Coldplay has plenty of reasons to be pompous. The London-based rock band has won seven Grammy awards, and is currently one of the biggest acts in the world. Still, in its Saturday night performance at the Comcast Theatre in Hartford, the group displayed humility and appreciation, genuinely thanking its fans for its current success.
Early on, lead singer Chris Martin promised to give "eight-million percent" effort, because he appraised his last Hartford performance as "less than fantastic." Coldplay redeemed itself through a nearly two-hour set of nonstop energy.
"Speed of Sound" grew from ethereal piano to a swirl of thrashing guitar and drums, backed by cryptic lyrics of questions and answers. Martin yelped in falsetto behind a piano draped with a flag for "Viva La Vida," the band's latest album, as multicolored laser lights rushed across the stage.
Coldplay started "Yellow" with electric fervor before calming for its emotional lyrics and then rebuilding an attack on the chorus, accompanied by two dozen large, confetti-filled yellow beach balls bouncing through the packed arena.
"42" began as a piano-driven ballad, with black-and-white footage of the band playing projected on a screen, creating the feel of a mysterious film noir. The drums and bass picked up midway to craft a pounding, U2-like rock sound backed by flashing red and black images of the band, before closing with a return to the dramatic style of the song's opening.
After "Strawberry Swing," a rootsy tune with a jig-like feel, band members journeyed into the first tier of seats beyond the pit, where they tore through "Talk" atop a platform equipped with guitars and an upright piano. The rest of the band returned to the stage to allow Martin a spotlighted performance of "The Hardest Part," showcasing his nimble fingers and adroitness on the piano. After returning to the stage, Martin theatrically collapsed on his back, exhausted.
The band later ventured out onto the lawn, leading the crowd in a cellphone light wave throughout the theater, and improvising a song about the importance of playing for the people in the back of the arena. The band returned for an encore that included the simple, driving piano lines of "The Scientist."
Singer-songwriter Pete Yorn's pop with sensitive lyrics and a rough edge opened the show, mixing sentimental ballads and up-tempo, rock-tinged tunes, including some from his forthcoming record, "Back and Forth," to be released June 23.
Source: courant.com
Pictures: John Packer
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