27 June 2008: The Today Show, NBC, Part 2
From WikiColdplay
Fan Reviews
All fan reviews have been submitted to us by the members of Coldplaying.com[1], unless stated otherwise.
I was slightly farther back than i would have liked, so i couldn't show my sign and occasionally just saw heads, but ohhhh maaannn, that was soo fabulous. besides the fact that they only played...6 different songs (but each at LEAST twice besides yellow and 42...they played clocks FOUR times ) and that there was a lot of starting and stopping because it was live...it WAS a concert, and an incredibly intimate one at that for all of us up front!
this is going to be fragmented and incoherent BTW, but here i try anyway...
i got to the check in place at 6AM, which was fine, but i WISH i got there an hour earlier so i could have been RIGHT at the front. turns out all i had to do was beg a little and i got an extra VIP pass for my mom! so all three of us got good places, because there were probably 5000+ people there, 90% of which never got a glimpse of the boys . i was about 5 people back from the front of the VIP section, which is HELLA good, but being short it was a bit trying at times, and i couldnt show my sign because it was huge . either way, i got semi-decent photos, my brother got some absolutely KILLER photos for being where we were because he's tall, and my videos, while shaky, have their good moments and the sound quality is FABULOUS for a digital camera, so at the very least i got pretty decent audio of EVERY song they played...which is 13!!!!! (ok, most of those are repeated songs, from warmup, prerecord, and live, but still...LOTS of stage time!)
chris was hilarious, really really hyper and in a great mood. he talked to us a lot, and even dragged a little boy up on stage and let him meet the entire band becuase he had a broken arm! then someone threw a bra and panties on stage, and he was like "OOOOH, lost my bra there!" . all the funny bits like that will come back to me the more i think about it, but mostly he was just changing words to songs, forgetting words to songs, adding extra syllables to the lyrics, and making FABULOUS faces and dance moves. he stuck his tongue out at the paps, which i'm sure you've all seen by now, and did a lot of crazy-eyed :wideeyes: looks. ahh it was fabulous, and musically, i think they were at the top of their game so far besides the fact that chris mucked up the words quite often. other than that, his voice and the band were AMAZING. just amazing.
[ApproximatelyInfinite]
SwallowedInSea (Sarah) and I got there at 6 and were herded into the VIP pit. We were 3 people deep and that was great but there were these humungous male non coldplay addicts who did not dance sing or move and blocked our vision hence the poor pictures and vidoes. What the hell were these people doing in our section, the dedicatied hard corers? Sarah is so tiny she scooted up closer and she has better pics. The boys came out around 7 for the sound check and were in a good mood and very calm. we were so close we could see Jonny's beautiful eyes. Guy had his famous camera and took a few shots of the crowd. they started off with clocks and i was dancing like the coldplay freak i am while the zombie non fans just stood there and got in my way. chris took and little boy with a broken arm up on stage and then there were the bras and panties that the girls next to me threw, but that was later.My pics are not that good from all the jumping around i did. I kept screaming "give me some shiver" but to no avail. the songs were amazing and was so pysched they sang 42, brilliant. Jonny and Chris jammed their guitars. Lost was fucking awesome. loved the beat and Chris's dancing. he really let go and got down. yellow was a nice acustic and the crowd went crazy for VLV. In my place was a great sing along. someone has allready posted the set list. some poor girl fainted next to me because, dang it was hot. chris was workin it cause he was a sweatin. it was totally amazing and i will probably think of other impo points but my brain is still not comprehending how close we were. Ian, I have no idea how to thank you for letting me see the boys in the city that you know means so much to me. I am still shaking .
[Christa1]
Well that was amazing. I came home and went right to sleep though because I've been awake sitting on the street since about 11 last night. But I did get in the section right behind the VIP section, there were so many of you guys, hah.
Thanks so much for these amazing pictures, my camera is awful in the first place and kinda died halfway through, so this is really great.
I liked how they had to go put on they're makeup after the soundcheck haha, and the progression of expressions on Chris's face when he caught those panties...priceless! Guy was so cute taking pictures with his camera. Oh yeah, and when Chris brought that kid on stage I was just like why am I not a 5 year old child with a broken arm.
I wished that Chris came to our section since we had basically been camping out for so many hours, but it was still so worth it. That's probably the closest I've ever been to them, and definately the closest to Chris as he came running down the aisle.
