1 May 2012: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, USA

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1 May 2012: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Contents

Setlist

  1. Mylo Xyloto
  2. Hurts Like Heaven
  3. In My Place
  4. Major Minus
  5. Lovers In Japan
  6. The Scientist
  7. Yellow
  8. Violet Hill
  9. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face
  10. Princess Of China
  11. Up In Flames
  12. Warning Sign
  13. Don't Let It Break Your Heart
  14. Viva La Vida
  15. Charlie Brown
  16. Paradise
  17. Us Against The World
  18. Clocks
  19. Fix You
  20. Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall

Photos

Photos from this show can be found at Coldplaying.com in the Gallery thread for the Hollywood Bowl. http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/1941

Videos

Videos from this show can be found in the first post of the Coldplaying forum live thread for this show at http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90967

Discussion

All post-show discussion for this show at the forum thread http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90967

Fan Reviews

All fan reviews have been submitted to us by the members of Coldplaying.com[1], unless stated otherwise.

1 May 2012: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, USA

In the car, on the way home. Cell phone reception was really bad so if there is a shortage of tweets, that's why. Setlist was the same, venue is enormous, there were fireworks. Short ramp that Chris didn't use as much as San Jose. C-stage was in Sec J-1. Crowd was mixed. I think it was hard for the crowd to be loud because the venue slopes up gradually and there is no way to contain the sound. Chris had a problem with his earpiece or feed at the end of Yellow. And many if the xylobands didn't work. But it is still a visually stunning show. The last several shows I've been to, I've been in the first row, except for San jose and I was in Row 4. It was cool to see all the effects, lasers, and to watch the show from a different perspective. I took a lot of pictures but I need to go through. Overall though, the awsome show we have come to expect from our boys. [thanks LFDianne]

the show was amazing! i was totally surprised when they played Lovers in Japan! the confetti was amazing as well. i didn't expect for any of it to be around me but we were seated just below one of the canons! didn't expect the fireworks either! those just made the whole show even better. overall a good show. exactly what i expect from the boys. only complaint is that i wish they played longer, at least 2 hours. [thanks gotcheese2768]

(sorry it's so long, not easy for me to write anything or write reviews)I'd like to keep it as real as it could be. So years from now I could go back and read it again, and be happy again while reading again. Hollywood Bowl is inside as Chris sung last night. What a show and what a great time. The Hollywood Bowl was spectacular. First, my attempt to park and ride was to be unsuccessful. Tried to catch the shuttle in Pasadena and watched it leave when I pulled in to the lot and the nice guy said. They just left. I said, yes. I just watched it leave. The times posted on the net were wrong. The last bus was to leave at 6:30 and it wasnt quite 6:30 yet. So the guy said, try to catch one at the Zoo. They might be running late.

I took the advice from the live thread to park in one of the Hollywood lots. When visiting Hollywood I often park at the Hollywood and Orange lot. It's only $10.00. They told me to walk across the street and I could take the shuttle or I could walk. The shuttle was only $5.00 round trip and I was running late and missed the opening acts and took the very crowded bus. It was awesome, people were so happy and excited. First I have to say having never been to the Hollywood Bowl. I loved it, yes the chairs are weird but alas I didn't have anyone interupting my concert and leaving to buy drinks or use the restroom continually and was snuggled in my little cozy spot for the night in the terrace boxes. Where I was fine and okay. The lasers, the fireworks, the confetti, the images and wall graffitti, the xylobands, the cloudy night sky, the happy fans and cool vibe. Made it one of the most exciting and awesome Coldplay show for me.

Problems with the xylobands and the girl next to me at first. They eventually turned on. Chris's vocal range continues to amaze me. Clocks, Fix You..he seems to quite able to change his range numerous times and it seems easy for him. Princess Of China worked very well in live form. Seeing it in the videos doesn't come off as real as it is live. It's very well done and Chris put some interesting new vocals to it as Jonny put some guitars I hadn't heard before. I like what they all did there.

