Viva La Coldplay!

it's pretty straightforward what happens to me after a concert. i feel the excitement for a few days (along with my ringing ears) and then i go back to my life. but for some reason, i feel like the experience i had with Coldplay last night will stay with me for a very long time. yes my ears are still ringing, but last night's show will join the "elite" group of shows (which up until now only included Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead) that will forever remain pivotal points in my life.

it had been rainy and drowsy for the past few days here in Florida, but Friday night was clear and beautiful, and set the stage for what was about to happen.

Amway Arena sits 18,000 people, but it seemed like there were many more than that. i was lucky enough to be on the floor to the left of the side stage (where the band came down to on more than one occasion, dancing and playing songs within a arm's length of me). when Coldplay walked onstage to the sounds of the Blue Danube Waltz, the crowd roared the loudest of any crowd i've experienced. and just like that, the show took off and never looked back.



they opened with "Life in Technicolor" and "Violet Hill", then slid into the hits like "Clocks" and "Fix You", which both had the loudest singing from the crowd (it was really surprising to me and Chris especially, who said we were the best sounding crowd he's ever heard).

the song of the night was without a doubt "Lovers in Japan", which was dedicated to John Lennon. Chris switched the words "dreaming of the Osaka sun" to "dreaming of the Obama sun" which drew cheers from the crowd. during the first chorus, the lights shone bright and high above the stage, out blasted thousands upon thousands of paper butterflies that covered the stage and the floor. i looked up in amazement and caught a few. i felt like a kid again.

the band switched it up a few times, playing techno remixes of songs, and Chris playing "the 17th best Coldplay song" (aka "The Hardest Part") on piano on the side stage. they even raced through the crowd to play an acoustic set up in the back, right with the crowd.



the 90 minute set came to a beautiful close when the band came out one last time, donned in personalized Orlando Magic jerseys, and played "Yellow". yellow lights and lasers filled the arena, and i got lost in the moment.

i usually don't like arena shows since the band doesn't really connect with the audience, but i have to say that this was the single most intimate arena show i've ever seen. i think Coldplay is the only band that can unite such a huge audience, and make every single person feel like they are a part of the show.

after the show i was in a dream-like state. i still am. now all i can do is count the days until they come back again. and i can't wait until that moment.

(and if you're wondering how the pictures i have here are so good, that's because i stole them from the Orlando Sentinel website. mine were too blurry)

setlist:

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 version)
Talk (techno version)
The Hardest Part
Postcards From Far Away
Viva la Vida
Lost!
The Scientist (acoustic)
Death Will Never Conquer

Viva la Vida (techno remix)

Politik
Lovers In Japan
Death And All His Friends

Yellow
The Escapist (outro)