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19 July 2009: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine, CA, USA

From WikiColdplay

19 July 2009: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine, CA, USA (picture by lfdianne
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19 July 2009: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine, CA, USA (picture by lfdianne


Contents

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Setlist

  1. Life In Technicolor
  2. Violet Hill
  3. Clocks
  4. In My Place
  5. Yellow
  6. Glass Of Water
  7. Cemeteries Of London
  8. 42
  9. Fix You
  10. Strawberry Swing
  11. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (Partial Techno Remix)
  12. Talk (Partial Techno Remix)
  13. The Hardest Part (Chris Solo Piano)
  14. Postcards From Far Away (Chris Solo Piano)
  15. Viva La Vida
  16. Lost!
  17. Green Eyes (acoustic)
  18. Death Will Never Conquer (Acoustic, sung by Will)
  19. Billie Jean (Michael Jackson cover - Acoustic)
  20. Viva La Vida (Remix Interlude)
  21. Politik
  22. Lovers In Japan
  23. Death And All His Friends
    Encore
  24. The Scientist
  25. Life In Technicolor ii
  26. The Escapist (Outro)
[edit]

Photos

Photos from this show can be found at Coldplaying.com in the Gallery thread for Irvine. http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/

[edit]

Videos

Videos from this show can be found in the first post of the Coldplaying forum live thread for this show at http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55695

[edit]

Discussion

All post-show discussion for this show at the forum thread: http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55695

[edit]

Fan Reviews

All fan reviews have been submitted to us by the members of Coldplaying.com[1], unless stated otherwise.

Were you at the KROQ party? I was, and I was very disappointed. Not blaming the band by any means, i think their management overscheduled them today, and the meet and greet was kind of disorganized. We waited for nearly 2 hours for less than 5 minutes with the band. Just enough time for a group shot, there were 4 groups of about 20, that the band just went from group to group from and posed. This was while Magnificent was playing, so it was really cutting it close. But when it comes down to it, I was right up against Will in the group picture, I kind of tailed him from one group shot to ours, and spoke to him for a few seconds- and he thanked me whenI told him that I thought Saturday's show at Home Depot Center was amazing, and hoped I would enjoy the show. I shook hands with Chris, and my husband says Chris put his arm around him in the picture - I was glued to Will, so I don't even know where anyone else was.

I just transferred 250 pics from my camera to my computer - I brought in my Nikon dslr with my zoom lens, and they didn't search my purse closely enough. Our seats were good, and right on the aisle that they ran up to get to C stage, so they high fived us as they ran up. Amazing.

Oh and we saw Gwyneth, she was sitting in the boxes in Sec. 6. The during Viva Remix, some people started leaving. Since we were in Orchestra and had wristbands (from the meet and greet), we just walked down the stairs about 10 rows for a song, then my husband cut across the section, and we got down to row 3 for LIT2. Amazing. But it's late, so I need to go to bed.

But this show was better than last night, I thought. Chris was more talkative, and we had better seats, which probably added to it. I'm still on a Coldplay high, but am sad that after 5 months, it's over. And on the way out, I asked one of the computer/sound guys for a set list, so he gave me one from tonight.

Being so close to the band was just flat out amazing. My husband and I walked down to the 3rd row for The Scientist and LIT2. We had row U orchestra seats and when people started leaving, we made our move. There was no one in front of us in the seats, but security was standing in the way and we didn't want to even talk to them in case they made us move back. I'm tall and Jonny looked right at me a few times, and flashed his bright smile. We had briefly, very briefly, met them for a photo op backstage right before the show started. But Im sure he didn't rememember that I was one of the 80 who were back there. The girl who had the seats next to us said the band manager was sitting there for most of the show. I thought it was better and more fun than Saturday's show. I asked Brooke the roadie on the way out which show he thought was better and he wasn't sure. I told him that I'd seen him at Saturday's show, too. He said he likes the stadium shows, but from my perspective, as a fan in the 19th row on the floor, behind the massive pit, I prefer Verizon Amphitheater more than the huge stadium. Pit would have just put me over the edge, lol. How did you manage to get those tickets?

