Mansfield review 3: Chris Martin spreads 'Yellow' fever (plus more APW photos)

The Coldplay of 2009 favours sounds that are both soft and subtle and loud and booming. They like mixing styles, throwing curveballs, and shifting between the sublime and the silly - a massive balloon drop during “Yellow” and butterfly-shaped confetti shooting everywhere during “Lovers in Japan.” The English quartet, who played Comcast Center last night for nearly two hours, put on a full-on rock show, writes the Boston Herald today.

Which is to say, singer Chris Martin is no longer the introspective piano player we met back in 2000. He has evolved into a Bono-esque rock star and showman, not bound to the piano of yore. He bounces around the stage untethered. He plays guitar but still spends some serious, quiet time at the ivories. From the rush of the opening “Life in Technicolor,” into “Violet Hill” and “Clocks,” it was clear Coldplay brought its A-game.

In a fictional survey taken at Comcast, it was revealed that 99% of the women wished they were Gwyneth Paltrow. That was likely, especially so during “In My Place,” with Martin begging for salvation, and in “Fix You,” where Martin promised to “learn from my mistakes” and “ignite your bones.”

Two things about the current Coldplay, though: They’re touring behind an album co-produced by Brian Eno, which means they’ve incorporated more texture and ambient, experimental sounds.

After a small-stage performance at the rear of the lawn - including an acoustic cover of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” - the sound system pumped out a techno mix of “Viva La Vida” until they returned to the main stage and kicked into “Politik.” There was grandeur. There was majesty. There was humility. Preceding Coldplay was the England-based quintet Elbow, augmented by two violinists. They were, at their best, hypnotic and atmospheric. On occasion, the music’s heft supported his gesturing, but too often it seemed like he and his band were Coldplay in training - sensitive rockers who wanted to be stars.

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, three siblings joined by their parents on stage (including former Raincoats drummer Ingrid Weiss), opened with a neo-retro set of swing and jump blues.

Source: Boston Herald

More photos from Coldplay's set at All Points West festival, Liberty State Park, New Jersey (2nd August 2009):