8 July 2012: Verizon Center, Washington, DC, USA

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8 July 2012: Verizon Center, Washington, DC, USA (Photo: Washington Post)

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. Speed Of Sound
  19. Clocks
  20. Fix You
  21. Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall

Photos

Photos from this show can be found at Coldplaying.com in the Gallery thread for Washington. http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/1964

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=90974

Discussion

All post-show discussion for this show at the forum thread http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90974

Fan Reviews

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

8 July 2012: Verizon Center, Washington, DC, USA (Photo: Texasluvsjonny)

Chris stopped and talked with us for about 15 minutes. Was super nice. It poured down rain on me on way back to hotel but i don't care. The day started off with Chinese food. What else in Chinatown. On the table place mats they had the signs of the Chinese New Years. I looked up my birth year and seems I am a Rabbit- the luckiest sign...... well I think that's probably true, I have always been pretty lucky. Julie and her niece picked me up at my hotel and we drove over to the venue. We had a drink at a bar in Gallery Place. I had met Julie the first time I saw Coldplay in DC. She had the seat next to me. Well this time she has seats in the same section as me. That's kinda lucky right. I had VIP ticket so had to enter through a different entrance from them so I left early to go in. Was a bit of a waste because none of the food stalls were open. You couldn't go to your seat til doors fully opened. What's the point? Anyway, my seat was on row 2, section 113 on Guy's side.

I went in early hoping to see Jackie. She had said in Houston she thought DC was having a Meet and Greet and she would try and get me in. I didn't see her til after the show when I was standing talking to Chris, so that was a wash. I think Wolf Gang have gotten better each night I have seen them. Robyn however........ Everyone around me was WTF is she doing,wearing, gah my ears! All I can say is she writes excellent "go to the bathroom" music so that what I always do. The crowd started doing the Mexican Wave waiting for Coldplay to come out. Although they don't do the stomp your feet as it approaches your section technique it was still kinda crazy.

I had a lot of "first timers" sitting around me. They asked what the bands do. They blow your mind, that's what they do. Chris was super excited I think. I know it's hard to tell if he's excited, or super excited, but he seemed super excited to me. Jonny Y U no wear your green pants? Favorite songs of the night: Viva and Charlie Brown. After the show, we decided to wait by the security gate and see if they would come out. There started out with a kinda large crowd, but security people kept saying "they already left, I don't know why yall are waiting here".....they always say that shit. A black SUV pulled into the gate...there to pick up someone important perhaps... It started the lightning and looked like we might all get soaked shortly, so people started leaving. Door opens, it was only Wolf Gang's van. Door opens, it's a van with crew. Door opens, Julie sees Kelly in the front seat....THAT'S THE ONE! I thought they were gonna pull away, but they stop, door opens and out pops hoodie wearing Chris Martin.

He shakes hands, signs stuff. Moves along the line. Thought we were only gonna get a few seconds but he keeps coming back and talking some more, then a few more pics and then back to talk some more. Kelly kept looking more pissed. I told him it was my 42nd show. WHAT, THAT'S CRAZY! Told him where's Miller, we could celebrate 42 together. He said he lives under the stage. I told him, yeah but he comes out to shoot the panorama. He said you know your shit! I told him I would be back tonight. He said you know it's gonna be pretty much the same. I told him, yeah I know. Then he asked me my name. /fangirl squee

I told him I thought the confetti drop during Lovers on the Viva tour was the coolest thing ever, but the Xylobands blows that shit away! He said YES IT DOES! I asked why no Trouble tonight. He said the drum machine broke in Philly, so they couldn't play UiF. Julie asked if they would ever play Amsterdam again. He said they rehearse it before ever tour but it always sounds shit. I said, we don't care, play it any way! He said he had to go. Jumped back into the SUV and was off. I started walking back to hotel, got half way across H street and the sky opened up. Was totally soaked before I could get across the street and get the umbrella from my bag. Oh well...on to #43........... [thanks Texasluvsjonny]