But now I'm a bit sad it's all over. 4 concerts in 13 months just isn't enough. And with the disappointment of the rushed meet and greet, it's a let down after months of anticipation. But they are my very favorite band, and were genuinely nice for the 30 seconds I got to speak to Will and my husband spoke with Chris. And Chris apologized to us for having to rush through it - it was management scheduling, I think, and trying to plan too much for one day, with the Capitol records private concert earlier in the day, all the way in Hollywood, then it's also and LA show and filled with VIPs and celebrities, and I heard there was an afterparty, too. So my little meet and greet suffered from the overscheduling.

[lfdianne]

I just got back from the show and it was the best night of my life! Me and my best friend were front row center and omg I still can't believe it! I made eye contact several times with the boys and Chris even smiled at me its just an amazing feeling to know that they knew I was there and noticed me you know! Oh and I also got a set list!thank you coldplay for the best night of my life, I will never forget it. Oh also posted a picture of the set list on my twitter.

I am still trying to get my head around the awesomeness that was last night, it feels like a dream. Me and my best friend got to the venue at about 4, we had pit tickets and we couldn't find anyone else in line that had pit tickets so we were excited. They finally oppened up the doors and we ran like hell up to the steep hill to the venue. We got it, showed our tickets and got wrist bands right as we entered the pit, there was hardly anybody there and we ended up with front row centers, I couldn't believe it, I almost died!I kept looking back to the loge seats where I had witnessed my 2nd coldplay concert four years ago at the same venue and could not believe that I achieved my dream of seeing them front row center for this one, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be that close to my favorite band in the world. The oppening bands came out a little before 7, and they were awesome! I caught jonny on the side of the stage rocking out to the 2nd oppening band. Coldplay came out at about 915. I was screaming my lungs out so much that after only 3 songs, my throat was already killing me but I didn't care. The boys sounded amazing and seemed so excited to be there. I noticed Chris looking out towards the crowd and just placing his hands on his heart like he couldn't believe how many people were there. He was very talkative and apologized for those that missed entourage to come to the show haha he messed up a few times and had the crowd cracking up. It was just amazing to see the little things that I normally don't notice such as the shoes that the boys were wearing, seeing the viva on the piano and Chris sticking his tongue out during glass on water to those in the pit, also just seeing the boys up close and their beautiful smiles and how happy they are. I got some amazing pictures and videos that I can't wait to share them with you all. I will not be home to Vegas until Wednesday and I will post them then. I will blessed to catch all three shows that they did in southern California and had the most amazing time of my life. I teared up when they played the scientist last night, that was the first song I heard by them and the song that had me fall in love with their music and now I witnessing them performing it directly in front of me. Also at the end of the show thanks to my best friend, we each got a set list. I was literally shaking as we were walking up the stairs to get out of the venue, last night just felt so surreal and it felt like a dream. Sorry this review was so sappy it was the best night of my life!

[l0wxo2]

Oh man last night's concert hands down best concert I've ever seen them do! And with 7 concerts to choose from,that's not any easy choice!

I was lucky enough to have pit tickets to this show. Me and my best friend got there at almost 4 and everyone lined up waiting was waiting for the lawn! That was a first the other two shows it was us insane crazy Coldplay fans who had pit waiting!

When we got in the venue, the pit wasn't that full so we snagged FRONT ROW CENTER! I was so excited! I never thought it a million years I would get that!

The show was amazing! Chris was very talkative,clearly he loves LA and Irvine! He also did a few improvises on songs and messed up. He said out of the 155 concerts they've done this was the worst improvise one! Haha.

It was just sureal being that close to them. Chris stuck his tongue out to the front row at one point. Haha. Just seeing stuff like that,stuff I've never caught the band doing before. Chris looked at me a couple of times and so did Guy. I was the fan in the front jumping up and down during Politik and Guy sure did notice!

I was also lucky enough to get a set list AGAIN. I asked the camera man for a set list for my best friend and he handed me it and he had two of them. I am SO framing both of them haha.

The boys never disappoint, they always do an amazing wonderful show never the same. I am glad I got to see them these 3 shows in Southern California. I met some awesome Coldplayers and Coldplaying fans. I love that others feel the same way I do about Coldplay and share the love and don't think I'm nuts for following them to cities other then my hometown to see them and 3 concerts in a row. (my Mom thinks I'm nuts haha).

