Entertainment For Lively Minds
Don't hate me...
I went to see Coldplay last night, and they were quite good. Gig was at the Clark County Amiptheatre just across the Oregon\Washington border from Portland. Traffic was a nightmare with the 3 lane highway being solid with Friday commuters, concertgoers, and the unlucky. The ampitheatre is a large scoop out of the ground, the stage at the base and a large covered section which opens up to an unroofed, sloped lawn at the back. Weather was pleasant without being sweltering and the beer $9 a pint (bear in mind a pint is only 16oz here)
I'm not hugely familiar with the band, though I've found quite a lot to admire in the latest album. I was surprised at how dynamic they were, they seemed genuinely enthusiastic to be there, lots of bounding across the stage, and between the four of them they seemed to make quite a big soundscape, though I detected some serious backing tracks. A very enthusiastic crowd stood from the start, a marked change from my experiences of concerts in the UK, there was a lot of hooting and cheering - it seems the Americans are rather more boisterous than the British. The sea of people was lit by a thousand mobile phone screens, so much so that Chris Martin arranged a mexican wave of backlit screens - the cigarette lighters of the 21st Century.
Other than some yellow balls during you know which one, staging was kept to a minimum, some lasers and confetti. The band twice decamped to mini stages located amongst the croud, a nice touch for those on the lawn as they were quite far from the action.
I haven't said much about the music - it was sung with energy and passion, perhaps a little samey for my taste. The curveball was an acoustic version of MJ's "Beat It" which the band seemed to enjoy.
I'm pleased to report that there was no preaching or exhortations to save the planet. All done in about 2 hours, which was then length of time it took us to get back...
Tears for Fears tonight at Portland Zoo...
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Now *that* is the best start to a thread on this site!
I can't stop laughing! No we don't hate you. We might pity you, but we don't hate you...
Mixed emotions
My feelings changed through the post. 1st pity for going to a Coldplay gig. 2nd jealousy for not being very familiar with Coldplay - lucky man. Thirdly pity again for knowing that Tears For Fears are next.
TFF?!
Roland is a very dry and funny frontman. Enjoy.
Tears for Fears at Portland Zoo?
Are they taking the kids?
If there's a keepers talk around feeding time for the tigers, I'm there too!
Don't hate me either..
I've seen Coldplay live a couple of times myself and always enjoyed them.
Christmas
Saw then in Belfast in December - didn't expect much, but was pleasantly surprised.
KoL new figures of successful loathing...
Coldplay... far too successful, lets lampoon them at every opportunity. Always happens, eh? Latest successful band in the firing line... Anyone see BBC3's T in the Park highlights a couple of night ago? Kings of Leon did a reasonable job - cut back to presenters - and I thought Edith Bowman and co were trying not to vomit on prime time TV!
Enjoy Coldplay... before the familiarity breeds contempt! ;-)
so let's see
microwaved fish fingers & Coldplay hmmm I can see a pattern emerging.
I'm not a serial killer, am I?
i too
have seen coldplay twice and enjoyed them both times though the first one was a bit forced due to filimng of a concert DVD in Sydney.
They may not be the best band on the planet but they put on a good show -martin can sing and while no mick jagger he is a respectable front man.
They put on a good show great sound , effective effects etc etc
Their greatest crime is the usual success
I think the problem a lot of people
have with Coldplay isn't their fame per se it's the bland ubiquity. In small doses I'm sure they are ok it's hust the way that they and media have forced themselves onto the listening public.
Why on earth
should anyone feel shame or embarrassment because they've been to see a band and enjoyed themselves? Coldplay's last album was excellent, they've got a number of really good songs in their previous repertoire and they put on a good show. Enjoy!
Knowing the preferences of the Massive...
...I'm being slightly tongue in cheek - I don't think I'd go and see them again, but I have no regrets. My wife is a huge fan, and my brother in law had spare tickets, so the stars were aligned.
I am wondering
how Coldplay have "forced themselves onto the listening public"? Or if they have why this is any more so than any other successful band?
It is media/radio overkill.
They may have ambitions to rule the world and play stadiums ad nauseum but how many other bands have the same ambition -just that it is unrealised. Dare say even Echo and the Bunnymen would have been happy to have Coldplay's success.
They have a "sound" just like many other bands - does this, of itself, make them bland?
My point was that no band can be hyped if they don't want to
be. For some reason they were picked up (it's not always clear why some bands get big and some don't)and this worked a synergy with their growing popularity so that they got blanket coverage which to my mind overplays any interest their music might intitally hold. A song that's catchy or intersting played occasionally becomes tedious if hear it all the time. Also most very popular acts have the edges knocked off their music in order to become popular often loosing what was interesting about them in the first place.
Added to this I do think there's something bland and none committal about Coldplay and the overkill surrounding their promotion means this is more obvious than if they recieved a sensible level of attention. Oh and then there's Chris Martin!