8 July 2012: Verizon Center, Washington, DC, USA (Photo: Texasluvsjonny)

No Trouble tonight. :/ IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No words right now. Got amazing seats kind of behind the stage, bit still a little to the side.....SO SO SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Pics and videos coming soon. It was really an unbelievable night. So much movement, lights, balloons, confetti, emotions, smiles from all the band members. Some amazing intros to songs....Yellow started off so slow and mellow and nice. I sat behind the stage, a little to the side, from Jonny's side....amazing view, so close to them.... Bought myself a Mylo Xyloto shirt, and also a poster. Looks amazing in my room. I hope everyone else had a blast. I might go see them tomorrow again... [thanks AgainstTheWorld]

AMAZING SHOW. We were about three rows above the C stage and were able to touch a lot of the instruments as they went down with the roadies. We were also able (we were so lucky to get aisle seats) to reach over and shake hands with both Chris and Will as they went down (Guy and Jonny didn't see us). Will seemed to grateful and nice to see us freaking out over shaking his hand Overall a very very good one! [thanks SeldomSeenGirl]

The story of how I got upgraded to FRONT ROW SEATS July 8th 2012 at the Verizon Center! I purchased floor seats (section 2) Mylo Xyloto tour tickets all the way back in December of 2011. This would of been my 3rd Coldplay concert ever, so I wanted to do it big. Lets fast forward to May of 2012. A friend from Texas was coming into town and I recommended we go see Coldplay. I already was going with someone on the 9th, so I figured i'd just buy cheap seats for the 8th. I believe we were placed in section 419 which is super high up. We arrived to the Verizon Center about 20 minutes before they opened the doors to the public. We got our Xylobands, got our tickets scanned, and headed to our seats in 419! Once we got up there, both our seats were broken and not suitable for viewing a concert in them. I flag down an usher and explain to him our problem. He then finds some service workers to try and repair the seats. They said that the seats couldn't be repaired, so they had to walk us to guest services to get new seats.

I knew that those service men weren't the roadies I heard about on this forum, but I kept hopes high thinking hmm, maybe we'll be upgraded to some really nice seats. That didn't happen, we were basically moved over to the other side of the arena and a tad bit lower, but still in the 400 section. So about 15 minutes later, I spot a roadie pulling a group of two girls to the side asking them "hey, did you girls make these posters?" "how big of fans of Coldplay are you". I knew exactly what was going on, and I wanted to throw myself in front of them and try to request tickets. She offered them seats between the first 3 rows. You see, I actually made my own shirt for the concert. I had a friend photoshop me into a picture with coldplay that looked pretty funny but only something a true fan would do. So once she finished talking to them, I tell me friend, I'll be right back and I try to find her to talk to her. She walked so fast that I couldn't catch her so I kind of gave up and headed back to my seat, bummed out. Then I gained hope again and tried a second time to find a roadie.

At this point, I knew how they acted so I felt that I could spot one from anywhere. What do you know, I did spot another roadie upgrading a group of guys to one of the front 3 rows. I tried to catch him but he also walked too fast to speak to. I was going to say "hey, do you know where the bathroom is, hoping he would notice my shirt i created. I eventually gave up trying to track him down and just went back to my seat. At this point I forced myself to just forget about it and enjoy the concert..after all, the next show I'd be in section 2 in front of the X stage. So Wolfgang performed and I LOVED THEM. I checked them out before the concert and the king and all of his men was by far my favorite song by them that i've heard. Anyway, after they were done they said, he we'll be in section 114 or something like that if you wanted to get stuff signed by them or to meet them. My friend said hey lets go there! I kind of recommended that we didn't since I didn't want to risk missing the start of coldplay. She said that there was enough time to get there to meet them. So we leave our seats and head to 114. Before we even get 20 feet away, a guy standing on the side randomly stops us saying "hey guys you coldplay fans". I knew EXACTLY what was going on because he was the same guy I was trying to track down.

