The lights go down and the crowd goes wild. B-Sides caught up to Coldplay in Dallas, TX last Saturday at the American Airlines Center. From the moment the stage is done being setup, it is apparent to the entire audience (all 18,000 or so) that this isn’t just a concert. It is a celebration of music.
Now after having played two nights in a row on most of their tour stops, you might expect a lack of energy from the second night. Not even a little bit. Chris Martin was as energetic as any front man could be, making the stage his own and captivating his onlookers with passionate involvement in his music.
After their most recent album, Coldplay has been getting a lot of criticism from music goers and critics alike. Some of it pretty nasty, and others are just the usual accusation of a band gone “mainstream.” But boy do they know how to put on a show.
Coldplay has continued to make headlines as well as excite concert goers, with the addition of their “Xylo-bands.” These radio controlled, light emitting wristbands glow beautifully along with a few songs throughout the show. The star riddled night sky that was once the audience, is met with resounding cheers and applause.
If anyone had doubt that Coldplay is still very much relevant, then they need only attend one of their shows. Coldplay released their latest album Mylo Xyloto back in October of 2011, and since then have been on an extensive tour which is now coming to a close. But in Dallas, TX they played two nearly sold out shows in a row.
Chris Martin was jumping around the stage so much that it should count as nightly aerobic exercise. His energy was contagious, and the crowd was alive. It has to be one of the most human concerts one could see. When Martin is on his knees out on the extending platform of the stage, while 18,000 people are singing his words. Later in the night he laid down at the end of it, in a bed of confetti, while the entire arena sung “Viva la Vida”.
Few bands are willing to go to such extents to please their audience, and as the group exited the stage before their encore they strangely did not reappear on stage as one would expect. Instead the screens hanging from the ceiling come to life, and the band can be seen on a mini-stage setup in the crowd on towards the back of the venue, where they played a simple version of “Speed of Sound.”
Coldplay will be touring the US and Canada until the end of the summer before they head of on a European tour. If you get the chance to see them, do so. Coldplay live is a dazzling example of the energy that music can bring to a people. Whether you’re a fan of their old songs from A Rush of Blood to the Head or you’ve been following them since “Yellow.” Or maybe you just know their newer hits like “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,” what ever type of of fan you are, go see them play if you ever get the chance. You’ll leave with an energy that is really rare to find at live shows. Check out their upcoming tour dates
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