I loved the song choice too, I was sure it was just going to be new stuff, but hearing In My Place and the acoustic Yellow teaser was so AMAZING.
It's ALL over the news, every time the news is on, on NBC anyway, they keep showing clips and asking for pictures and stuff.
Anyway, very glad I went, hope everyone had a great time.
[silence_apart]
I got there at about 5:45, and met up with Christa, who is now my favorite person in the world. We got our passes and were escorted to the VIP area. I couldn't believe how close we were! Unfortunately, I am reallllyyyy short (4 feet 11 inches) and there were a couple of really tall guys in front of me. Fortunately, they took mercy on me and let me squeeze up in front of them. It wasn't like I was going to block their view. I was probably about 2 or 3 people back from the barrier during the sound check. It was incredible! I noticed Will come out of the building right away (he was the first to come out) and I was so in shock that he just walked out a few feet away from me and just walked up onto the stage to chat with the tuning guys that I couldn't even yell or anything. I think he was up there a good 30 seconds before people started noticing he was there (or in some, non-Coldplaying people's cases, noticed he was a member of the band ). A couple minutes later Jonny and Guy came out. At that point I seriously did not believe what was happening. Finally Chris came out and everybody started getting really excited (I was still in shock). They played the sound check, and that was the coolest thing in the world to watch. I loved watching them rehearse and test things out, and it was amazing that they were up there on stage without it being a big production like it usually is on the tour stops. It felt so much more intimate and raw to watch them warm up and mess up and then overall put on a really great show. After the sound check, a bunch of people who had "connections" at NBC moved into the area between the VIP section and the stage, which annoyed me a little bit, but once again someone took mercy on me and let me move in front of them. It was funny, this girl was like, you seem like a really big fan and I feel bad that you can't see. She wasn't even that tall, but she let me go in front of her. That was so nice of her, and it made me really happy. Then the real set started, and the boys came back out in their revolutionary outfits. They started off with In My Place, and I was absolutely in shock every time Chris came out on the little catwalk that extended into the crowd. He was SO close to me. It was incredible. I took a ton of pictures and a couple of videos the whole time until my battery died. After the show ended they did rush us out, and I parted ways with Christa. I was heading back down the sidewalk until I saw guards putting up barriers by one of the exits, and people were saying the band would come out there! There were all these limos and town cars parked right on the curb there, and one even had a sign in the window that said "Coldplay." So I waited there for about 45 minutes (and met StephBerryman! ) but then the guards took down the barriers and said the band had already left. I was a little bit disappointed because I had my camera and autographing stuff ready, but it was still an amazing show, so I really didn't mind. There was this guy from TMZ there with a camera who was saying he wanted to ask Chris about that other song that sort of vaguely sounds like Viva la Vida. I was pretty annoyed about that, because chances are he was going to be very confrontational, make Chris and the band angry, and ruin everyone's chances of getting an autograph or a picture. What a jerk. So in that way I'm kind of glad they didn't come out that way, because it wouldn't have been any fun if they were in a bad mood thanks to some asshole paparazzi guy.
So overall, it was an INCREDIBLE morning!!!! I doubt I will have the chance to get that close to the band ever again (at least not until the very distant future). I loved meeting a couple of you guys, and I really hope we can all see Coldplay together again one day!!!
[SwallowedInSea]
It was an AMAZING experience!!! I got to meet up with Angie akaTexasluvsjonny and Mel aka melanieau , and Lori (I know I was told like 3xs your screen name but my brain is FRIED I’msorry!) and kinda sneak into their little group hehe. When I got there at 4:45am they were already there at the front of the VIP line, which kept growing behind me right after I showed up. If I didn't meet up with them (Mel was my +1) I would have NEVER EVER gotten the bleepin' fricken awesome spot--2 people back right smack in front of Chris w/ direct view of Will!!! So thankyouthankyouthankyou guys! I don't think I'll EVER be that close the band again!!!!(well until I get an autograph, and then a picture, and then a hug, and a kiss, and....then get arrested!!!!!LOL) THANK YOU THANK YOU Ian for giving the passes...it was such a wonderful and unique experience that I can't imagine ever being topped.