Don't Let It Break Your Heart is the new Politik for me. The beginning opening drumming sees to grab you and take you to a better more encouraging space. The lyrics to that song and it's message is much brighter and hopeful and the song just puts me in Paradise. Lovers In Japan is performed so well and I don't know what else to say about it but it fits the seltlist well and happily blends into the whole MX vibe. Us Against the World and the guitars. Like what they did there. It's an awesome thing for Coldplay to reach the fans in the back. You get this sucken feeling when you have to sit in the back and all the fan is upfront, the good pics and the band and fan interaction seems lost and them setting up a stage for the fans in the back makes them feel so much better, trust me I know. Charlie Brown was so visually exciting and so was Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall. Apart from them being great songs the images at the bowl were just great. It's a great closer for the show and Chris vocals and what he's done to the song makes it easier for him to sing. The emphasis on every tear lyrics gave me goosebumps last night.

Paradise has come a long way. The audience is so in tuned with the song. People are singing their hearts out. We even started singing a Paradise chant just for the fun of it. Always feel so lucky and blessed to see a Coldplay show live and all the little things. All the little things and the mention of your city and place make things so special. The feeling I take from a Coldplay show is this. They all seem to pay careful attention. Chris and his vocals and feelings he's puts into the song he sings. Jonny's guitar playing and Guys careful attention to his bass playing. Will's animal style drumming makes it one of the best live acts I've seen. No matter all the extra added awesome things they keep adding to the table. It has to be somewhat pricey to give the fans all this and they are truly giving it back to us. By giving it their very best of what they do best. It's very inspirational to me watching this in true form.

I'm lucky again I will get to see them on Friday and relive it all over again. I pinch myself each and every time I'm able to see them live and thank my lucky stars for what I'm seeing. [thanks postcards] [2]

I'm always left with that bittersweet feeling at the end of each Coldplay concert I attend. They're playing 4 concerts this week here in SoCal and it's just torturous not being at the other 3. It's torturous because Coldplay put on such a fantastic show that it leaves you wanting more each time! They're my favorite band so it's no surprise then that I feel inclined to want to go to all their shows, but I understand that isn't always possible, and I'm truly grateful to just have the chance to see them. Anyways about the concert...it was just mindblowing. From the Xylobands to the changes in how the songs are played, they left speechless. The most impacting part of the night was probably Yellow for me, and I've seen them perform that song each time I've gone to see them so it surprised me how they were able to make it even better this time. The beginning of Yellow with Chris on piano was beautiful, and while Chris was singing the song to us, I was singing it right back to Coldplay and meaning every single word I said.

Another moment (well moments) that left me in awe was when the Xylobands started flashing. I looked around the arena and it was truly mesmerizing. It definitely is a nice touch to the show, and when Chris asked everyone to raise their xylobands during Charlie Brown, that was just beautiful. I was surprised that there were also fireworks. I think they were a nice addition to the show; they really added to the grandiosity and excitement of the concert. The lasers, the confetti, the balloons, the stage visuals...were all perfect in making the night the grand spectacle that it is. Before the show started I was trying to figure out what section Coldplay was going to be at for their C-Stage performance. It seemed like it was going to be in the section over next to mine since there was a white tarp over the roof of a little building they have in front of the seats in that section but I wasn't sure. I really hoped it was since it wasn't too far from me! I was right because when they played Us Against the world it was right there! I love that song, it's my favorite from MX. Chris asked us to welcome each member as they arrived on the small stage with him, and we did, cheering for each band member as they joined him! They all deserve special recognition.

All of the band members were in top form, as far as I could tell, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Chris was his usual energetic self running all over the place and doing his crazy dance moves and jumps. There was a lady dressed as an elephant so he noticed her and I think he was shaking her hand or patting her head (?) at one point. Will had so much energy on those drums!! Jonny and Guy were also flawless with their guitars. This was also the first time, I think, that I go to a Coldplay concert and Chris doesn't mess up on a song. I don't mind the messups actually though, they just add to the personality of the show. The crowd wasn't bad like I expected it to be, with it being an LA crowd, so that was good. In my area people were standing for most of the show, only sitting down for Up in Flames and Warning Sign, which I don't understand since I generally don't see why one can sit at a Coldplay concert! They also sang along and when they finished Paradise, said "goodbye", and left the crowd started doing the Oooh ooh oooooh part from Paradise to try to get them back on stage. That was pretty cool cause I definitely didn't expect that, but it was fun doing it.

