25 February 2006: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
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
It took nearly half a year after having to cancel in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation, but Coldplay made it back to Houston and it was well worth the wait.
After the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Coldplay's mentors U2's tours through town since then, the bar has been set high.
As far as hitching wagons go, Coldplay's decision to go with the Irish supergroup — arguably the best rock 'n' roll group on the planet — is not a bad one. Go with the best if you gotta go with someone. That their show at Toyota Center was able to meet the otherworldly sensory overload and arena bombast of U2 after only three albums is what makes vocalist Chris Martin the prince-in-waiting to King Bono's throne.
Martin led the rest of Coldplay — guitarist Jon Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion — to the stage via his grand piano with the touchstone leadoff track from their latest album X&Y. They illuminated the giant stage screens with a twin guitar blistering of Politik and the hit that started it all for them in 2000, Yellow.
They settled into a quick middle-set stride fully aware that they had more than enough left to ignite the crowd again later with the ballad In My Place and the hypnotizing Clocks.
Coldplay has the type of live ebb and flow that opener Fiona Apple should be learning from.
After burning out on celebrity, literally breaking down on stage and taking a six-year hiatus from the limelight, it would be nice to believe that the cult-adored Apple is back. Based on her 45-minute career set, backed by a Phil Spector-worthy wall of keyboard layers, there is still no doubt she has the chops.
Unfortunately, there were clues in Apple's 10-song set that make those on the fence wonder if she still didn't see the mainstream through the trees.
She hit her stride midway through her set with a one-two punch of favorites Shadowboxer and Criminal from her decade-old debut album Tidal. It would have been the ideal time to hit the crowd with a Sleep To Dream reworked in this multi-synthesizer arrangement.
As it was, fans were left with a parting gift of Fast As You Can, a standout from 1999's When the Pawn ... album, rebuilt in this new configuration.
All were also left to wonder if this was the first of a new Fiona Apple or the last time they would see of her (again).
Source: chron.com
Okay so where do I start? I'd been waiting for the Houston show for nearly ten months because I had gotten my first tickets back in May '05 but the show was canceled due to Hurricane Rita and I was devestated. But of course, Coldplay did not let me down at this one!
We waited in line for like an hour for the doors to open. The tickets said no cameras but someone who worked there clarified and said it meant no flash photography. People were upset because they didn't bring their cameras and they should have because it wouldn't have gotten confiscated. Of course alot of people took pictures w/ flash...including me!
Fiona Apple was...interesting. She did have her fans but only about half of the arena was filled. Somewhere between her bunny-hops and convulsions and twitches I lost interest though "Criminal" was excellent. People trickled into the arena ever so slowly. Jay-Z's 99 Red Balloons played (excellent choice!) and then a Lennon song and the lights finally turned off. When they turned back on, there seriosuly wasn't a seat empty in the whole place.
Everyone was clapping and screaming. Square One-They jumped right into it with so much energy. It was a great first song and really got the crowd going. Politik-I never heard this rendition but it was really incredible! The bridge or the ending was extended a bit and it sounded just amazing. Chris then apologized for not making it the first time and we all forgave him with much applause.
Yellow-Of course there were the huge balloons which sent the crowd wild again. No one seemed to be able to pop them and they all gravitated toward the stage and Chris and Jonny popped a few with their guitars. They kept alot of them up there for...
Speed of Sound-The lighting and the effects on the big screen were amazing. GPASUYF-One of the best selections of the night. The crowd was clapping and rocking and Chris mentioned it was Rodeo Week in Houston and how in England a rodeo is something you play music on! Haha! The effects and lighting were seizure-inducing. XA tad boring. The crowd seemed a little disconnected but we just needed a rest. How You See...-I never heard this song before and really enjoyed it. I hope it's released on a proper Coldplay record. Don't Panic-Chris began playing and then stopped to say "How many of you had tickets for the summer show? Well yor city has been f---ing good to us so far" and we all went wild. Then he said "our guitarist Jonny is going to sing so give him all the encouragement you can. It's not easy being a shaggy guitarist from Wales!" I love Jonny's voice!!
White Shadows-It got the energy back up and Chris and Jonny laid down at the lip of the stage at the end of the song. Chris acknowledged the back of the arena and said "I just want to say hi to the people in the back! My God, there's a lot of you!" The Scientist-Another favorite of the night. The crowd sang every word which made Chris say "I know where Beyonce got it from!". He changed the lyrics to "When you some second place in the rodeooo" but I forgot if it was during this song. The ending was also amazing. 'Til Kingdom Come-Chris introduced it by saying "This is for a great Texan...Jonny Cash! I know he's not from Texas but f--- it, tonight he is!" Someone threw a cowboy hat on stage and Jonny wore it for a bit! Ring of Fire-Us Texans loved it and everyone was on their feet clapping.
Trouble-I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Chris begin this. Will was on piano and Chris was wandering around as always. Toward the end they played together which was amazing.
Clocks-I love the newer version, particulary the ending and the crowd got really into it of course and clapped as the temp accelerated. Talk-They did the whole bear thing again on the screen. Chris sounded way better than he did on the Grammy's or EMA's.
Then came the encore...
Swallowed In The Sea-A lot of people in the crowd wanted to hear it and were happy when they did. In My Place-Everybody was on their feet for this one (I personally made sure) and Chris was like "I can't go to Houston without visiting the back!" and proceeded to run, with two bodyguards, to the back of the arena. He really almost got torn to bits. People were jumping over one another and leaning over the rail so they could touch him but he ran back ito finish the song in one piece somehow.
Fix You-I was sad because I knew it was the last song but seriously EVERYONE sang along...7 year olds, their fathers, tennagers, old folk, everyone. What a great way to end the night with 15,000 people singing along.
Afterwards, I heard alot of people talking saying they really enjoyed it, especially the balloons and when Chris ran out during IMP. Coldplay sounded amazing as well...everything was in key and they sounded like on the records. I got two shirts, a poster, and a program (for $20...a bit pricy). I hoped that there was a Make Trade Fair merch table so I could get a shirt but there wasn't.
All in all, it was so great. Everything I had hoped for! Hopefully next time I'll be closer (thanks to the presale, I was in the nosebleed section) but I'm not complaining after seeing almighty Coldplay! Sorry if that was a tad long!
[Thanks Jenna]