I took some pics which, when I get some more sleep (I only took a 2hr nap after not sleeping for like 26hrs, during which I did 8hr shift at work) gotta figure where/how to post them. But I didn't take that many really, 'cause 1)turns out my camera sucks! and needs to be retired, 2)the stupid battery died RIGHT after soundcheck! wtf!!! and 3) I kinda just wanted to be 'in the moment" and just absorb as much as I could of what was going on.
I’m so happy got to see this up close&personal, ‘cause it’s so different than a regular tour show. The guys were all really relaxed, in a really great mood, and, especially during soundcheck—my favorite part!—so “themselves,” not the big stage persona that you see at a show. (Well that I guess applies mostly to Chris). During sound check I was just staring intently at whatever was happening on stage, even the little chats and looks between the guys. Will and his wonderful smiles just looking out at the audience; Guy taking pics of us w/ his supercool camera—I know he’s gotta have a ton of shots with me grinning like crazy; and Johnny and Chris chitchatting. I still can’t believe I got to see that with my own eyes!!!
When they came back out all dressed up for the taped performances, all these “very VIPs” (I think they were friends/family of NBC execs) got right in front of the barrier. So I went from 2nd to 3rd row...still fanfuckingtastic, but these two women were just standing there w/ their sunglasses on (it was cloudy the whole time) and it just annoyed the hell out of all of us true fans. Especially since right behind them and in front of me where these 3 little kids, and they then couldn’t see anything! But, I think I should be thankful for the annoying blonde in the yellow, ‘cause she served as a guiding point to find myself in the videos on the Today Show website!!! LOL So whenever there’s a shot from behind Chris toward the audience, in the center of the very front, find the blonde in yellow, then slightly behind and to the right of her you’ll see a not so blonde head w/ a big KoolAid smile bouncing up and down to songs…that’s ME!
OMG Forgot to add that I got a SETLIST!!! Very first actual band souveneir EVER!!!! aaaahhhhhhh! Now I just want more more MORE!!!! hehe
This was incredible amazing unbelievable and definitely UNFORGETTABLE. Thank you again to Ian for making it happen, and to Angie&Mel&Lori for putting up with my nonstop giggling in the beginning, and my exhausted zombie-like state at the end. Such a perfect day…
[CookyMnstr]
I was at work Thursday night and was reading through this thread looking for someone that wanted to go but didn't win. I had asked Mary, but she could go, so I wanted to make sure the pass got used. Lori (KissesBirds) had posted she wanted to go, so I sent her a PM and told her to call me if she still wanted to go. She called me just as I was leaving work for the airport and said hells yes! and she would sort out a flight and get back to me. I got to NYC around 3:30 and during my cab ride into town, I get a text saying she will be there that night and that Mel is also coming. By the time I got to the hotel, I had been awake for around 37 hours, but had to go check out the area before I could even think about sleeping. My hotel is a block from the Plaza, so I walk over and right in front of the GE building they are building the huge wooden thing that is like 20 feet tall. I start to panic thinking this is the stage, but that god it's not. I start asking around about where we have to sign in and how early can we do that, but no one there can answer shit. I walk around until I find the address listed on the email so I know exactly where we need to be in the morning and then go back to my hotel to get some rest because I'm about to fall over. Mel calls me and says she managed to find a way to go and after giving away her winning passes (LIKE A DUMB ASS!) has begged and pleaded all day and some nice person has taken sympathy upon her and she will be their +1. Her flight gets in around 11:30 and she'll call me when she gets into town. I try and sleep, then the rerun of the Daily Show comes on and I'm too excited. Finally get some sleep.
Mel calls me and says they are both down at 30 Rock and I go down there to meet them. Coldplay's truck with all their equipment had just pulled up. There are already people in the general admission line and we walk around. Mel had been grilling security peeps to get info about the VIP area, number of people it held, etc. Some security guy tells her that the VIP area will hold around 400 people and that they will put all the pass holders in first, then any GA people it takes to fill it. 400! must be down there early!. We go chill at my room for a while, then Mel starts getting twitchie so we head back.