Other outstanding moments for me was the Scientist for personal reasons. Really touching on a personal level, and I loved the singalong we did for it. This was also the first time I heard Warning Sign, Don't Let it Break Your Heart, Up In Flames, and Princess of China live. Loved hearing them all, especially Warning Sign! My only critique was with Princess of China, it kind of bugged me that with Rihanna's part, the song was not in synch with her lips in the video...not a big deal I suppose since she's not actually there anyways but still..haha that bothered me a bit. Viva La Vida was amazing live just as always. It's my favorite song so it's a joy to hear it live. Charlie Brown and Hurts Like Heaven were also great crowd pleasers. I loved, loved, LOVED hearing Lovers in Japan again! I had been missing it from the setlist. Loved the song and it was nice seeing that they still had confetti during the song. Actually, I enjoyed every song.

It was a great concert. I had so much fun. I'm not sure if it's been my favorite one so far because each Coldplay concert has been so special to me. They're all my favorite. I'm not sure if this was the last concert for me with my sister since I'm going to college in Rhode Island for the next four years so it was nice sharing this with her again. I sure hope it's not my last time seeing them though! Here's to hoping they still want to make more albums and tour for them! I still hope they add another leg to this US tour though, and maybe I'll get to see them in Boston or NY when I'm over there in the fall! After all they still haven't added NY shows, I believe. Can't wait t see Coldplay again and enjoy the happiness that their live shows bring me! And to quote Mr. Roadie #42 "never a dull moment" at a Coldplay concert. [thanks iduran20] [3]

I concur with the above reviews... just a stunning show, the complete package at the Bowl. The Old Lady had a fresh coat of graffiti and was looking pretty sharp tonight. I was seated in the back row of the Terrace boxes, just off center, and how lucky was that? Just 10 feet across the walkway from the C stage, as it turned out. We were just screaming!!! The Bowl is not my favorite venue, just due to its largesse... seems like it extends into the hill for miles, but Coldplay owned the room, so to speak. They do so much for the fan experience, when really, all they have to do is sing. Thank you, guys. [thanks stretchdogg]

Well, well, here we are again at yet another spectacular spectacular Coldplay concert. This past Tuesday I was lucky enough to visit the Hollywood Bowl with three of my friends and boyfriend in tow. A magical night of miracles where we barely made the Hollywood and Highland shuttle, and where we were able to picnic on not one, not two, but three bottles of wine (okay it was more like 3 mondo-bottles...), endless Brie and baguettes, cured meats, hummus, and my famous broccoli pasta salad. A night to remember concluded with Chris Martin playing in the middle of the crowd, and ending with a medley of Clocks, Fix You (not a dry eye in the house), and Every Teardrop is a Waterfall. Not only did they play my one of all time favorites Lovers in Japan, but they also played classics like In My Place, Warning Sign, and The Scientist and new songs like Paradise and Charlie Brown. It was purely fantastic. [thanks mon amy http://amyturman.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/lovers-in-japan-coldplay-at-hollywood.html]

Last night we went and saw Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl. We see at least 3-4 concerts a year, which isn't a ton compared to some of my friends, but it's enough to get us out of the house and keep us feeling young. Concerts still have the ability to almost make me teary eyed with eupohoria, even when I'm 22 weeks pregnant and not a lick of alcohol in my body. The common bonding experience of music is really just pure magic. Everyone singing along, swaying back and forth, cheering, hollering. It gives me chills. I'm not the biggest Coldplay fan. I mean they're a great band and I respect their talent, but quite honestly I don't even own an entire album, just songs. When we had the opportunity to buy tickets 5 months ago though I knew it was probably the only chance I'd get to see such a legendary band live. Let me tell you they were amazing and I'm so glad we went. The show was so electric, energetic, exciting, and just good, good, good. They sound fantastic live and his energy is contagious. Trust me, that's saying a lot considering my condition. The whole stadium received these wristbands when we entered and throughout the show at certain times they lit up in unison with the music. 17,000 light up neon wrists was a sight to see. Baby bean loved the music too, and we've officially taken all three of our babies to concerts in utero. I think that's pretty cool and awesome ;) [thanks four flights http://fourflightsoffancy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/concert-memories-coldplay.html ]

Media Reviews

1 May 2012: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, USA

OC Register: What an air-tight Technicolor delight Coldplay presented Tuesday night at the Hollywood Bowl, the British quartet’s first of three sold-out shows at the landmark amphitheater, followed by a headlining turn Saturday in Irvine at KROQ’s 20th annual Weenie Roast. We knew something fairly spectacular was in store just walking into the venue, at which point scores of assistants clutching thick, DayGlo-colored wristbands approached every patron insisting each pick a color. I snatched a green one, scoffed a bit at its Twitter sponsorship scrawl, then secured it snugly, forgetting all about the memento while enjoying English electro-pop outfit Metronomy’s satisfying warm-up set. Where a watch face might go, these wristbands instead have a small plastic box with a smaller slit along one side. “Cool,” I thought as the lights went out and Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” yielded to John Williams’ theme from Back to the Future. “Maybe I’ll be able to shoot a laser beam from my wrist and feel like a real superhero.”

