22 March 2006: Air Canada Center, Toronto, Ontario
From WikiColdplay
Setlist
- Square One
- Politik
- Yellow
- Speed Of Sound
- God Put A Smile Upon Your Face
- X&Y
- How You See The World
- Don't Panic
- White Shadows
- The Scientist
- Til Kingdom Come
- Ring Of Fire
- Trouble
- Clocks
- Talk
Encore - Swallowed In The Sea
- In My Place
- Fix You
Reviews
The first clue that Coldplay’s return to the Air Canada Centre Wednesday night wasn’t meant to be just another sold-out rock show at the hangar could be glimpsed high in the rafters, where the banners charting the local hockey club’s storied past had been taken down. Gone was Bill Barilko, patron saint of the Tragically Hip’s “Fifty Mission Cap.” Gone, too, was the pennant for the Maple Leafs’ last Stanley Cup victory - which, admittedly, took place about a dozen years before any of the four London lads in the band had even been born.
Whether this was done for technical reasons or to make the arena seem more generic to viewers who will eventually purchase the concert DVD that was being filmed, I cannot say.
In any event, frontman Chris Martin characteristically went out of his way to make the audience feel special. The singer recalled that the band launched its current North American tour in the same building back on Aug. 2, remembering as well that it was the same day that an Air France jetliner ran off the runway in Toronto without any fatalities. The band plays the venue again tonight.
“Hope you don’t mind the cameras,” Martin said. “But we auditioned audiences all around the world - and you came in number one.”
That wasn’t the end of the wrinkles. Guitarist Jonny Buckland was actually permitted to sing a verse from “Don’t Panic.” Normally Buckland, without whose efforts Coldplay would be very ordinary indeed, isn’t accorded anywhere near the attention enjoyed by the Edge of U2.
Then there was an impromptu costume change necessitated by excessive perspiration.
“I hate to be such a shallow bastard,” Martin said, “but Jonny and I might have to change shirts right on stage.” Martin peeled off his top, much to the delight of the crowd. Buckland sweated on without relief.
Otherwise, apart from a cover version of “Ring of Fire,” framed more intimately with bassist Guy Berryman on harmonica and drummer Will Champion on keyboards, it was pretty much business as usual.
Enormous balloons fell from the sky on cue during “Yellow.” And all of the crowd favourites - from “God Put a Smile on Your Face” to “Clocks” - were pounded out with typically bombastic efficiency.
You almost felt sorry for opener Richard Ashcroft, whose former band, the Verve, imploded shortly before Coldplay took off. In a different world, that might have been him in the spotlight, instead of persevering with a solo career met with increasing levels of indifference.
“Bittersweet Symphony,” indeed.
Source: thestar.com
Brit-pop matchups don't get much better than last night's Coldplay/Richard Ashcroft double bill at the Air Canada Centre.
It's hard to beat Coldplay's Chris Martin and ex-Verve singer Richard Ashcroft when it comes to riveting frontmen.
Coldplay, who are on the second leg of their North American tour, have visited Toronto twice previously in support of their third album, X&Y, launching the entire tour last August at the ACC and playing a special club show at Kool Haus back in May.
Coldplay obviously love Canada, and the feeling appears to be mutual. Last night's show and tonight's second concert sold out immediately with 17,000 tickets for each performance snapped up quickly, and were/are being filmed for an upcoming DVD.
"We've come to Toronto to make our film cause we believe it's the best audience in the world," proclaimed Martin, while pounding his piano keys during the second song, Politik.
Coldplay are also returning to the country to perform at the Junos on Apr. 2 in Halifax.
All this road time has obviously paid off for the group -- rounded out by guitarist Jonny Buckland, drummer Will Champion and bassist Guy Berryman -- who were already in great shape last year and have become an even slicker, more well-oiled machine, with bigger bells and whistles.
As they did previously in Toronto, the group launched last night's 95-minute show with the arena-friendly Square One in front of a large curved video screen with coloured lights coming out of every conceivable corner of the ACC.
The spectacle continued with Politik, which was heavy on strobe lighting, and Yellow , which saw large yellow balloons fall from the ceiling and sprinkle gold confetti when Martin gleefully burst one of them.