My friend however thought he was a creep at first since shes used to that kind of thing lol. He showed us his badge and asked if we were happy with our seats etc. We of course say any seat is a good one for Coldplay. Then he asks if we're the only people in our group and we say yes. He tells us he has 4 tickets left between the first 3 rows on the floor if we want them. At this point I'm going crazy, after reading so many people getting upgraded on this site, I never thought it would happen to me! He even had popcorn and offered me some, I of course take some! He guides us to the lower level. I'm so pumped that I call my mom and tell her the good news. We get down to the lower level and he hands us our tickets. First row on the floor, left of the X stage cat walk. It looked as if they reserved the first 3 rows for "true fans" that get lucky enough for tickets. Rows 4 and back looked like really rich people who were only sitting that close up because they could afford it. They didn't look anywhere near as exited as any of us within the first 3 rows. Now, I'm a 21 year old male. I've been a coldplay fan ever since I heard Clocks and In My Place for the first time back in the 6th grade. There was only one other guy in the row. The rest were 14-17 year old girls haha, but I didn't mind, they were all really nice. Some of the girls on the left of me were so pumped that they asked me the name of some of the songs Coldplay played. I gladly told them the names since I love myself some Coldplay trivia! The man who upgraded us to the seats came back about 2 other times during the concert to see how we all were doing up there. He was very kind and funny.

During the concert, I can't tell you HOW AMAZING IT WAS TO BE SO CLOSE TO COLDPLAY. I think after this concert, Jonny became my favorite Coldplayer. I forgot which song it was, but Chris was being Chris and running all around. It seemed as if everyones attention was all on Chris on the X Stage but I turned around and continued to look at Jonny. I of course had my camera out recording and i scream Jonny!!! I wave and what not to get his attention and he actually noticed me and kind of smiled and made eye contact! That by far was the coolest thing ever, just being noticed by someone from Coldplay was awesome!!! At the end of the concert, there were two setlists given out to people in the first and second row. One was a little girl who sat behind me. The other was to a couple that I believe was one of the first to be upgraded to the floor seats. The little girl however was kind enough to let me take a picture of her setlist. I personally would of framed it but I guess I can frame the picture of the setlist

So that's basically my story. Here are some tips/advice if you're going to a Coldplay concert soon. 1) It's ok to bring a point and shoot camera, they didn't have a problem with it. It just can't be a professional camera. 2) Feel free to record during the concert. The event staff guys were really strict against recording when the 2 acts were on before Coldplay, but they never told anyone or me to stop when Coldplay came on stage. I got maybe 1-2 mean looks from the event staff guy but he didn't tell me to stop. 3) If you want your seats upgraded, being on the highest level (400ish) helps a lot. Try to get to the concert early and walk around the halls. However, sometimes the roadies will come to your seat if you're lucky, so just keep your eyes open for them. 4) Make concert shirts or posters. I personally had fun making my shirt, but it's one of the only ways that I've seen that you'll be noticed as a "true fan" by them. Put effort into it and be proud of it. 5) HAVE FUN!

My next goal is to actually meet Coldplay. I get another chance tomorrow since I'll be in section 2 that time. I'd love to get upgraded to front row again, but at the same time, I think it's good to share with someone else who hasn't wants to experience Coldplay on the front row! I'll add pictures probably later tomorrow, I'm mighty tired. Sorry for the long post but there was a lot I wanted to say! [thanks smallnshort247]

8 July 2012: Verizon Center, Washington, DC, USA (Photo: jbarry5503)

Two years ago Angie (Texasluvsjonny) was kind enough to take Ryan's MINI with her to Mexico to see Coldplay. During her trip, she was fortunate to meet Guy, Will, Jonny and Chris and have them take photos with Ryan's MINI. I can't put in to words how much that meant to me as I had always hoped to take my daughter Ryan to a Coldplay show when she got older. Tonight, with Angie buy my side, I was lucky enough to meet Chris myself and tell him how much their music meant to Ryan and I and that their music had helped to create many memories. 'Coldplay' was the forth or fifth word Ryan learned to speak. I shared with Chris that while they were playing Paradise and I looked out at all of the beautiful blinking colored lights, I thought to myself, if there was a heaven and Ryan is there, I hope it looked like that. Chris was very giving of his time tonight and I had fun talking to him about the setlist and whether I would ever get to hear Shiver, Amsterdam or Low, but the highlight of course was talking to him about Ryan. What a perfect night. Thank you for being there Angie!!! [thanks jbarry5503]

