12 August 2002: Bowery Ballroom, New York, USA
From WikiColdplay
Setlist
- Politik
- Shiver
- Spies
- Daylight
- Trouble
- One I Love
- Don’t Panic
- Everything’s Not Lost
- Hungry Heart
- See You Soon
- God Put A Smile Upon Your Face
- Yellow
- The Scientist
Encore - Clocks
- In My Place
- Life Is For Living
Encore - Songbird
- Lips Like Sugar
Fan Reviews
This was the first time I was ever at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City and what better band to see there but Coldplay.
This venue is about one of the smallest venues on the club tour. The crowd once again was amazing and contained the likes of Oasis and Gwenyth Paltrow.
As usual the opening act was the DVD promoting free trade, which Chris is now an advocate for. Around 10pm, the lights went off and Coldplay entered the stage starting out with “Politik” which displayed the rhythmic lights and energetic atmosphere.
Chris was engaged in sweat about 2 minutes into this song. His energy is just never ending.
The setlist perceives to be about the same as the other shows on the club tour. “God Put a Smile on Your Face” was dedicated to “people who have recently been in a car accident” obviously referring to Oasis.
The 2nd Encore was an Oasis cover called “Songbird”. I thought this took a lot of guts to do right in front of the band that wrote the song. But Chris performed this song flawlessly.
“Lips like Sugar” was the second song they performed which is a cover of Echo and the Bunnymen. This was dedicated to Maria. Maria is one of my dear friends who deserves every recognition for being one of Coldplay's greatest fans. She truly loves this band for the music and what they stand for so when I heard Chris dedicate this song to Maria I was overjoyed.
I saw Coldplay at Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia for the club tour and now at Bowery Ballroom in New York City and out of both of the two shows I think Bowery was the most intense and amazing Coldplay show I have been to yet.
The band puts all their heart and soul into their music. Chris has the most energy I have ever seen out of any front man ok maybe Andrew W.K. might beat him (not that I saw him in concert). It is just nice to go to see a band that loves the music and their fans.
Setlist for Bowery Ballroom:
Politik Shiver Spies Daylight One I love Trouble See You Soon The Scientist God put a Smile... Don't Panic Yellow Everything's Not lost
ENCORE 1
Clocks
In My Place
Life is for living
ENCORE 2
Songbird (Oasis cover)
Lips like sugar (Echo and Bunnymen cover)
Review by : Christi Shingara
Here is a review of my fairly amazing night leading up to the show. Skip to last paragraphs if you just want to read about the show itself.
Bowery tix were almost impossible to get. mostly industry people. I arrived at 6pm hoping to find some scalpers. Heard all of "A Rush of Bloor" by this time and was instantly in love with it. There were about 20 people just waitingaround a no scalpers anywhere.
The band was warming up inside and it was very easy to hear, very cool. About 7pm, Chris came right outside to speak to a few fans that he must have known. He gave a ticket to one guy who apparently was supposed to have received four but only got three. Great to see him up close.
A few scalpers showed selling fake tickets. People who bought were rejected at the door and overall things were not looking good to get in.
A line formed by the Capitol Records door of people hoping that some tickets would be released. I almost left around 8:30 but decided to just stick it out with my wife. So, we're numbers 10 and 11 in line. About 9pm the head doorman comes to the line and starts counting- he gets up to me at 10 and then stops and tells us to go in. I tell him my wife, good old #11 is with me but he's says no dice. I thought for a second about going in but the consequences afterward would not have been worth it- even for CP. I told my wife she would be referred to as #11 form now on if we didn't get in because she was originally supposed to wait first in the line while I looked for scalpers but she didn't. So we let the girl behind us go in.
After a tense 45 minutes later he came back and let a large group of people in.
Standing in the balcony early to get a great view and the boys from Oasis show up. Noel is right behind me so I take the opportunity. Here is a close transcript - no B.S.
Me - you recovered form the accident? (tense moment - went over nice and smooth, you never know if one of those two will haul off and crack you in the face with a Pint of Guinness or something)
Noel - yes, physically, never sure mentally
Me - None of us are ever sure mentally
He laughed, I think, or just thought I was some freak
Me - so what do you think about the shit these guys (Coldplay) are doing?
Noel - Them? (referring to stage)
Me - yeah
Noel - THEY ARE THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD!!!
He said that immediately, with no bullshit and total conviction.
Noel - God Put a Smile is the best song I've ever heard.
Pretty amazing to have Oasis say something like that...
Then before "God Put a Smile..." Chris says "This is dedicated to people who get in car accidents" then laughed and said,"Seriously, get better soon."
Then Guy Berryman shows up and hangs out with Oasis for about 45 minutes.