Crowd singalongs were also impressive during Yellow, Speed Of Sound, God Put A Smile Upon Your Face, The Scientist, In My Place and Fix You, as were Martin's yoga-friendly moves that saw him crawling along the front of the stage like a large cat or bending all the way backwards while kneeling on the ground.
Buckland also got into the spirit of performing, taking over on lead vocals for a verse of Don't Panic, lying down beside Martin on the ground to continue playing as White Shadows drew to a close and draping himself in a Canadian flag after the band had taken their final vows.
But given the elaborate production -- a ring of coloured light panels lit up the perimeter of the ACC's upper levels during the show standout Clocks -- it was a simple shirt change on stage by the well-toned Martin that really got his female fans going.
"This is disgusting, just a minute," said Martin, before running to the side of the stage, and claiming later he was "a sweaty bastard."
The group then settled into a semi-circle at the front of the stage for semi-acoustic versions of 'Til Kingdom Come, which they wrote for Johnny Cash, and a cover of The Man In Black's Ring Of Fire.
Coming in a close second, in terms of a crowd-pleasing moment, was when Martin raced to the back of the floor to mingle with the audience during In My Place.
Ashcroft, meanwhile, has hooked up with Coldplay -- who are on the road until July -- for about a dozen shows in North America to promote his third solo record, Keys To The World.
Normally a charismatic performer with a strong, soulful voice, Ashcroft was a bit shaky-sounding off the start and is obviously getting his touring legs back having not performed in these parts in over five years.
Or maybe he was still rattled after an extensive security check he underwent recently at the Cleveland airport with his family.
"I almost kissed the tarmac," said Ashcroft of arriving in Toronto this week.
Taking the stage with his four-piece band, the long and lanky singer wasted no time getting comfortable, throwing off his hat, peeling off his socks and sneakers, and unbuttoning his jean jacket.
And as Ashcroft's 55-minute set progressed, he clearly got more relaxed and in better voice. Highlights included his new tunes Break The Night With Colour and Words Just Get In The Way and such Verve anthems as The Drugs Don't Work, Sonnet, Lucky Man and, naturally, Bittersweet Symphony. That last song, which famously sampled an orchestral version of The Rolling Stones' The Last Time, had the crowd on its feet and singing along as Ashcroft climbed up beside the drum kit to shake a tambourine.
Source:torontosun.com
TORONTO -- If Chris Martin was a little miffed that U2 and those pesky Rolling Stones eclipsed Coldplay’s supposed 2005 triumph, he didn’t look it.
Checking in for the first of two nights at the Air Canada Centre with bandmates Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion, the shaggy-haired frontman seemed to recognize that time is definitely on the eight-year-old group’s side.
As a beaming clock counted down the seconds to the band’s third-area appearance in less than a year, Martin asked the crowd, “You’re in control, is there anywhere you wanna go?” before bursting to the front of the stage several verses later with “Square One’s” full-throttle lyrics, “From the top of the first page/ To the end of the last day.”
Cavorting around, bathed in rich hues of green, red and blue, the opening number set the tone for the evening’s exuberant amounts energy and cathedral-like atmosphere.
Led by Champion’s booming drums, “Politik” gave Coldplay fans the first of many opportunities to become bona fide backup vocalists as the sold-out crowd belted out the song’s “open up your eyes” chorus with freakish abandon.
With strobe lights cued perfectly to the song’s frantic bits, Martin could barely keep himself seated. “We believe you to be the best audience in the world,” he said.
Grinning, and showing a definite fondness for his pals onstage, the 29-year-old singer grabbed a guitar as Buckland plucked the familiar strains that usher in “Yellow.”
Colouring the audience appropriately, the song’s sunny disposition was made that much nicer when dozens of large balloons descended from the rink’s ceiling. With cameras capturing the action from every angle (the band is filming their shows in Toronto for a DVD, to be released later this year), fans eagerly sang along.
Many of “Yellow’s” balloons now near the stage, Martin asked for the audience’s help during “Speed Of Sound.” Saying, “Yes, please,” he held the microphone out and fans obliged.
