Another review from coldplay.com
Review from the Citizen [thanks hilts17].
Coldplay launched its eagerly anticipated, practically sold-out concert at Scotiabank Place last night with an unexpected punch.
Singer Chris Martin, his spotless white runners reflecting the lights, jumped and cavorted around the stage as he sang the opening song, Square One. Even when he was at the piano during the next tune, Politik, he seemed unable to stay still.
Was this the same band that bored me to tears the last time it played in Ottawa? And whose latest record, X&Y, puts me to sleep every time I hear it?
Yes, but it was on fire last night, not content to simply bask in the devotion of a crowd of 15,000 worshippers. Plus, it earned some valuable indie-rock street cred by dedicating God Put A Smile on Your Face to Arcade Fire, the hot Montreal band.
“Everybody is so happy here because they know that the Arcade Fire comes from just a few miles away,” Martin said. “You’ve produced the best band in history.”
Nice. There was even an element of fun early in the show, as dozens of huge yellow beach balls were released over the crowd to mark Yellow, Coldplay’s breakthrough hit of a few years ago.
This is an interesting new development for Coldplay, who do not strike me as a band that might be fun. Under the direction of a perfectionist like Martin, their music is dramatic and serious and completely devoid of emotion.
Or so I thought. But last night, Martin needed a haircut, there was a tear in the armpit of his black shirt and he sang like he really, really meant it. The show’s high point was Clocks, when the singer bent himself backward over his piano stool, while red lasers beamed overhead.
Other noteworthy moments were his renditions of two Johnny Cash songs, the Coldplay radio hits that had everyone singing along and Martin’s brief foray off stage to visit fans in the stands.
Out in the crowd, it was date night, but couples who had been planning to snuggle through the show were jolted to their feet by the strobing lights and surprising power of the music. Everyone got more than they bargained for.
Martin gave his old mate, Richard Ashcroft, the honour of opening for him on this leg of the tour.
But it wasn’t until late in Ashcroft’s set that fans put two-and-two together and realized the shaggy singer was the former frontman of Brit rockers the Verve.
What did it take to jog their collective memory? The mega-hit Bittersweet Symphony, of course. “I’m happy to be the only guy in the world who can truly sing this song,” Ashcroft said, as the opening motif drew squeals of recognition.
Before that moment, Ashcroft and a four-piece band played songs from his new disc, Keys to The World, which, Ashcroft complained, he wasn’t able to sell it to people who wanted it, apparently because of some record-company glitch.
Ashcroft gave a solid performance nonetheless, highlighted by the new songs Music is Power and Break The Night With Colour. His renowned ego appeared intact — Ashcroft said Martin would have to be one “confident motherf—ker” to follow him. Huh? Turned out he was just kidding: “He is a talented dude. Enjoy the show.”
SETLIST:
Sqaure One
Politik
Yellow
Speed Of Sound
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face
X&Y
How You See The World
Don’t Panic (w/ Jonny Buckland)
White Shadows
The Scientist
‘Til Kingdom Come
Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash Cover)
Trouble
Clocks
Talk
———-
Swallowed In The Sea
In My Place
Fix You