Why Coldplay would want to equip nearly 18,000 people with tchotchkes of such blinding potential, well, that I couldn’t figure out. Perhaps it would enable the crowd to virtually graffiti the Bowl’s shell in the same manner as the inside sleeve of the band’s fifth album, last October’s Mylo Xyloto. Not exactly – their gimmick was more smartly employed than that. Within moments of taking the stage, as the group’s current title-track instrumental gave way to its lead-off salvo, “Hurts Like Heaven,” most of these wristbands (some were duds) began to glow a rainbow of colors as far as the eye could see, illuminating the night and flashing in time to the music, electronically triggered by who-knows-what.

Atop the Bowl’s shell came huge blasts of fireworks, like you only get on the Fourth of July. As “Heaven” wrapped and the familiar strains of “In My Place” started to chime, so too did giant confetti blasters throughout the venue begin to coat the crowd in wide slips of tissue paper – some shaped as birds, others as flames. Two songs later, when frontman Chris Martin led his mates into first a rousing “Japanese Lovers” and then a Police-worthy call-and-response for “The Scientist,” enormous balloons (also stuffed with confetti) were launched into the amphitheater. Not just close to the stage, either: At every level of the Bowl, from the orchestra pit to cheaper seats high on the hill, these huge spheres could be seen bouncing above people’s heads. It was practically carnival-like after a while, the ticker-tape celebration of Coldplay’s Viva la Vida shows of four years ago taken to the nth degree. You’d think it would have been too much too soon, an overwhelmingly joyful launch establishing a level of exuberance that surely couldn’t be sustained for the rest of a 90-minute set.

Re-examining the show removed from its sudden impact, you realize there actually weren’t other tricks up Coldplay’s collective sleeves. The subtle shifts in mood (video screens switched to black-and-white) as well as position (the encore started with “Us Against the World” from a small makeshift stage in the middle of the venue) are stunts the group has handily pulled off before. Likewise, the fireworks finale for “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall,” though a sight to behold, merely piled on more of the same pyrotechnics.

Martin & Co. – Edge-y guitarist Jonny Buckland, anchoring bassist Guy Berryman, crucial linchpin Will Champion providing dynamic drumming (forceful like Dave Grohl one minute, nuanced like Stewart Copeland the next) – certainly recapture the thrillingly inspirational spirit that surges through the best of U2. For years now they’ve stamped it with their own similar-yet-distinct trademarks, particularly chant-worthy choruses with global appeal. But technological marvels they so far aren’t. Whenever a gleaming new zillion-dollar production from Bono’s gang hits town, I’m left gawking, wondering “how’d they do that?” during at least a half-dozen tunes. I know exactly how Coldplay pulled off its frenzied party at the Bowl, and that’s the genius of it: They’ve taken the same materials countless superstars have used over the years and fashioned something entirely fresh out of them, creating an interactive experience that engages seemingly every member of the audience to a fuller extent than any arena-level show has before.

Even more impressive is that all this artifice never obscures the music, only enhances it. I wasn’t wild about Mylo Xyloto when it dropped in fall – it seemed as much a confused comedown after another peak studio performance (2008’s Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends) as 2005’s sleek, sometimes soulless X&Y was to the band’s masterful monster A Rush of Blood to the Head from 2002. We Californian fans have had a long time to stew in the new material, while Coldplay has indulged only brief benefit sets locally (at Pauley Pavilion, at Club Nokia), always without the full-blown array they’ve been bringing to basketball halls from coast to coast.

