Lovin' Coldplay

Yesterday, I attended Day 1 of the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. My main reason: Coldplay was the big name, with other bands I enjoy such as Stereophonics, Wilco, Weezer and Keane. For a venue in the southern California desert, it was a nice day. Yes, it was hot sometimes. But evening hit and frequent breezes were there to keep us cool.

I have always wanted to see Coldplay live, and big venues are not usually my thing. I prefer intimate settings were the band looks real and not like tiny ants that you end up watching on a screen. To my utter dismay, they are playing this Wednesday (May 4) at The Fillmore - and I cannot attend. I cannot attend a show of one of my favorite bands in one of my favorite venues. Amazingly enough, I was not disappointed last night.

Throughout Weezer and Brauhaus we worked our way up towards the main stage. I would say were were about 60 years away from the main stage and had a perfect view of Chris Martin in the center stage. They opened and closed the show with new songs from their upcoming album, but everything else was songs released from 'Parachutes' and 'A Rush of Blood to the Head': Politik, In My Place, Warning Sign, The Scientist, Yellow, Clocks, God Put a Smile Upon Your Face. The tone of their newer music is happier and more upbeat. I'm sure it is attributed to a certain Mrs. Martin and daughter.

I did not really have any impression of Chris Martin and was blown away by his charm and his graciousness. He would sing little blurbs of songs from others playing at Coachella - like beginning Nine Inch Nails's "Hurt" and saying "oh, you'll hear the rest tomorrow." The audience was repeatedly thanked for 'being there' for 'waiting so long to see us play' and for being a great audience. The first few sung choruses of "Yellow" used the substitution "Coachella." He laughed and acknowledged it was cheesy. He messed up singing a verse of 'Politik' and noted it. He bounced, he bopped around and even ran into the audience.

Throughout all of this, I had a smile firmly planted on my face. I was exactly where I wanted to be. Those moments of happiness where you just smile and say "yeah!". Love was in the air - in all forms. For the most part, the people I was standing around were great. We met some funny Canadian guys from Toronto. Talked concerts with a nice girl - everything from previous 'Inland Invansions' to the new pompousness of Ryan Adams (very sad about that, by the way). I had a fantastic day and an even more fantastic evening.

As a side note, Weezer was amazing as well. Lots of energy and lots of fun. There is nothing like seeing a concert where the band is enjoying themselves.

I only have two words to describe the performance by Coldplay: phenomenal and gracious.

Boys, thanks for the great show.

~M~