Coldplay Concert
June 26, 2008
Filed under Media & Music, Review
It has been three days since Coldplay treated it’s fans to a free concert at Madison Square Garden to promote their new album, “Viva la Vida,” which some misguided and perhaps well-greased critics have called Coldplay’s “Unforgettable Fire” – and I can honestly say that the entire night was utterly forgettable. Coldplay was nice enough to give me free tickets, and I was thrilled when I won them, because the last time I saw them at MSG was a breath-taking experience. Alas, this writer cannot be moved to gush by free tickets alone.
I expected an incredible show from this band who intentionally or not have been built up as “the next U2.” I hate to even indulge this propaganda, but those who have seen U2 perform live, even at small concerts like the Brooklyn Bridge show or on Saturday Night Live, know that U2 can transform even a 3 song show into something you will remember for a lifetime. I cannot say the same for Coldplay . The night was filled with miscues, out of tune guitars and Chris Martin’s sarcastic apologies, which were always followed with reminders that this was free concert.
Coldplay has a fantastic sonic power with an emotional depth that can transport listeners to another place in time and space – but alas, that sound was just muffled by a poorly planned set, lapses in-between songs and a sound system that was surprisingly weak for the Garden. It also pains me deeply to see Coldplay blatantly tear pages out of U2’s live playbook by moving out from the main stage to play a few intimate numbers on a smaller stage and then going out into the audience to sing with the crowd. I was half-expecting them to play “Desire” or “Satellite of Love” with their drummer hitting bongo drums and singer Chris Martin preaching about saving Africa. Thankfully, he has not gone that far yet.
This leads me to address this idea floating in the air these days: Is Coldplay the next U2? This is such an absurd question, manufactured by clever record company PR people to place Coldplay in the same arena as a legendary, once in a lifetime rock and roll phenomenoh. This is akin to comparing a nice fireworks show to the cosmic grandeur of Hailey’s Comet – and it is not a comparison that Coldplay or Chris Martin have earned nor is it something that they should even strive for.
This band should seek out their own musical destiny and not have the blind-sighted audacity to even reach for U2’s special place in the sonic cosmos. And if you are going to get everyone all geeked about the big free concert, at least come out to do an encore. One song, I would have been happy with one damn encore song – even that horrible salsa version of “Clocks.”
Review by Adam
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