I think now I can die happy lol. I'd love to get the chance to meet them in an intiment setting but who knows if I ever will? This girl in the front row was lucky enough to go backstage and meet them. I just hope I am that lucky one day. My love for Coldplay will NEVER die!

[kuti3xoxo]

Aloha Coldplayers

I am new to the forum, though I have been visiting the site for some time. I flew up from Hawaii to see the shows in Southern Cal. The Boys did not disappoint!!!

I had many many favorite moments from the shows but last night while Chris was doing his solo for the "The Hardest Part" he mentioned that a curly blond haired boy wrote the song for girls. He caught himself being a rock star and changed personalities to a husband, corrected himself and said for "a Girl" looking in the direction of his wife. Most people probably didn't catch this but I saw Gwennie on the fan screen shot and in the audience. It was a great insider moment to Chris as the every day husband.

Gwennie was in the audience and Chris sang his heart out. I was at the two shows the nights before and Chris seemed tired and worn but not last night.

It is refreshing to see a rock star going from celebrity to human in one sentence. Yeah it's sappy but he loves his wife.

I am soooooooooooooo sad. I go home tomorrow and probably won't get to see the band for a few years. If I win the lottery in between I am going to Europe for the final shows on the VLV tour.

I got some great pix and will load them up for everybody when I get home.

A hui hou ( Until we meet again)

[coldplayhawaii]

The hardest part is sitting down and thinking of how to describe the concert in this post. I can say that its indescribable, beyond my expectations and the best concert i’ve been to. The lighting, the music, the crowd, everything were just the perfect combination.

They played a lot of the old music. Clocks, Yellow, In My Place, The Scientist and much more. And of course the new stuff, Viva La Vida and Violet Hill. When they played ‘Yellow’, they dropped yellow balloons on the crowd. The band even walked in the middle of the crowd and sang Billie Jean as a tribute to MJ. On our way out, they gave us this CD called ‘Left.Right.Left.Right.Left’ that has all their great music live.

Five hours of waiting in traffic to get there. On the way back, it was around half an hour of traffic because the state suddenly decided it wants to repave a two mile section of the I-5 freeway at 1 A.M on a sunday.

http://www.puddleofred.com/blog/?p=2692

Coldplay convert in the OC

Yes. I did mean to use that word, "Convert."

Prior to last night I'd been a fan of the band, just not a super freak for Coldplay.

But, that was prior to about 9:05 pm last night. Because, I am now.

Mind you, I'd been very excited to learn we had tickets for an A-list event like this. But, I have to admit, I really had no idea what I was in for going to a Coldplay concert.

The Coldplay concert last Sunday was massive in the true meaning of the word. It was multi-sensory experience, and larger than life and an event that clearly a great deal of thought and planning and expense had gone into.

I should have known things would be massive given just the size of the tickets. This event was so huge even the tickets were airplane-ticket sized.

Amadou & Mariam is a West African group opening for Coldplay and they so rocked the place. Their music was infectious and had us up and dancing in our seats well before sundown or before Coldplay's limos even arrived in Irvine. I would have been happy to hear them again -- I loved Talking Heads and it's clear to hear the influence of West African music has had on their music. Great stuff. Also, they had these two gorgeous women dancers who were, maybe, two of the best dancers I've ever seen. Serious dancing going on w/ the Amidou girls...Hot, hot, hot.

The seats were filling up. The sky was still light.

Pete and I invented a game called "spot the cougar couples." There seemed to have been a sale on young men at South Coast Plaza this weekend. Either that, or the moms in the OC are way cool. And, I think we know what's really going on, here.

Okay, back to Coldplay.

The evening was perfect. The air not too hot, not too cool. As the light faded from the sky things just got better and better.

Coldplay was spectacular. It got me on every level: Audibly, visually, spiritually -- you just had to move the entire night. We had amazing seats, but never sat once. We were up moving, dancing, watching and trying to soak up very morsel of the evening. Didn't want to miss one thing. I was carried away on a magic carpet of music and thought and looking at things in ways I hadn't expected to -- I adored it all.

Hard to pick a favorite moment from the lovely, flow of music and light and sound, but "Haiku" in particular, about blew my mind. I loved the entire production of that number. It was heavenly.

