August 20th, 2005 – Verizon Amphitheatre, Irvine, CA

First of all, it must be understood that, for the most part, everyone in Orange County likes Coldplay. Also, the Verizon Amphitheatre can hold close to most of Orange County ’s youth. Consequently, everyone and their emo boyfriend in a Garden State T-shirt was there. For those of you who have never attended a show at the Verizon Amp, it provides for very mixed emotions during a show. If you are one of the blessed few to catch a seated ticket, any show attended it exponentially more enjoyable based on sheer proximity to the stage. However, if you are one of the common masses, you might as well be watching the show on TV, as you would seem less remote… of course the ambient aroma of weed would probably be less random. But I digress.
    Coldplay pranced onto the stage in very distinct U2 style, and although I am willing to admit that I am not the first one to draw that parallel, I saw it so clearly that I could not avoid making reference to it. The crowd was electrified by the extreme light show that cascaded about behind the band, an array of color that mirrored the cover of the band’s most recent release, X and Y. This was the beginning of what was to be the most indicative light show I had ever witnessed. I was actually really struck by the obvious pattern that their pyrotechnics followed. When the band would bestow upon us any of the lovely ballads from their debut, Parachutes, the lighting was very organic and natural, and Chris Martin sat comfortably and modestly behind his piano; it was extremely indicative of their original album’s humble and quiet attitude. When the band would play songs from A Rush of Blood to the Head, the great screen behind them illuminated their faces, very straightforward and honest camera work that zeroed in on Martin’s face as he hammered out songs like “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face” and “A Rush of Blood to the Head” (and for the record, their performance of the latter was stunning). When songs from the most recent album were performed, they would broadcast an almost seizure-inducing firework brigade, to get the point across that this was something ‘bigger’.
    This pattern was only broken when, much to the overwhelming delight of the crowd, they embarked upon the opening bars of “Clocks.” It began relatively typically, with a close shot of Martin’s expressive face, and then the lights exploded. Had we been in a room, it would have been spinning. As the song winded to a close, rather than slowing they accelerated, faster and faster… it was like being on Willy Wonka’s boat in the old Gene Wilder film. The spell finally broke when they could not accelerate any more, and I half expected the band to collapse in exhaustion. We were overwhelmed. They kicked the concert down a notch after that, for I believe everyone needed it, and did a quieter and earthier Johnny Cash tribute which divulged into their version of “Ring of Fire.” It was truly endearing, but mainly because Chris Martin made it so.
    I think one thing that no one realized about Coldplay’s frontman is the fast that he has the most effervescent, modest and thankful personality, and regardless of the size of the arena within which they are performing, this shines through. He was completely personal, laughing when his guitar was out of tune, “Well someone has fucked this right up.” I never saw it coming. He was absolutely charming, regardless of all their fame and fortune, the pretentiousness of the great light show, and the irritating crowd on the lawn. It was really refreshing and this prevented the entire concert from being written off as antics and stunts.As the show came to a close, they rounded off their four song encore with a track from their latest album called “Fix You” (apparently they could not hear me from the lawn screaming, “SHIVER! SHHHHHIIIVVVERRR!”).
    As they thanked ‘Los Angeles’ for having them, the Beatles’ White Album closer, “Goodnight” spread over the land and the band took a series of grateful bows. I gazed out over the grand amphitheatre to see lighters and cell phones all aglow, swaying slowly to and fro. I thought to myself, “I suppose that is Coldplay in a nutshell: the element of nature in their music and in their performance keeps them honest and endearing, but at the same time, they are one of the most notorious ‘ringtone’ bands. I believe this does them the exact justice they deserved.” All in all, perhaps I have been spoiled by these tiny shows at the Troubador and the Vanguard, attended by the most voraciously astute music lovers. I admit that. However, thanks to Chris Martin being who he is, perhaps there is still an element of arena rock left in me.  

-Christina Gubala