The disc isn’t exactly improving as it sinks in; for every high-impact moment, whether over-the-top (“Paradise”) or minimalistic (“Us Against the World”), there’s another cut whose energy can turn sludgy from so much Eno-assisted glitter. Yet so much of that has been stripped away on stage. Right off the bat, “Hurts Like Heaven” sounded less like an iffy attempt at mainstream electro-rock and more like a storming anthem, powered by Champion pounding. “Major Minus,” instantly among the most U2-like creations in the Coldplay catalog, was doubly so in its charging rendition at the Bowl, while “Don’t Let It Break Your Heart,” which led an invigorating string of selections to finish off the main set, came devoid of synthetic wash and soared ever higher because of its reliance on good old-fashioned guitar-rock. In moments like that, you could detect what their new album might have become had they opted to fulfill a desire to get back to basics rather than chasing their next envelope-pushing whim.

On tour they’ve developed a convincing fusion of the two: What’s merely interesting on Mylo Xyloto (a concept album with a larval narrative about love among the futuristic ruins) has became positively commanding live, each new piece building from strength to strength. Even lesser or quieter passages, like a mid-set pairing of “Princess of China” (Rihanna joined via video) and the soulful ache of “Up in Flames,” came across grippingly. The finesse the group brings equally to new and older material speaks to both road-seasoning and perfectly blended chemistry: Martin’s tender falsetto has never sounded so spot-on and heartwarming; Buckland’s guitar lines have rarely been so seamlessly integrated. Many songs have been treated to blood transfusions, yet any twists – the lower-register lead-in for “Yellow,” the Springsteenian start to “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face,” an almost impossibly peppy pace for their greatest piece, the ballad “The Scientist” – never spoiled the overall feeling those well-established tracks need to convey. As with Martin’s once-spastic stage antics, now as controlled as his awestruck humility, all of these favorites have nestled into a power zone, surpassing their studio counterparts without sacrificing essential elements.

And oh those mighty singalongs! There are few bands on the planet so capable of ripping past people’s too-cool inhibitions to elicit immense cheer. Only for the Boss do L.A. crowds sing so ecstatically, and rarely will they do it at the Bowl. What a testament to the increasing magnetism of Coldplay, and what a rebuke to snoots who can’t see past their thesauruses long enough to hear a lastingly rousing hook when it grabs their soul. The entire thing was so effortlessly buoyant, it seemed to fly past like a lost helium balloon about to get sucked into the ether – yet it also reasserted what a tremendous force this band has become. Easily one of the best shows of the year. No matter how much the Black Keys killed at Coachella, it’s still a shame this wasn’t the fest’s super-happy opening-night explosion, like Arcade Fire on steroids. [4]

1 May 2012: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, USA

OC Weekly: Coldplay's first of three nights at the Hollywood Bowl kicked off in a most impressive fashion. Eighteen thousand rabid Coldplay fans soaked up every note as the band held the audience in the palm of their hand from the beginning notes of "Mylo Xyloto" till the very end. Lasers, confetti, fireworks and illuminated neon wristbands were some of the extras that enriched the overall concert experience, but Coldplay's songs and musicianship were still the centerpiece. The descending guitar riff of "Hurts Like Heaven" immediately provoked the audience out of their seats as a sea of illuminated wristbands rapidly blinked alternating colors.

Chris Martin sprinted down the catwalk and leapt into the air as a spray of confetti launched into the front rows of the audience as "In My Place" triggered one of the first of many crowd sing-alongs of the evening. Grabbing his acoustic guitar, Martin dealt out the percussive riff of "Major Minus" as Jonny Buckland was surgically navigating the fretboard of his Fender guitar. The shoegaze guitars of "Lovers in Japan" meshed with a bouncing piano riff make it one of my favorites from Viva La Vida Or Death And His Friends and was performed flawlessly. Couples clutched each other during the piano-driven "The Scientist." Martin was excited and let his enthusiasm spill over into the performance as he asked the for the lights to illuminate the massive audience during "Yellow."

Frequently altering the lyrics to make each show city-specific, Martin incorporated the line of "took my love to the Hollywood Bowl" during "Violet Hill." An alternate electric guitar riff for "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face" melted into Will Champion's muscular drumming that ended with Martin tossing his guitar high into the air. Buckland used an E-bow for the creamy sustained guitar notes of "Princess of China" as Rihanna appeared on video screens, thankfully not in hologram form. The pace slowed momentarily for the ballads of "Up In Flames" and "Warning Sign" but quickly returned to a sprint with "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" and a massive performance of "Viva La Vida."

