tigermilk

I don't have a problem with sets of 90 minutes-I would prefer 2 hours, which you get from radiohead and others. The problem I feel is the darn set-list feels the same! Given we are four albums in, lots of hit songs, coldplay should have an entirely different set every night. They aspire to be like Radiohead then they should go watch radiohead for a week, you get +20 song sets that are unique-yes they play still play 5-7 new songs, but they are different new songs, different old songs every night. They do this because otherwise it gets boring for them. Okay they fluff their lines sometimes, but there is an edge to their performances which right now coldplay do not have in theirs. I went to LA and Vegas, and I can relate that I will not do two shows in the same tour again. Both were good, but both were almost the same. I am glad I didn't decide to go to 5 or 6 shows this tour.

There is nothing wrong with using a 'extra' member live. In fact most bands do this after a while. The usual justification is that it frees the frontman from having to just sit and play. Also sometimes a band needs to augment its sound with strings, horns etc. Sometimes it is just impossible to play every instrument live. Here is a list of some bands that use an 'extra' member live permamently or temporarily: The Killers, Muse, Manic Street Preachers, Travis, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Keane, U2, the verve, Beck, RHCP. Are you getting my point? I can confirm there is an extra member on this tour. They are off-stage. I heard the soundcheck for a 'off-stage keyboard'. Its not like coldplay are miming the performance.

I kinda agree with your sentiments there! I went to see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club last night in a bar in Vegas. A two hour set, which changed during the set. No lasers, no video, no screens, no gimmicks! It was very raw, dangerous and booming! I think Coldplay need to get out of playing the same old arenas and stadiums. You have to rely more on theatrics to reach your audience. The trouble Coldplay have now, is the production problems at the start, which postponed early dates. This means they are only set-up to perform more 20 songs, the tech guys are not set up to deal with a different set-list. They have to use the confetti, lasers, balls etc theres no improvisation or spontaneity! They were very ropey on the new material in vegas.

I think April/May, and a quick blast to Coachella and other festivals. It won't be that extensive-like 20 or 30 dates, more 6-8!

Set-lists should evolve and change. My God I would go crazy in Coldplay playing virtually the same sets every night. I think they are getting too bogged down in the technicalities of a concert ie. lasers, confetti, balls. Just concentrate on the songs. I have never come away from a gig thinking 'wow those lasers/confetti/balls/flying pigs made it all worth while'. It's the musical performance that stand alone.

I hope they give it a miss! It will be hard to beat 'Live'. It would need to be pretty substantial gig-like at least 20 songs. I would imagine a Wembley Stadium, London type event. It has to have a unique quality, looking at the set-list, reviews Chicago wasn't it!

I have to say I thought the merchandise was fairly bland and ordinary, a 12 year old could have come up with-lets see a T with the album cover, pics of the band members. the crap control did not go far enough!!

No, but it could fit in. They hit the UK in early Dec. But Salt Lake City, Vegas, LA, Phoenix makes some sense. But I think you have to wait for Coachella.

So I have heard rumors (from someone well connected with music media in vegas) that Coldplay will call back in Vegas between the salt lake city 11/22 and phoenix 11/26. Has anyone else heard this?

http://www.lvrj.com/news/25677599.html Here is the review from the Las Vegas Review Journal. I am enjoying reading everyones views-good or bad or indifferent. Everyone has a different experience to tell.

The merchandise was okay, nothing special so I bought nothing.

So to expand on my early review...I gave a 6.5/10. It was a good Coldplay concert, I am satisfied with my evening. Was it a great Coldplay concert? No, I can't say it was for me! But I have seen Coldplay headline Glastonbury and other memorable gigs in Australia, Italy, UK and US. So given past experience, this ranked as good. I mean everything was there, nice set-list, light show, stage, effects but it just felt like coldplay by numbers, the check list was ticked but inspiration lacked, though there was perspiration. I went to LA on Monday and thought that was a better performance. I thought the sound was off early in the set-Chris was trying to sort out the vocals with his tech. But the first two to three songs his vocals were off due to technical problems-which got fixed. But generally, I thought he sounded and looked tired-far less chatty than he usually is. It is a personal opinion but I think they should cut back on their touring/promoting schedules. They really do overload themselves and the effects of just one week of touring showed. I just got a general impression that this could be their last world tour for a long time! I can't explain it, but it was like watching 'the verve' before they split-up. There was some unexplainable strained tension to the performance. Maybe it is some cabin fever. Hopefully they can rest and relax!! But the highlights were the new material and some interesting mix-ups of older songs. It is nice how they actually use the arena and perform thru it. I can't really name a stand out moment song, I have 3 or 4! So all in all it was very good by most standards-just a good by coldplays much higher standards. Was it worth $100? Yeah, for front row seats next to the stage it was well worth it!

I would say it was a 6.5 out of 10. The band seem very tired and Chris seems more angsty.

just seen the band at the arena doing sound checks

For anyone interested, any remaining tickets will be on sale tomorrow at the MGM Arena Box Office. I have no info on the quantity or quality of tickets, but whatever are left will be there. I think the box office opens at 9am-though could be 10am.

Small cameras are good! I don't recall seeing any policy about cameras on any site-usually it is mentioned on ticketmaster or live nation!!

I would say marginally O2, it feels less featureless than most arena venues. The NIA is pretty much par for arenas, same as Sheffield, Manchester etc. Though neither are great, heart-warming or uplifting venues but all arenas feel that way. You will have a good time at either.

Okay, the ticketmaster auctions work like this. They have about 10-20 blocks of premium seats. Block 1 is the very best, block 2 the next best and so forth. In each block there are a number of seats-about 10 I think! So Block 1 may have 10 Row A tickets. You can just bid on a certain number of blocks or all of them or anything in between. Like any auction you enter the amount you are willing to pay. Your bid will stay in that block until higher bids overtake you. If this happen you will fall down to the next block-if you choose this. Like any auction you have no control over other bids and you can be outbid at the last moment. Also if you bid on all the blocks, you might start out at the top but end up at the very bottom. Also you have no control over what seats you get, for instance if you win a block in Row A-C, you could end up with seats in Row A, B or C. Another thing to watch out for is ticket delivery. Some ticketmaster auctions only have a will call collection option, some will send. But if it is important for you to have your tickets in hand you might want to check that. Finally, if bidding on every block of tickets, make sure you will be happy with the tickets at the bottom of the pile and bid accordingly. Hope that helps! Personally I hate the ticketmaster auctions but I am glad to offer advice!

I have heard a rumor that there is going to be 2nd date announced for the forum on the 16th and will announced after the tickets sell out for the 15th. Has anyone heard if this is true?

It is a horrible pre-sale. The top price tickets were only availble for a few areas and most of those were at the far reaches-in fact several seats were one seat away from the $75 tickets. I just could not spend $130 (almost-with fees!) for a ticket that gives you a view of a big screen!

and still some $75 seats for 2 to 4 people

and they are still going if anyone wants single seats-lots of choices

and log 7

There are still single seats available right now in Log 29

I got offered 13 pairs of tickets in the KROQ presale, they all sucked though! I just couldn't pay $100 for tickets at the back of the venue. The $100 tickets I got were all a joke. Nothing even close to a good seat! So I did not buy, my as well wait a few days for the Vegas gig where I have front row!