We see a few other people hanging around by where we have to line up and so we join them. It was jbarry5503 and her guest. That was around 3:30am. The security guy comes out and tells us we are there WAY too early and that we should find some food and a bathroom because once you are in the pit, if you leave you can't go back. There is a 24 hour Deli across the street, so food is there, but Micky D's a block away is the closest toilet. People start to trickle in. Mel is a nervous wreck. Someone strums a guitar cord, she runs down to the corner where the stage is being set up to see what's happening. 5 minutes later, a drum beat....there goes Mel. It's 4 am Mel...Will is not down there setting up his own drums! Security man comes back out and gives us the whole make sure you go potty before we go in speech again and then tell us important info. This is the door where guests and TV people enter! He asks us to please stay back and don't rush at anyone and if they come over to see us, then that's OK. OMG! The band will be going in right there! Now we all excited and we get shit out to get stuff signed. Mel and Lori practice their "thrust CD cover at band with one hand, while taking picture with other hand' moves. Where we line up is an entry way about 15 feet wide. We are on one side and I notice on the other side is a "couple" consisting of a man and a tranny. The tranny is talking about how it wants to meet the band. I think about Chris getting flashed by the trannies while making Fix You and we all laugh about Chris being a tranny magnet. Then some paps show up. Great, Chris will shoot right past us to get away from these jerks. Everyone tries to think of something semi intelligent to say in case they do show up but Lori decides she will just scream. NO Jonny is afraid of screaming...Jonny no like screamie! Security man comes back and puts a barricade up to keep tranny and paps back but we are not blocked. Every car that arrives, we all jump up. Mel is freaking because too many people have "fluffy hair" thru the tinting windows and she thinks it Chris every time.
Matt, Jonny's guitar tech, walks past us to go over to the deli. When he comes out I go and ask him if the band will have a sound check. He says yes around 6:30 and we will be able to hear it from where we are. But at 6, the NBC people come out and start taking people into the VIP area, so we miss any arrivals, but we will get to see the sound check and not just hear.
Although we were first in line, there are people in the pit when we get there. We are basically on the second row, but in front of me are 3 little girls aged 6, 8 and 12. Yah people that I can see over. Will is first to get there. Then Jonny and Guy come out together. Chris is last. There is lots of technical discussion, instrument placement upon the stage discussions and what not. Chris is very funny and loose. Jonny doesn't look so happy to be up at this hour of the day. Guy is taking pictures of us, taking pictures of him. Then Mel spots him first. PHIL! OMG he is hot! They run thur songs, then discuss stuff, then move stuff around....but it's the best part of the whole day. I don't know about any one else, but the sound check was wayyyyyyyy better than the real show.
Just before the real show starts, security peeps come out and start talking about moving the barricades. We aren't sure if they are moving us back , or closer ? This is not done but the reason why is because they bring in a whole group of people to stand in front of the VIP area inside where the stage is. IN FRONT OF US! They are "family" of the producers. They have several kids, including the one that Chris brings up on stage) and adults. The adults come stage at the center, blocking the 3 little girls in front of me and the kids are next to them on each side. Some lady asks the women if they will move and allow the kids to stand in the center so the little girls can see and the bitch tells her NO!. The little girls are crying because now they can't see. Rich douche bags suck!
When you are there you can't hear what is going on in the broadcast. When they came on stage to interview the band they placed a monitor near us so I could see to move my sign to make sure it got seen. After the show, Chelsea come over and met us and we were going to take a group pic, but the NBC dude ran us off.
[Texasluvsjonny]
My experience was a little crazy. I woke up early morning on Thursday and had to go to work. I left on Thursday night which btw my flight was delayed and ended up getting to NYC early morning of Friday instead. First of all, I had never been to NYC in my whole entire life.. and let me tell you, New York is......... very New York. The only place open at Times Square was some pizza place..there were people there so I went in there right away and had some slices of pizza (which is where I typed my message from). Rockefeller wasn't that far from Times Square so I ended up getting there around 3 something am. There was already a long line there. The guys in front of me also had their luggage with them (they had big & heavy luggage). They were really excited to be there as I was.. so I couldn't really sleep plus people kept on honking on purpose and everything. There was a girl making a huge poster. Her poster was so pretty btw. I didn't really had anything but a red marker which I was going to use for Coldplay to sign my album cover (I lost the marker at the Apple store hours later) and napkins... from the airplane. I was going to make my sign on a napkin (how ghetto) but I ended up using one of the emails prints. My sign read "I JB + Coldplaying" I don't know if anyone got to see it and on top of another poster that said "Viva La Coldplay" from Sirus radio.. The line started moving by 5am or so. I was so tired by then..when I was waiting in line I was feeling so weak & sleepy that I couldn't really stand at all. I got messed up with the general section. The guy there was like "Yeah, just go in there. It's fine" but it wasn't the VIP section so I asked around and was going crazy because I knew I wasn't on the right spot. I wanted to be with the rest of the Coldplaying members and wanted to be in the VIP section & be up close to Coldplay!! Some guy told me to go to the other side and ask there...then I saw a guy with a white shirt and we were in the right spot but I don't know. I wasn't even paying attention to him as I was already freaking out about not being in the right place at all & time was passing by. This is what he did, he scratched us off the list then he gave us the VIP passes then he took the VIP passes from us. He asked us if we needed to go to the restroom (I thought he was going to tell me where the restrooms were INSIDE the NBC Studios). He then says "Okay, you need to go to the restroom because once you are in you can't get out."