It started out with a back drop of clips from black and white movies running fast speed into a montage of interesting clips that increased speed and more and more included footage of some 1950's videos of cherry blossoms blooming and some history of haikus, I think, and then, without warning suddenly the once open, starry night sky was suddenly flooded and raining down tiny paper butterflies all over the audience.

Just like a snow storm fluttering down around our heads. At first the butterfly snow was in primary colors. Thousands of fragile paper butterflies everywhere. Everywhere. Like snow. I put my hand out, palm up and just opened my hand and a tiny blue butterfly softly landed in it. Then I put out my other hand and a little red paper butterfly landed in that one, too. As if someone had deliberately, gently placed them there. I was astonished.

Then, I peered up again into the night sky I saw, yet one more cloud of more paper butterflies falling like snow, again, and these were even more vibrant - these were fluttering down in neon colors. And after that there were more explosions of butterflies falling from the stars twinkling and shimmery rainbow colored butterflies. Tiny explosions of color softly falling around us. It was extraordinary. I felt like I was a child of two, again. My eyes welled up with emotion at the sheer beauty and epic scope of it all. I was overwhelmed by what Martin and Coldplay were giving back to us all of us. Call it corny, but it was very moving. With any other performer this kind of deliberate "giving back to the audience" would have seemed completely contrived or empty...But, not with them. We all felt the love and joy and it was pure and childlike and profound and, frankly, a whole lot of fun.

They were determined to connect with all of us, not just us fools in the pricey, front section, but way, way back. So, several songs were done surprisingly once from the middle of the second section and then even, way, way, way up high in the nosebleed section.

Coldplay was bending backwards to connect with everyone there that night and not have that predictable fourth wall up that most big rock groups have. It was a socialist performance, I guess. Good seats for everyone.

More memorable moments from Louise on the Left...

During "Fix You" the camera panned back into the audience and I noticed one black and white face seemed very familiar singing along with the lead singer: It was Paltrow. The look of love on her face was evident and moving and adorable, I have to admit.

At one point, Coldplay broke into an accoustic version of "Billy Jean." Which was unexpected and moving and carried not a hint of gratuitous explanation about why it was necessary. It was a graceful nod to Jackson's legacy.

http://louiselarsen.blogspot.com/200...ert-in-oc.html

My dad was dropping off my mom, my sister, and me to avoid the trouble of getting a parking space, so we left the house around 6 PM. The show was at "7:30" (I'll explain the quotation marks later.) My dad was so paranoid that we'd be late, so I had to reassure him that there's an opening act anyways. I didn't and still don't know who the opening act was. Anyway, getting to the exit was horrible.

In addition to the horrible exit traffic, it took about 15 minutes to get into the actual amphitheater area. To get there, we have to go across some trail. I think it was a way to seclude the amphitheater from the rest of Irvine. I'd go to Wild Rivers (a water park), and I'd always see billboards and signs saying "Irvine Verizon Wireless Amphitheater." In my head, I'm just wondering WHERE THE FUCK IS IT?!? When we reached the amphitheater area, there are tons of stands, some for food, advertising, and MERCHANDISE. I told myself that I'd buy one of the gorgeous shirts, but when I saw the price tag, I freaked out. FOURTY FUCKING DOLLARS?!?!? I saw the same ones on http://coldplay.com/ for twenty-five! My mom and I are planning to buy them online. I still wanted the tour program and the bag though.

Concert nights are strange. I'm almost never hungry and never tired until I reach home. I think I run on adrenaline. Also to be quite honest, most of the time before the concert, I wasn't excited at all. I was bored to death, especially since Idol was 2 days before. Coldplay didn't start until 9 PM, which explained the amphitheater not being full until about 8:45. When they came out playing "Life in Technicolor", they came out with a bang.