Taking full advantage of the circular stage, Martin used the track’s ample vocals to solidify his own rock pose. With his head arched back, a slight stomp in his step and one arm raised in absolution, rock’s pretty boy finally had his answer to Liam’s crotch grab.
Clearly enjoying himself, Martin took a moment to explain the various cameras sweeping to and fro across the stage. “We auditioned audiences around the world, and we’re afraid you came in number one.”
Covered in a cherry-red glow, he acknowledged Toronto as being the first proper stop on their North American tour and then invited fans, who by now were beside themselves, to help sing “God Put A Smile On Your Face.”
Floyd-like atmospherics tickled a syrupy rendition of “What If?” before the band tackled “How You See The World No. 2” (from last year’s Help: A Day In The Life” compilation).
Midway through, Martin took a moment to point fun at his un-glamourous new hairdo and congratulate the crowd. Saying he now looks like a young Michael Bolton, the singer was like a high-school gym teacher. “Well, so far so good. You’ve done fantastically well.”
Dedicating “X&Y’s” hidden track – “Til Kingdom Come” – to the late Johnny Cash, the band played a three-song acoustic set, which featured a juicy cover of Cash’s “Ring Of Fire,” before closing the show with “Clocks” and “Talk.”
Thanking fans for giving up their Wednesday and missing Frasier, the band were gone but a minute before racing back onstage for the night’s encores.
A rousing “In My Place” followed a subdued “Swallowed By The Sea.” Taking a page from his Grammy playbook, Martin ran out into the audience covering the length of the arena in seconds and ending up in the arms of some very lucky fans.
Determined to be the flag-bearers for optimism, the quartet ended the night with their popular ballad, “Fix You.” Acquiescing to the 16,000 would-be singers, Martin let the crowd handle the song’s emotive outro as he and the rest of the band waved gleefully.
But if it all seemed too perfect, and it very nearly was, the one thing that prevented this show from being truly great was the group’s unwillingness to breach the 90-minute mark and go for U2-like two-hour-plus glory. When Coldplay eventually assumes rock’s heavyweight title, they’ll have to be willing to stretch themselves just a little bit more.
Then again, maybe I was just being greedy.
Opening the show, Richard Ashcroft proved he is a man of his word. Flirting between selections from his recent “Keys To The World,” and material he recorded with ‘90s super-group The Verve, the British singer bounced when he needed to bounce; shimmied around the stage when the music moved him; and raised his arms to the ceiling like he was some kind of musical preacher.
Doing what few opening acts can successfully manage, Ashcroft used his first local appearance in many years to remind music fans that he’s one of the most versatile artists around.
Repeatedly thanking the boisterous crowd for their support, the sunglasses-wearing, barefoot singer belted through the Curtis Mayfield-flavoured, “Music Is Power, the introspective “Words Just Get In The Way,” and Verve hits like “Sonnet” and “Lucky Man,” the latter of which he dedicated to his drummer, and former Verve-mate, Peter Salisbury.
He also uncovered little gems, like “Science Of Silence” (from 2003’s “Human Conditions”) for the hardcore Richard Ashcroft fans, of which there were many.
Thanking the near-capacity crowd for being “so beautiful tonight,” he ended his set with a rollicking take on the Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony.”
Fans now out of their seats, the singer asking how many times we’d been down, the song was cathartic. Peppering this version with lines from Sly & The Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again),” Ashcroft seemed genuinely taken aback by his enthusiastic reception as he exited.
Next time he comes back, here's hoping he’ll leave the cavalry at home and stay for a bit.
Coldplay and Richard Ashcroft perform again tonight at the Air Canada Centre.
Show was good...not great. Of the three I've seen on this tour this was the worst. Enjoyable, but lacking in some way. Everyone will have a good time though I'm sure.
Oh and I had better seats than Natalie Portman.
Setlist:
Square One Politik Yellow Speed of Sound God Put A Smile What If How You see the World Don't Panic White Shadows The Scientist Till Kingdom Come Ring of Fire Trouble Clocls Talk
Swallowed in the Sea In My Place Fix You
[Thanks Crius]