Coldplay later rushed out past the promenade to play in the middle of the Hollywood Bowl during "Us Against The World" to connect with their fans. The double piano shot of "Clocks" and "Fix You" perfectly led into the uplifting closer of "Every Teardrop is A Waterfall" as fireworks sprayed above the Bowl. Don't miss your chance to see them at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday and Friday or this Saturday at the KROQ Weenie Roast. In the opening band department, Metronomy utilized synthesizers and catchy tunes that engaged a fair amount of audience members. The Pierces left a memorable impression with their juicy vocal harmonies and wispy tunes.

Critical Bias: I have a Coldplay track jacket. The Crowd: 18,000 and Robert Downey Jr. Overheard in the Crowd: "This is amazing!" by multiple people. Random Notebook Dump: Cuba Gooding Jr. took pictures with the paparazzi when he walked into the show. What a genuinely nice guy! [5]

LA Times Blogs: At the start of “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall,” the last song Coldplay performed at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday night, the band flicked on halos of lasers, cued a four-on-the-floor drum beat and sang about how it wanted to “turn the music up, I got my records on / I shut the world outside until the lights come on.”

For an act that crankier critics accuse of playing middlebrow post-indie-rock for Apple adverts, this was awfully ravey. The London quartet, one of the biggest bands to emerge in the 2000s, is certainly grounded in earnest guitar-and-piano emoting (with the good taste and huge budgets that afford Brian Eno as a producer). But that move implies that it sees the rise of dance-music culture as a stakes-raising challenge (or maybe a threat to its livelihood). Tuesday’s show, the first of a three-night Bowl stand this week, proved why Coldplay is the last stadium-sized rock band left standing in contemporary pop -- a feat perhaps unrepeatable for future rockers in a laptop era.

Perhaps the one thing that sticks in craws about Coldplay is that its four sweet-tempered goofballs, who simultaneously want to play the most flagrantly moving rock music conceivable. Gawky dudes like singer Chris Martin, a “Colbert Report” fan who rolls around on stage floors mocking his own falsetto, can't possibly be serious when he calls a song “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall,” right? Well, the music had better make us believe it. And that, more than celebrity marriages (Martin’s other half is Gwyneth Paltrow) or bucktoothed love ballads, is why the band is so enormous. At the Bowl show, drummer Will Champion and pedal-slinging guitarist Jonny Buckland gave necessary ballast to Martin's skilled but sometimes overeager songwriting. Newer tracks such as “Don't Let It Break Your Heart” (from the band's latest, inscrutably titled “Mylo Xyloto”) and older hits such as “Clocks” got their pulse-quickening rush from the classic virtues of all great rock bands: stay simple, but sound huge.

For all the ribbing about Martin’s dreamboat whispers and the anthemic hokum in Coldplay's lyrics (how does one “ignite your bones,” anyhow?), its arrangements are always tasteful and surprisingly minimal. Even on the orchestra-sampling “Viva La Vida,” the band never had to use a snare drum to seal the deal. But the other thing that gets lost about Coldplay is that it’s also really good at being loud. “Charlie Brown,” stripped of its pitch-shifted samples, went straight for arena-ecstasy riffage. Even obvious pandering, such as the gang chorus of “Paradise,” worked because, well, these guys get paid insane sums of money for coming up with pleasure-center hits like that.

The band succumbed a little too often to the siren song of mid-tempo, though. Even when it dices up plodding tunes such as “Princess of China” with Rihanna video cameos and electronic patter, it still validates accusations of being cloying. But even at the band's most hateable -- the aforementioned bone-igniting ballad “Fix You” -- it's so skilled at sincerity that it would take a Jesuit-like level of self-control to not feel something. At the encore, when Coldplay cued the audience's wrist-mounted light-blipping devices on “Teardrop,” Martin & Co. clearly planned for the song to hit like a nightclub destroyer. But when Martin sang about his records and keeping the world outside, there was a hint of Brian Wilson's teenage mooniness in the mix. Any act that can do both of those things -- pair palms-out sentimentality with rigorous rocker craft -- will probably remain the world's last big band for a very long time. [6]