That song's an instrumental, JSYK. Most of this is quite a blur, so I'll go through my tour program to guide me. HA. "Violet Hill" is an amazing song (one of my favorites on Viva la Vida), and it was well-sang, as per usual. During this time, I get my cell phone out to call Sarina, who really wanted a cellcast. "Clocks" and "In My Place" are also great songs, well-done performances, and mesmerizing lighting, but they just didn't stick out for me. When "Yellow" came on, I just freaked. There were yellow balls coming from the air, thrown up in the air like beach balls. It was great. I also could have sworn that I saw Gwyneth Paltrow in the audience; I saw her on the screen. Or maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me. I'll believe that I saw her. Sarina had also given up on cellcasting, so I hung up on her and enjoyed the rest of my night standing, singing, and screaming (They all start with "s"!). Too bad Sarina hung up at the wrong time since "Glass of Water" is one of her favorite Coldplay songs. SUCKA.

"Cemeteries of London" and "42" had only recently grown on me (I used to skip those 90% of the times I'd listen to them on my iPod, iTunes library, etc.). Now, I really enjoy those songs, especially "42." After those songs was a fan favorite, "Fix You". Not going to even lie, it's probably my favorite from X&Y. Gah <3. Unfortunately, less people were standing up as the band began playing "Strawberry Swing". I think it's because it's quite an unpopular song among a casual Coldplay fan. I know that it's the least played out of all the songs in Viva la Vida in my library, but it's still a great song. After "Strawberry Swing", the band went up to a mini-stage set toward the back of the amphitheater to play more and interact with the fans farther in the back. I thought that was a great way to do so. They played "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face", "Talk", "The Hardest Part", and "Postcards from Far Away". The arrangement of "Talk" was different, so I had no idea what the song was at first. However, I noticed myself singing to it like it was second nature. Have you ever done that? Have you ever sang a song, knowing every single word but having no idea what the song was? It wasn't the first time I did that. I freaked out when they played "The Hardest Part" because not only did I love the, I knew that right after, it'd lead to "Postcards From Far Away". I played "Postcards" for National Guild for piano, and I totally rocked it. Obviously, I was not going to be better at Chris Martin when I played it, but I was proud. It was great hearing it live by the original composers themselves. After their stint on the mini-stage, they went back to the main stage, playing "Viva la Vida". That song was another fan favorite. The minute the drum came on, everyone (including my mother and sister) was on their feet. Many, including myself, were singing their hearts out. After "Viva", "Lost!" came on. I love that song so much, especially the piano only one ("Lost?"). Currently, I'm looking at the tour program, and I'm a bit irritated that they didn't play "Speed of Sound". Maybe because too many people would think that it sounded like "Clocks". However, there was a better replacement. As the band went to the other mini-stage set up, Chris had asked us to do a cell-phone wave.

Right after this cell phone wave, Coldplay covered "Billie Jean". I was freaking out. It was such a big deal that it was probably the only thing I tweeted during the entire show.

After "Billie Jean", they played "Green Eyes" <3. It was awesome live. They ran back down to the main stage and sang one of my favorite songs, "Politik". The lights were just so enchanting, going with every single beat of the piano.

Arguably one of my top three performances of the night was "Lovers in Japan". Not only was it well sang, but it was beautifully lit and there were paper butterflies coming from the air!

BEAUTIFUL. Their "last" song was "Death and All His Friends", which is ironically the last song on the Viva CD. Love, love, love it! They bowed at the end, and everyone was cheering their asses off. I knew it wasn't the end though. I just felt it. They left the stage, and everyone sang the "oh oh OHHHH oh oh" part in "Viva la Vida" to bring them back. And so they did. Chris began with the piano in "The Scientist" and then soon, Jonny, Will, and Guy came out as well. At this point, I was singing my heart out and (almost) crying, as this was one of my favorite songs of all-time. It was sang with such emotion. *Swoons.* After "The Scientist", they played their official last song, "Life in Technicolor ii". It's a continuation of "Life in Technicolor" with lyrics.

AFTERTHOUGHTS AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! I had never been to a Coldplay concert before, and this sealed the deal. Whenever they're coming back to anywhere in LA or Orange County, I'm going to see them. In YouTube videos and during the concert, I noticed that Chris Martin, the lead singer (and pianist), humps the piano. Kris Allen does that too. I actually find that really hot. LOL. It just shows that he's really passionate when he plays, and I wish I could bring that passion into my own piano-playing. Minus the humping . I got the Leftrightleftrightleft CD on their website the day it came out, and as another souvenir, I got the physical copy at the venue exit. I wanted to get one for my friend, but the people passing them out wouldn't let me . Oh well.

http://whoaaatraceyy.livejournal.com/35089.html

There are certain parenting milestones that make all the sleepless nights, whining, chaos and mess worth it. We had one of our very best ones yet on Sunday night.