Gwenyth Paltrow sneaks behind and into a VIP section- sings almost every song except the new stuff.
Show starts off like all the rest, amazing Politik which demonstrates all of Chris's talents right off the bat.
The most amazing thing is to be able to see a band in such a close area and right before they are about to explode. After the release of "A Rushof Blood..." things are going to get a lot crazier. You can just sense it coming and we were lucky enough to catch genius on it's way up.
The rest of the set-list is below. almost every song was amazing, Chris emotion, passion, talent, and energy are so refreshing amidst today's music world of marketing, money, and a majority of bands who don't play instruments or just play the same three chords- thank god as always for music form the UK.
Johnny is so smooth on guitar - combo of Edge and Gilmour, very subtle and compliments Chris so well - does not overdo anything and gets his moment on "One I Love" and "In My Place" - uses a lot of slide guitar which sounds incredible if you listen close.
Highlights were:-
Clocks- just an incredible song, ending jam where Chris explodes "..and nothing else compares..." sends shivers down my spine.
Don't Panic - the faster, upbeat version.
Life is for Living- extended jam at the end with echo on Chris's voice and great guitars - tremendous.
See You Soon - just a beautiful song.
The Scientist - all Chris mixed with Bono's influence.
Setlist:-
Politik Shiver Spies Daylight One I love Trouble See You Soon The Scientist God put a Smile... Don't Panic Yellow Everything's Not lost
ENCORE
Clocks
In My Place
Life is for living
2nd ENCORE
Oasis Cover - Songbird
Lips like sugar
Only downer was crowd a bit- most didn't know the new songs to be fair so couldn't really jam them but overall they were a too low-key.
~Chris Paladino
Media Reviews
Coldplay are taking on the world, quietly but oh-so-surely, together...
If Coldplay's ascent to fame seems impressive so far, the latest chapter in their story is positively a fairy tale. After moving grown men to tears at this year's Glastonbury Festival, the London-based four piece are now proving old habits don't have to die hard. While Travis toiled, Blur failed and Oasis nearly destroyed themselves trying, Coldplay have charmed their way into the hearts of America with the same disarming vulnerability and buoyant determination that propelled them from Camden Monarch to the Gareth Gates-challenging bona fide pop stars they are today.
Next month, they play a 15,000 capacity arena here in New York but tonight is a warm-up club date for just 600 - and Gwyneth Paltrow - to get people talking again. By the time the final bars of the mighty apocalyptic set (and album) opener 'Politik' swirl away to nothing, they're doing less chattering, more gaping. The band's new material, from forthcoming album 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head', simply takes your breath away. It's everything we have always loved about Coldplay, but without the trace of self-doubt and shadow of inexperience that characterised a band just out of college. Since debut album 'Parachutes' was penned, frontman Chris Martin has - like it or not and whatever he says, he invariably loves it - become a celebrity. Thankfully that's only bolstered his confidence in his own feelings and ability and ensured he no longer feels the need to apologise for who he is. Tonight's stunning stand-out track, the plaintive, regretful 'The Scientist', is typical, laying his soul bare without flinching. 'God Put A Smile On Your Face' is its antithesis, a defiant, rousing call to arms that has Chris hopping on the spot, stamping his foot and jerking his head, while the moody, incessant throb of 'Daylight' is perfect film soundtrack material. Even the covers squeezed into the bonus second encore - Oasis' 'Songbird' and Echo & the Bunnymen's 'Lips Like Sugar' - somehow put the originals to shame.
But that's only half the (success) story. Each time you're hypnotised by Coldplay, the spell is shattered as soon as Chris opens his mouth - and it's this that makes them so damn endearing to the New Yorkers here. He thanks everyone continually; dedicates one track to "anybody who's been in a car accident recently" in a nod to audience member Noel Gallagher; manages a jibe about American football talent in the lyrics of 'Everything's Not Lost' (only to apologise profusely afterwards, of course) and sings a few lines from Bruce Springsteen's 'Hungry Heart' for "those of you who couldn't get tickets" to The Boss's gig across town.
While he may have all the good lines, don't think this is all just about Chris. The Bowery's close confines highlight how far the others have come too. For a start, Coldplay now really look like a band. From guitarist Jonny Buckland's scruffy tranquility as he closes his eyes to sing backing vocals to bassist Guy Berryman's intent aloofness, it's finally obvious that like every truly great band, this would not work without all four members. In what must be this year's ultimate happy ever after, Coldplay are taking on the world, quietly but oh-so-surely, together. And nothing can stop them now.
Siobhan Grogan
http://www.nme.com/reviews/coldplay/6650
