The show: Grammy-winning Coldplay made its San Antonio debut at the AT&T Center on Wednesday with Snow Patrol and Howling Bells. The acclaimed British band is touring behind its album 'Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends,' writes my SA blogs (San Antonio Express News).
Attendance: About 12,500 people, mostly older teens and twenty-somethings.
First take: Sure, they've got the album of the year and are unquestionably at the height of their creative power, but Coldplay also showed that their creativity doesn't stop at the studio's door. They came onstage to entertain, waving sparklers, and they dazzled from that moment on, with everyone on their feet. The complex opener "Violet Hill" gave way to the smash hit "Clocks," with kinetic singer Chris Martin bouncing on his piano throne.
High-tech moments with split-screen video globes and dreamy symphonic modern rock resided easily next to the unplugged moments such as the Monkees' "I'm A Believer" at the back of the arena, off the main stage. "Fix You," beautiful and hopeless, may have been the most powerful moment of the night. Dozens of confetti-filled giant balloons during "Yellow" were quite fun.
Ice age: Opening act Snow Patrol delivered a 45-minute set of gorgeous electronic guitar pop, which pulsated under Gary Lightbody's warm vocals. While the slow-building "Run" seemed especially heartbreaking, tinged with a raw Kurt Cobain melancholy, "Shut Your Eyes" bubbled with its off-kilter chording. There is no denying Lightbody's love song mastery on "Chasing Cars," a stunning track live. Also on the bill was Howling Bells, another young band that can thaw cold hearts.
Coldplay at the AT& T Center, San Antonio, TX (10th June 2009):
Pictures by sa_spurs_tx
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