We took our oldest son to see Coldplay in concert at the Verizon Amphitheatre in Irvine. He’s a huge Coldplay fan, knows all their songs but is only 10 and I wasn’t sure if it would be entertaining enough for him for the whole evening and I didn’t want to hear ‘I’m bored’ in the middle of a concert I really wanted to enjoy. I asked if he’d like to go and he bounced up and down with excitement. I’d say that was a yes!

He looked a bit bored during the warm up acts. It was a bit dull, no bright lights, no energy amongst the crowd, no songs we knew, so I could see him thinking there was nothing special about a concert.

Then Coldplay walked onto the stage. The noise, lights, the crowd going wild, he was memorized. He knew every single song they played so was singing his heart out and dancing, pretending he was playing the drums and waving his British flag. People around us were smiling at his excitement and enthusiasm.

Coldplay are such a fantastic band live. I feel like I’m watching regular guys who, if I met them, would just chat to me. There’s no airs and graces, they just happen to be amazing and passionate about what they do.

One of the first songs they sang was ‘Yellow’ and they released huge yellow balls into the audience. They were released behind us so we didn’t see them coming, all of a sudden, they just came flying over our heads and we caught them and threw them across the crowd.

Coldplay also move around the audience to sing their songs. They moved up to a tiny stage just 10 rows in front of us for a few songs, so we could really see the band members. Later on in the concert, they moved up to the lawn at the Verizon Amphitheatre, the crowd went wild. They thought they’d only see little figures down on the stage in the distance and all of a sudden, the band is there, right in front of them. Then you know they’re just regular guys who probably used to go to concerts and sit right at the back.

For ‘Lovers in Japan’ they release thousands upon thousands of paper butterflies, firing them up into the air so that they flutter down on everyone. It’s magical. My son gathered some up and those, along with his concert ticket and a free CD the band handed out to everyone, is going in his keepsake box.

He loved every single second and will probably be a Coldplay fan for life and a concertgoer. And I’m so glad I was able to have that experience with him, even though it means he’s growing up.

http://califlorna.com/coldplay-10-year-son-430

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Media Reviews

Midway through a roaring take on the song "Viva la Vida" on Sunday, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin looked up at the packed amphitheater in Irvine and urged the crowd to give just a little bit more. "For the last time in California for a few years, so let's turn it up!" Martin shouted as he invited, or actually demanded, that we all sing along with just as much passion and power as the band itself delivered all night at Verizon Wireless.

And of course, the full house did just as he'd asked, belting out the "oh, oh, oh's" of the chorus as Martin sang and skipped across the stage, guitarist Jonny Buckland and bass player Guy Berryman crisply played their parts, and drummer Will Champion hammered at a large metal bell so violently that he shattered his mallet.

The song, as did the entire night, offered the sound and sight of a band at its peak, road-tested after 134 concerts on a tour that started over a year ago, but still as fresh and enthusiastic as a band just heading out. Yet "Viva la Vida," the tour name and title track off Coldplay's most recent album, was just one high point among many in a concert that delivered 22 songs in just under two hours. Coldplay arrived on stage as the last notes of the final piece of warm-up music ended. (Johann Strauss' "The Blue Danube," if you're curious, to which everyone in the amphitheater waved their arms from side to side as the waltz played on).

Twirling fireworks sparklers behind a backlit screen, Martin, Buckland, Berryman and Champion cast dancing silhouettes as they opened the show with the chiming chords of "Life in Technicolor," the mostly instrumental track that opens the most recent album.

Fans were up and on their feet from the start of the show, most of them never sitting back done as the band played through a set filled with new songs – "Violet Hill," a slower number followed the opener – and older hits: the opening piano riff of "Clocks," which came next, drew a huge roar from the stands. "This is the song that first brought us to Orange County, and it's going to keep bringing us back," Martin said a song or two later, introducing "Yellow," the first Coldplay single to hit in the United States. The band first performed the song at Verizon while playing in a humble opening slot at KROQ Weenie Roast in 2001.

