Music Under Fire

Reviewing a live show for a group as renown as Coldplay isn't really necessary, but since we snapped over 300 photos and shot more than 20 minutes of video, we owe it to you share some of our experience.

The Wachovia Center, which houses the Sixers and Flyers, played host to Coldplay for their November 1 show in Philadelphia. With a buzz already surrounding the city due to the Phillies winning the World Series, the stage was set for a night of celebration, waves of adulation and energy. Coldplay arrived as the headliner soon after Duffy and crew left stage.



From the get-go, the harmony of every instrument stuck out. While Chris Martin's voice is unique to him, the keyboard's electric tune met the rapping of the drums consistently, as Coldplay has perfected over the years. What the sound on the CD doesn't catch though comes when the lights flash during a guitar solo or when the group migrates around the stadium.

Perhaps unknown to Coldplay fans who have yet to attend a show came over an hour into the show when the four bandmates left center stage and headed towards the back of the venue. There they were prepped for a few acoustic songs, which they played at an armslength from overjoyed onlookers. From here they stood shoulder to shoulder to play as the near 20,000 person crowd followed every earnest lyric.



After a brief interlude, the group reappeared on stage. The large screens showed guitarist Jonny Buckland clad with a "Fightin' Phillies" shirt. Just as the sight of seeing this shirt, any mention of the Phils sent roars around the arena.

Overall, the concert was as flawless as one could really want it to be without being overly critical. The Wachovia Center doesn't house the best acoustics while the special effects they have at their disposal are as good as any. Getting to hear and see a band as big as Coldplay from multiple angles was something special while the variety they keep with their own songs also kept each song intriguing.

MP3: Coldplay - Strawberry Swing (live at Brixton Academy) (buy)







Below we have the set list from the show as well as a mass of pictures.

Life In Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Speed Of Sound
Cemeteries Of London
Chinese Sleep Chant
42
Fix You
Strawberry Swing
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (techno remix)
Talk
The Hardest Part
Postcards From Far Away
Viva La Vida
Lost!
The Scientist (acoustic)
Death Will Never Conquer (acoustic)
Viva La Vida (to interlude)
--Encore--
Politik
Lovers In Japan
Death And All His Friends
--Encore 2--
Yellow
Closing*