By this time, when I was running back to the nbc studios an amount of time had already passed and I was freaking out because not only did I take long, the guy had scratched us off the list.. I didn't know if he was still going to be outside waiting for me you know? Did I mention that I was sweaty and smelly and just looked horrible in general? So I'm trying to find the guy outside the nbc studio and there were a bunch of people outside. I didn't even hear what they were saying 'cause I'm trying to find the guy right. He comes out from the nbc entrance and sees me (ours eyes just meet. I thought he had already forgotten me 'cause a lot of time had passed by and there were just so many people to just remember one person you know) and says "Oh! Hey!" and was really looking at me. He was REALLY LOOKING AT ME. He then says "You just missed them" I don't know but at the time, it just didn't registered through my mind. I should have ran into the doors and catch them you know but I don't know what happened. I got lost in his eyes.. that guy WAS SOOOOOOO HOT! MAN! HE WAS HANDSOME! So cute! Anyway, he calls another girl and asks her to escort me and she's like "Sure, right this way balblabla" He gave me my VIP pass. I don't think I even said Thank You. She was asking me if I had seen the band and also said that they had just walked in a couple of seconds ago. I did not know what way they went.
So she took me outside and escorted me to the 'VIP Section' It was already full!!! I could barely see the stage as I am short as hell! Will came out first, then Jonny and then Guy and to those who want to know. Yes, Guy is really really handsome up close. Did you see him smile? Wow it's all I gotta say. He was to the right though so I couldn't really see him throughout the show. I could barely see Will and Jonny. The people behind me were bitching too. They were like "We can't see because of your poster and blabalbla" I felt bad at first but I couldn't see either. I was like "Well you know what? Too bad, 'cause I can't see either and if I can't see them then I am at least going to enjoy the music and raise that poster up" I took the big poster down and just kept the sheet I had made at 3 something am and hope he sees it. I don't know if he ever saw it though I took a lot of pictures and was watching the show through my camera's lenses as I could raise it and see through it. I figured I couldn't see 'cause I was just wayyy wayy in the back and that the people behind me couldn't see 'cause we were just too far in the back. It wasn't until Chris came out and went to the front of the stage that I realized. Wait.. he's kinda close and got all excited about it. The show was confusing at times 'cause we couldn't hear anything and they wouldn't tell us whenever it was live. Chris only told us it was live one time. They rehearsed Clocks like 4 times. There was a girl in front of me to the left. She collapsed! The guy she was with walked her out and she fainted. The people there took her inside the nbc studios and she came out in a bed where the ambulance took her. I felt bad for her (the band came out right after they had taken her) but I started worrying about myself as well 'cause I was feeling dizzy too and weak. I hadn't had any sleep for such long period of time. I've been sick with a throat infection so that wasn't helping at all and I couldn't scream too much 'cause my throat was just hurting really bad. I drank a bottle of water and a bar of chocolate so that helped a lot. I was like "I did not come here to faint in the middle of the show!!! No, No, No, No!" The crowd was singing along to In My Place, Viva La Vida, Lost! was amazing! 42? OH MY GOD! I'm still pumped up about it. This was my second time seeing Coldplay Live and this was the closest I had ever been. I can't wait to see them live again. There were two teenage girls. They were the ones that threw the bra and panties. I saw something fly across and Chris catching it and then dropping it instantly with such disgust. It was hilarious! Chris reaction was priceless! I couldn't stop laughing. After the show was over.. we were quickly rushed to get out. I waited outside the nbc studio to wait for the band. One of the TMZ guys was there with a camera. I was like "Oh hell no, he's going to ruin my autograph experience" so I chi-chatted with him and we talk about how it was wrong of his friend to provoke Chris and how Chris was wrong to push his friend to on-coming traffic. Remember that clip where Chris takes the camera from a guy when Gwyn and him were coming out from the hospital earlier this year? His friend got 35G from that incident... that's a lot of money. He was surprisingly very nice and we spent a few hours on a Coldplay hunt. What? You can't judge.. I was trying to meet Jonny! You would have done the same thing! I got all excited 'cause their vehicle showed up and the police stopped traffic but there were just too many people outside waiting and not enough security. So the vehicle ended up leaving and they left underground. There was another lady there that just really made my day. She said "This is really your first time to New York? and you just came for Coldplay? You are a real fan. I hope you get an autograph." She joined us on the Coldplay hunt. It was fun but we never found them. We were walking by foot.