As the band played, dozens of huge yellow balloons were released throughout the venue, making for a lovely visual accompaniment even if it did serve to distract a little from the song as you gawked at the sight or checked that you weren't about to get bonked on the head. New songs that on "Viva la Vida" can seem a little subdued in concert arrived with a much greater blast of power and emotion, with "Cemeteries of London" a rallying cry song, segueing neatly into "42," a song with greatly enhanced dynamics as a live number. In it, Martin started softly solo at the piano, then joined the rest of the band with a guitar during the hard-hitting midsection before dashing back to the piano to resume the more somber finish.

With Martin's frequent encouragement, fans joined in to sing along on choruses. During "Fix You," another older song that drew huge cheers and much singing, a random shot of the crowd singing at the front of the stage offered a glimpse of Mrs. Martin – actress Gwyneth Paltrow – watching from the pit. And despite the hugeness of the venue, the band on several occasions visited fans in the upper reaches, first playing a miniset from a platform between the orchestra and loge sections ("God Put a Smile Upon Your Face," "The Hardest Part") and later from even further up between the loge and the terrace.

"Geez, that was a long way!" Martin joked – huffed? – after he and the band ran up to that second spot, a location from which they performed an acoustic set of "Green Eyes," "Death Will Never Conquer" and a cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" complete with a very nice falsetto bit.

Back on the main stage, after a rousing, heavy take on "Politik," one of the loveliest moments of the night arrived. As the band played "Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love," confetti cannons blasted tens of thousands of tissue paper butterflies over the arena, a first wave in primary colors, a second in neon DayGlo hues, both leaving spectators smiling in delight.

Martin, the charismatic frontman, seemed in a happy, talkative mood, making fun of himself when he missed an occasional chord or key, and joking with the crowd at one point that they'd almost rescheduled the show because of its conflict with a new episode of HBO's "Entourage."

The rest of the band said hardly a word – though Champion sang lead on "Death Will Not Conquer" – but they played brilliantly, with Champion's drumming a much more powerful presence than on record and Buckland adding all manner of subtle guitar colors to the palette. For the encore, the band played "The Scientist" before bringing the night full circle with "Life in Technicolor II," sending the crowd home humming that final melody.

The show also featured two opening acts, starting with Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, a British retro-rockabilly group that offered short fun set, and then Amadou & Mariam, a blind couple from Mali whose band played a terrific set of what might best be described as Afro-funk. Their band included two drummers and two backup singers who danced nonstop. While Mariam sang, Amadou played guitar, every few songs shouting out, "Do you feel alive?!?" The answer by the end of this whole night of music was an absolute yes.

http://www.ocregister.com

Irvine review: Coldplay delivers with ideal set list and impeccable instrumentals

After more than a year of touring, it certainly seems Coldplay has learned how to please an audience. Taking the stage at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine on Sunday night, Coldplay performed a superb set list full of mega-hits and fan favorites, encouraging crowd sing-alongs and maintaining a high level of energy throughout the two-hour show, writes The Examiner.

From a Blue-Danube introduction that had everyone clapping along, to the giant-sized yellow balloons that fell upon the crowd during Yellow, to the use of two smaller stages in the middle of the venue, Coldplay certainly portrayed a desire and willingness to connect with the audience. And the audience loved it. They sang, danced, clapped, and laughed their way through a show that showcased the band’s extraordinary talent for creating and playing music.

While Chris Martin certainly has a solid voice (particularly in his upper-register), the more impressive aspects of the live show are the musical arrangements and the entire band’s undeniable talents on each of their respective instruments. Specifically, Martin is absolutely magnificent on the piano, and Jonny Buckland is next to flawless on the guitar.

Despite a reputation of being a no-frills band, the concert included some impressive light shows; and the quirky and sometimes awkward Martin kept the crowd entertained with his tongue-in-cheek quips and cheerful stage antics. However, the highlight of the show was Lovers in Japan, which featured a splendid music video and endless confetti of paper cut-out butterflies, generating overflowing positive energy and truly underlining the celebration of life that Viva la Vida was meant to portray.

[Source: The Examiner]

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