Twitter Updates

1 May 2012: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • @oxfamontour: Just preparing for Hollywood Bowl tomorrow. Can't wait to see this arena!
  • @djmotwister: so freakin' excited to see Coldplay perform tomorrow in Los Angeles. Flying in for the concert, I'll try to sneak my camera in too!
  • @Jocedoit: Coldplay is coming to the Hollywood bowl?! .. Sa-weet! ...and it was all #yellow. #vivaLaVida
  • @ericbaldukas: @coldplay is gonna be incredible tonight @ the Hollywood Bowl. Been looking forward to it since the tickets came. Wish everyone could come.
  • @peppernorth: I'm goofing to see Coldplay tonight at the Hollywood Bowl #luckyme
  • @nat_boo: 2 classes separates me from the Coldplay concert at the Hollywood Bowl
  • @justintarsiuk: COLDPLAY. Tonight @ the Hollywood Bowl. SO EXCITED!!
  • @fourflights: Hey! I just realized I'm going to be seeing Coldplay tonight at the Hollywood Bowl. Day just looked up! :)
  • @oxfamontour: Hello @HollywoodBowl. Are you heading to the @coldplay gig tonight? twitpic.com/9g32ft
  • @LFDianne: @Coldplay at #hollywoodbowl tonight. I'm so excited! Haven't been to the Bowl in years & years. Looking forward to another outstanding show
  • @Leah_Cevoli: Back at the Hollywood Bowl for another day of rock n roll fun. #Coldplay
  • @Iduran20: Can't wait to leave school so I can head over to go see @coldplay today at the Hollywood Bowl! :D
  • @xisuperflyx: going to see coldplay at the hollywood bowl tonight. I know they're not the manliest band but I like all their songs
  • @MP_Gosselaar: Going to see Coldplay at the Bowl tonight! #NoRainPlease
  • @mayleeasia: Heading to Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl tonight! Should be a great show!
  • @ChristinaAuthor: Wow! Coldplay! Tonight! Hollywood Bowl! Thank you to my daughter for early Mother's Day gift! <3 U!!!
  • @ellenetten: can hear Coldplay doing a soundcheck at the Bowl right now. Which means I will hear the concert.Which means I'll hear every concert #BringIt
  • @Brooke_Ross: After nearly 3 years of living in LA, tonight will be my first time going to the Hollywood Bowl. My guy and I are going to see Coldplay!!!!!
  • @curtmega: Coldplay. Hollywood Bowl. Tonight. 'nuff said.
  • @katie2thewright: So excited to see @coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl tonight!!!
  • @sarahmarkley: Hollywood Bowl tonight for Coldplay. :)
  • @jasonthompsonco: Alright time to get ready to head over to the Hollywood Bowl to see Coldplay!
  • @AlexGuichet: Coldplay tonight at the hollywood bowl! Woooooooo!
  • @RubenArenas: #coldplay outdoors under the stars at the Hollywood bowl w/ great friends tonight! #stoked
  • @DannyJanklow: Coldplay concert tonight at Hollywood bowl!
  • @JennDrobs: At the Hollywood Bowl for @coldplay!!! I think they're sound-checking "Major Minus"!
  • @TenisEnenbaum: Listening to Coldplay echo through the neighborhood as they warm up at the Hollywood Bowl. #Hollywood #Coldplay
  • @ZelMcCarthy: I can hear Coldplay's soundcheck from the Bowl in my living room. Playing Parachutes songs. Neat! Also playing that Rihanna song. Not neat.
  • @heyjeanna: I can't believe I'm at the hollywood bowl... about to see the @coldplay concert!
  • @bellagonzalez24: Hollywood Bowl here I come!! #Coldplay
  • @elliott_lopes: Headed to the Hollywood Bowl for the Coldplay concert tonight. It's my first Coldplay concert! Paradise??
  • @EdenSanderson: Leaving soon to go to the Hollywood Bowl :) @coldplay 's MYLO XYLOTO Tour! :)
  • @lolitszoe: #Coldplay TONIGHT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL!!!
  • @autisticmoose8: Coldplay at Hollywood bowl #coldplayfilm #coldplay #winning
  • @CadenceImprfect: Going to the Hollywood Bowl tonight! I'm excited to see Coldplay!!
  • @Jade_Blu: On my way to Hollywood Bowl for @Coldplay tonight!
  • @MrsBuvalo: pumped to see Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl tonight! Wahoo!!
  • @MJNelsonComedy: At the Hollywood Bowl watching some band perform called "Coldplay". Ever heard of them? They seem pretty popular #coldplayatthehollywoodbowl