[LiquidSky]
It all started at 3pm on Wednesday when to my total shock I received an email from Ian saying I had been picked as a VIP pass winner. I had already looked at some flights but thought there was no way I could go. I have a 2 and a half year old that can't quite fend for herself yet! So, in despair, I PMed Ian saying to give them to another deserving fan so that someone else could go. Wednesday night when my hubby got home I told him what had happened and he says - oh you should go! I'll stay home and watch the kid! I was like WTF? I already gave up my passes!! So Wednesday night and Thursday morning I agonized about what to do and finally started sending out PM's to people on the winner's list. I sent one to Noelia (CookyMnstr) and she had already PMed someone else offering her +1 pass. But then - the Coldplay gods smiled down and I received another PM from her saying that the person she was going to take was in fact a VIP pass winner themselves and did I want to be her +1!!!!! I couldn't fucking believe it!
I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off for a few minutes before realizing I didn't have a plane ticket yet! DOH! My flight reservation email came through at 5:04 pm on Thursday!!! I packed a backpack kissed my kid and hubby goodbye and jetted off to the airport.
At midnight my car service dropped me off on 48th Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza. People were already in the general admission line and the Today Show crew were busy building the stage. I talked to a security guard for a few minutes to try and get more information and then called Angie to tell her I was there.
As I was standing and waiting, Coldplay's giant semi pulls up to the curb. Angie came down and by then Lori had shown up too. So we hung out for a while before going up to Angie's room to chill a bit.
At about 3:30am we headed down to see what was happening with the stage and to try and get a bite to eat. When we got down close we could see that Coldplay's roadies were there already and that the area was getting busier. We decided to go ahead and form the VIP line while no one was there. So we sat there until 6am when the Today Show interns came out and gave us our VIP passes. We were lead into the pen area and were all SHOCKED AS HELL when we got lead into the very front pen and that we were standing mere feet from the stage.
I went digging in my backpack for something and of course this is the moment Will comes up on stage! He talked a minute to some roadies and then went straight for his drum kit. He was smiling as we called out his name!
Guy and Jonny came in next - both pretty much going for their instruments with the help of their techs. Chris was last to show up - and he stopped briefly to talk with Miller before coming up on stage. Chris was in a great mood and besides saying hello he was apologizing in advance for how bad the soundcheck was going to sound! We thought it was great and they were all really into it. They set up for acoustic Yellow and ran it through once. Chris told the sound guys he thought it sounded terrible which is probably why they didn't do it during the show.
As Angie said we counted to three and screamed for Jonny and he got this really funny WTF look on his face and started looking around and then finally saw us all smiling and waving and then a big smile broke out on his face. DIVINE!
About 7am soundcheck was done and then we waited and waited and waited.
The songs during the show were awesome and Chris had so much energy and the louder we screamed the more he jumped around.
The people who ended up in the very front were not real fans which was disappointing but oh well. We were still closer than most people will ever get.
Additional thoughts: The boys are definitely more handsome in person and even though we didn't get a chance to speak to them you could tell from just how they were acting that they were all down to earth guys. We didn't see any diva type behavior. You could also tell - that like us - they had no idea what was going on. They pretty much did what the Today Show people told them to do - otherwise they were just standing there waiting for instruction.
