wednesday night a pink wristband that had the words "Made in China" on it, I started to get doubts, writes the MLive in another media review of Coldplay's show at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI on Wednesday night (1 August). Catch up on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from these shows at the Coldplay Live forum here onwards now. Thanks to everyone who has contributed with tweets, photos, reviews, videos and comments! Read on for the rest of the MLive review article below...
This was, after all, a trip to go see Coldplay - with another man. And it already seemed a little strange. This is a concert you take a woman to. But since neither one of us have girlfriends, we scheduled a man-date. The good news about this event: Royal Oak resident Brian Wilson, my best fried since sixth grade, was a lock to have a good time because he’s a longtime Coldplay fan. Plus, he also got a pink wristband. I needed way more convincing that I was in the right place...
And surprisingly, I got it from these four British dudes who know how to make females swoon with their emotive lyrics. The night started with a lovely $10 meal (went went Dutch) at a Royal Oak Olga’s, and ended with me eagerly awaiting the next time this seven-time Grammy Award winning group returns to the D. It only took 14 years, but I know now why these guys are so popular. They are no longer considered by me the torturers of my soul, ones who made me depressed every time I heard them on the radio.
Eric LacyColdplay played The Palace at Auburn Hills on Aug. 1, 2012. They got some swag, an ability to show off some metal and a eclectic U2-like feel that boosts their international appeal. Plus, their innovative touch with those light up wristbands, including some in manly blue, turned The Palace into an eye-popping, fan-driven display of arena-rock electric hype in tones from all colors of the rainbow. Hell of a display. And those who saw it all, including myself, appeared to be drawn into the words and notes of Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin and his three mates: Johnny Buckland (lead guitar), Will Champion (drums) and Guy Berryman (bass). “Detroit!,’ Martin screamed before he addressed his bandmates. “It’s going to be a good one, boys.”
The more than 90-minute performance certainly was, and showed some Detroit-style grit from representatives of the United Kingdom who shockingly weren’t afraid to show force. “In return for being the best audience,” Martin yelled, “we’re going to play the best (bleeping) concert of your life!”
Martin certainly didn’t lack drive. He ended up wearing four different T-shirts throughout the night, likely because of perspiration from his often hyperactive stage presence. And it was the kind of approach that made fans scream for more, especially during Martin’s sweat-soaked version of “Yellow,” a signature track on the band’s first album, “Parachutes.”
As perspiration dripped from Martin’s chin and the side of his face, he bobbed his torso and legs back and forth at a piano. Then he quickly jumped to the guitar for what seemed like a harder than expected version of “Violet Hill.” At one point, during “Got Put A Smile Upon Your Face,” Martin threw one of his guitars about 30 feet in the air and caught it after admiring Buckland’s hypnotic heavy metal-style riffs.
What really reeled me in was the fact Coldplay enjoyed playing hard, with most of the slower, more melodramatic songs after the event’s first heart-bounding 40 minutes. But a lot of the same mellow tunes that often irked me when heard on the radio, didn’t seem too annoying Wednesday night since the intro was so fierce. Whether it was electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano or straight up singing, Martin and Co. clearly put in an honest night’s work. It was the type of performance that could’ve been considered live album material, at least from this concert reviewer novice’s perspective. And when Martin yelled, “If you see it then you’d understand,” during the band’s hit “Speed of Sound,” I couldn’t help but find a meaning to the phrase that suits me. At that moment, I finally fessed up to myself: “Ok Eric, Coldplay is actually good - really good.”
Yeah, these guys might have a feminine side to their choices of lyrics and brand - with all that gushy love and heartbreak stuff - but they can also let it rip, too. So I left The Palace with a new point of view, a new man. I finally get Coldplay; this ironically coming from the guy currently on page 144 of E.J. James’ “Fifty Shades of Grey.”
Call it maturity, I guess, or the fact I finally know what good music sounds like. No matter what kind of phenomenon took over me the other night, I’ll never forget it. Paradise, indeed Mr. Martin. Glad I finally became a witness. [Article ends]
New photos of Coldplay performing at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI (1st August 2012):
Photos courtesy of Detroit News
Thumb by rmcrpj @ Flickr
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]
3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]
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 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]
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]
10 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy 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]
9 London, UK @ Paralympics Closing Ceremony [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]
NOVEMBER 2012
10 Auckland, New Zealand @ Mt Smart Stadium [discussion]
13 Melbourne, Australia @ Etihad Stadium [discussion]
17 Sydney, Australia @ Allianz Stadium [discussion]
18 Sydney, Australia @ Allianz Stadium [discussion] [NEW!]
21 Brisbane, Australia @ Suncorp Stadium [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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