  • @ZombieShellHead: At The Hollywood Bowl to see @Coldplay can't wait for them to go on!
  • @stay_blessedd: venue : hollywood bowl. artist : coldplay. mood : fckin happy as fcking fuck.
  • @uzenoldsoul: Catching coldplay @ the Hollywood bowl tonight
  • @JennamJones: Coldplay.... Hollywood bowl.... In heaven
  • @KateWeichel: Ready to sing my heart out with Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl <3
  • @lzielabcha: Metronomy now playing, next Coldplay at Hollywood Bowl :-) twitpic.com/9g8aza
  • @camronmitchell: At the Hollywood bowl for the Coldplay show!! Life is made. This is going to be epic. #myloxyloto
  • @elliott_lopes: Coldplay concert at Hollywood Bowl. Almost directly behind sound board. Score!! instagr.am/p/KG7mCymDZV/
  • @500daysofkat: #coldplay at the hollywood bowl. In the way back but it doesn't matter life rocks I'm stoked
  • @da_r: Coldplay playing "99 Probelms" as their pre-show song at the Hollywood Bowl... Great stuff
  • @cesarito12: Alright....one song in and this could easily be the best show the bowl has ever done. #Coldplay #HollywoodBowl #LightShow
  • @lyndseyparker: Coldplay are only on 2nd song and already there has been fireworks and confetti. Coldplay do the Bowl right!
  • ‏@Krystenface: COLDPLAY! Only the 3rd song and I could go home happy!
  • @jexrichards: Coldplay concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Holy shit. Speechless.
  • @helenaheredia: The world was a better place for 2 hours tonight while Coldplay freakin' rocked the Hollywood Bowl. Magical as always.
  • @petercote: Coldplay was incredible at the Hollywood Bowl! Speechless.
  • @heyjeanna: OMG... they couldn't have played a better set! ❤❤❤ Coldplay rocked the sold out Hollywood bowl, I can die now.
  • @christhrash: Had an amazing time at the @Coldplay concert at the Hollywood Bowl. #coldplayfilm
  • @LSinLA: #Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl. Paradise.
  • @MavityAbigail: Coldplay was AMAZING tonight at the Hollywood Bowl. They always put on such a great show. Love them so much. pic.twitter.com/wB11MoFD
  • @killermuses: Wow Coldplay just ran to the back of the Hollywood Bowl!!! That's awesome for all the people that ended up with crappy seats
  • @catgeeee: Coldplay was AMAZING!!!:D #coldplay #hollywoodbowl #awesome #myloxyloto #concert #LA # @ The Hollywood Bowl instagr.am/p/KHTZmDBj5k/
  • @maktubmatt: @coldplay just rocked the hollywood bowl
  • @GrantMuirhead: My first trip to the Hollywood Bowl was to see Coldplay! Mind. Blown. @ The Hollywood Bowl instagr.am/p/KHV4EjAJKb/
  • @mkaush: #coldplayfilm the best Coldplay shows in a while. They should always play at the bowl pic.twitter.com/ojUpA2tT
  • @luckyducklin3: @coldplay You guys were amazing tonight at the Hollywood bowl!!! I wish the concert never ended! Thanks for the great show!<3 #bestnightever
  • @RobSchmittNews: maybe the best live performance i've seen, tonight's Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl, nothing beats the quality of entertainment in LA
  • @dotMorten: Awesome #ColdPlay concert at the Hollywood Bowl with remotely controlled lighted wristbands twitpic.com/9galtb
  • @FabioTassone: #Coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl. What a night! One of the best live shows I've seen. Going back on Friday. pic.twitter.com/8rnZTEsg
  • @coldplay: The first Hollywood Bowl show was really great - 2 more to go! Back to UK next week… GB
  • ‏@zgayer: coldplay killed it at the hollywood bowl tonight
  • @LeahhAlexandra: May 1st 2012 Hollywood bowl. Tonight is a night I won't ever forget. Thanks @coldplay ♡
  • @Mese_Smith: Honestly one of the best shows I've ever been to :) #hollywoodbowl #coldplay @ Hollywood Bowl instagr.am/p/KHmpSjzHl1/
  • @jinchoung: Coldplay at the Hollywood bowl! they were great but crowd seemed a little tuesdayish. awesome stage show! pic.twitter.com/8yfCWd9y
  • @lessgallon: Coldplay was SICK last night at the Hollywood Bowl
Retrieved from "http://www.wikicoldplay.com/1_May_2012:_Hollywood_Bowl,_Los_Angeles,_CA,_USA"
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