Noblesville, Ind. - When an enormous yellow beach ball bounced out of the audience and hit bassist Guy Berryman in the head in front of more than 20,000 fans in attendance, he couldn’t help but turn to his fellow Coldplay band mates and laugh, writes the Indianapolis Star.
Lead singer songwriter, Chris Martin, with a wide smile, launched the ball back into the crowd, but only after he’d boyishly kicked it around the stage to his satisfaction and the crowd’s amusement.
The prop was released with 20 more or so of the same as a tangible way to get the audience involved during the foursome’s performance of their single, “Yellow.” But it was the candidness seen in the reaction of the multi award-winning band onstage to a silly circumstance that kept the audience captivated for two full hours of music. Even the edges of seats in the Verizon Wireless Music Center weren’t sufficient means to prepare for whatever would happen next. Collectively, the crowd stood the entire time.
The beginning of the show on June 5, 2009, gave the band a bit of trouble when technical effects were masked in sunlight, which still shined brightly as they graced the stage at 9 P.M. Front man Martin later laughed off the awkward start to the show in a transitional spiel when he disclosed the two things he’d learned that evening; that “lasers don’t work in broad daylight” and to “know what to call your audience,” after being received with unified giggles when he addressed its members as “Indianans.”
But at the first guitar twang of “In My Place,” the crowd erupted in cheers and whistles from the seats to the lawn. At the peak of the song, Martin pointed his microphone towards the audience and, as if casting a spell, magically transformed the venue into an impromptu chorus upon his invitation to sing as loudly as possible. The sun had set by the end of the song, and the ear-to-ear grins of the members of Coldplay reflected the comfort they felt after finally finding solid ground and a sound that struck a chord with their fans. Longtime Coldplay follower, Corey Alston, was on the verge of tears when Martin dedicated his favorite song, “Fix You” to “everyone on the lawn”-a population that included Alston himself.
“I seriously thought I might cry,” Alston said. “I was looking forward to that concert more than any other concert I’ve ever been to. It meant so much to feel like Chris (Martin) actually knew I was there.”
Coldplay had already taken steps to show appreciation for its fans and their support before its U.S. summer tour began. On May 15 of this year, the band made its live album, “LeftRightLeftRightLeft” available as a free download from its official website, and announced that the same album would be passed out at every Coldplay show scheduled on the tour. According to the band’s website, “the give-away is meant as a recession-busting mark of gratitude to everyone who’s supported (Coldplay).”
“Playing live is what we love,” the band said, in a statement on their website regarding the free release. “This album is a thank you to our fans - the people who give us a reason to do it and make it happen.”
It seemed an extension of Coldplay’s gratitude when the band walked off the main stage, meandered through the aisles of the lower level seats, and made its way to a second, smaller stage set up in the midst of the fans themselves. Even those on the lawn began running down the enormous length of stairs, past security guards at the greater odds of getting away with seeing the band up close. Lawn ticketholder Kristen McKeon jumped over a barred section of seating when it became obvious the band was meeting its further-away fans halfway, and swears she was no more than 15 feet from Martin as he played and sang, “The Hardest Part.”
“I can’t believe I did that,” McKeon said. “I can’t believe the band did that. It’s amazing and awesome and obvious that (Coldplay) went out of their way to give everyone that showed up their money’s worth. I will never forget this.”
Neither will general admission ticketholders, who hardly predicted getting a $100 glimpse of Coldplay-the price of choice seating in the lower level. The band returned to the main stage and played through songs from their most recent LP, “Viva la Vida,” before they abandoned the stage once more to weave through the audience. The spotlight that followed their path disappeared for a few seconds, only to reveal their new place on the lawn. An avalanche of people rushed from the furthest corners of the venue to the base of the hill where the British quartet relocated and asserted both literal and metaphorical common ground when their cover of the Monkees,’ “I’m a Believer” broke into a massive sing-along.
Coldplay returned to the stage one last time, and the music ended with the bang of confetti canons during the song, “Lovers in Japan” and a long-winded “thank you” from Martin on behalf of the band. The venue lights came on and unveiled thousands of people scrambling for their free albums and pieces of confetti. The ending lyrics of the final song on “Viva la Vida” played over the loudspeakers-”in the end, we lie awake and dream of making our escape.” But as fans raved and reminisced on the eventful evening and scavenged for something to remember the night by, it was apparent that the act of leaving was no such “escape.”
Coldplay at Verizon Wireless Music Center, Indianapolis, IN (5 June 2009):
Pictures by coldplaymama
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