It was the most incredible experience. I will never forget my 28 hour trip to New York. And the best part of it was meeting all the great Coldplayers and getting to experience this awesome band with other people who truly love them.
[melanieau]
Me and my friend got there shorty before 6, and landed spots about 6-7 "rows" back. AWESOME seats to say the VERY least. The atmosphere was so exciting. I met a few of you on here before the show...all extrememly nice!
It was so exciting when Will got up on the stage. A few people took notice and went nuts; he certainly did not make a grand entrance. But as it caught on that Will (or to some not-so-intense fans "the drummer") was on stage, the noise started to elevate. I was going nuts. After a short while Johnny and Guy came on and I was in a massive state of excitement that I can't even begin to explain. So I won't. They were RIGHT there. Probably 20 feet from me. They all seemed to be in a daze, but it was more of an overwhelming state of disbelief. Thousands of fans showed up virtually at dawn (or before) to see them. Guy got out his camera and started snapping shots of the crowd (and of course I tried to get into every picture). Then it came...Chris walked out. The audience went NUTS. He seemed to not believe the size of the crowd. He took care of his official business (talking to his bandmates and other guys with headsets) and then picked up the mic. He just kind of announced that they were gonna do a soundcheck and that they'd probably sound like "shit." He had everyone laughing and having a good time before they even played one note. So they were all kind of standing around waiting to go, and they were UNBELIEVABLY close to me. It was surreal. I remember Chris was just standing there waiting to go and was kinda looking in my direction, so I started to wave. And...Oh my sweet Jesus, Chris looked directly at me, make eye contact and tipped his hat AT ME. I FREAKED OUT. Best moment of my life.
Now, I had predicted to my friend that they'd play 3 songs (Viva La Vida, Violet Hill, and Lovers In Japan...with Lost! as a 4th). He sat down at the piano and immediately I was like "shit...I guess I was wrong!" He started Clocks, much to everyone's approval. Yeah the song's 7 years old now, but it's a classic and a KILLER live track. Chris of course changed up his lyrics to describe the early morning and everyone loved it. I remember at some point Chris yelled "Johnny, look" and pointed all the way to the back where there were some people standing on top of a building watching them. They ran through that twice, because it seemed they were trying to get the length right. Each time they did it was different, cutting this part or adding that part back in.
Then they took a little while to reset the stage, obviously for Viva. I was SO excited to finally hear a new song live in person. And something about the anticipation of an audience's reaction to a song when it first starts always gets me going. They did the song and it was great. As usual. Chris made us sing the "Woah-oh-oh" part! They pretty much went right into Lost! and did that twice. First time he ended with a bit of "Low" (by Flo Rida), and the second he ended with a bit of "4 Minutes" (by Madonna and JT). I pretty much thought they'd be done by now (I was still pulling for Violet Hill, though!), and they started re-setting up. They all grabbed completely different instruments. Johnny had some maracas, and Guy and Will both had guitars. So I figured it'd be Yellow. I was right. Chris seemed to have some trouble getting through it, although the audience seemed to like. Chris announced that it was "shit" and I figured that they'd cut it.
So they left the stage, much to everyone's dissapointment. There was a long lull in there. However, the anchors (Al, Meredeth, and Ann) came out and they were unbelievably nice. I even got a picture with Meredeth. But I was getting a bit antsy. But they finally came back out.
They took the stage in their revolutionary outfits and immediately went into In My Place. I thought it was just an added performance for us at the time. It was so exciting. Then they did Clocks again, and I thought it was the actual show. Chris kept messing up and talking to the guys working on the show etc, so I kinda hoped that it wasn't being taped. Haha.
Then, basically, they did the show. Chris ran right passed me during In My Place (again...he always does that, it seems!). And after they were done, I was SO excited that they did 42 as an "added performace." It was UNBELIEVABLE. Best live song of the whole set.
Overall, best day of my life. And looking back on my DVR...i was all over TV! They did a close up of me at the end of Viva, too!
Thanks so much for the opportunity!
[musicman1990]
I got there at around 545am and got a pretty good spot in the bac where i could see the left side of the stage. The show was awesome and when they did in my place, Chris martain came all the way to the back and sat on the nbc television right in front of me. I was literally in reaching distance of him. I will remember that for the rest of my life.
[professa95]