Here’s the full of write up of the best night of my life. Warning it’s a bit long but you can skim a bit until I start talking about touching them and stuff if you’d like. Photos will come tomorrow! We arrived at the Verizon Center around 5.50 or so. We met up with the wonderful amazing Zonda and fangirled until we got in. We got xylobands (MINE WAS YELLOW) and hung out for a while. We got to our seats and looked around and found we were about 3 rows from something that looked suspiciously like the C Stage. I went up and asked one of the security guards what it was asnd she told me it was for “lights and stuff” but the other security guard laughed a lot so I was pretty sure it was. We freaked out a lot.

Then Wolf Gang got on and they were ace! After they finished up they told us we could go out and meet them and we ran out to get in line. I bought their CD and we actually shook hands with and met every member of the band. Wolf Gang are all really, really hot and have lovely british voices and signed our CD and the frontman even wrote our names on the front, which was great. They even smelled really good like I don’t know. Robyn was on then but she was pretty bad so we hung around the place for a while and met up with the amazing Arby (who got upgraded to the front)! We waited a long time for them to set up but then 99 Problems came on and the audience were dancing and doing the wave and it was good. THEN BACK TO THE FUTURE AND WE SCREAMED AND SHOUTED AND THEY WERE ON AND THEY WERE PERFECT. Every song was amazing. Chris changed a lot of things to references to DC (Violet Hill became took my love down to Capitol Hill…) There were a few bits of Buckin and a touch of Berrytin, too. Chris wore a blue shirt and changed into a pink one later. Jonny wore his dark blue coat and his blue t shirt and Guy wore his grey coat and orange t shirt.

Then around Charlie Brown all of these roadies went up and down setting up stuff for the C Stage. We were right next to the asle so we touched a bunch of them as they went down. THEN THE BAND CAME DOWN THE AISLE TO OUR UTTER SHOCK. Me and Nana freaked out so much and stuck our hands out (nobody else did) and Chris, who was first, grabbed them and glanced at as and then went on. Guy and Jonny were sort of focused on getting down there so we just brushed their arms and then WILLBEAR went and we put our hands out and he reached over to us and grabbed them and looked right at us. He has really, really lovely eyes and a nice beard up close (it was really, really close) and he seemed to happy to see us and greatful and it was so perfect. Then they started Us Against The World and it was amazing. 3 rows below us. It was perfect. Some women next to us shouted Guy’s name and he turned around and we started waving our arms like mad and he looked me right in the eye and grinned really big (‘cos he knew I thought he was sexy.) He is sexy. They’re all sexy. Jonny is really tall and nice and fit and Chris has very muscly arms and Guy is fwfohwefuhewufh and Will had really nice shoulders. They all had really nice shoulders because we were looking down at them.

Also I stared at Guy’s butt as he went down. They were so, so, so close to us it when they went by I can’t even believe it. Chris and Will have really nice soft hands that were a lot bigger then mine. They also did Speed Of Sound which was so great I can’t even. Then they ran back down for Fix You BUT the roadies spent a lot of time taking stuff down and as they walked next to us we reached out and touched every instrument. I ran my hand down the keys of Will’s piano (WHICH HE PLAYED) It was wet with what I assume was his sweat. They were all absolutely sweaty there (it was dripping all over everything aahaha) The roadies were actually really nice about it and laughed as we grabbed things.

Two more songs and it was amazing. The xylobands were perfect, the music was perfect. There were loads of lasers and stuff and also big sparkly balloons from the ceiling. We were hit with this big bomb of clumped up confetti and collected even more later. The boys did a big bow after Every Teardrop and I almost cried when they left. It ended too soon. It was mind blowing. Perfect. Amazing. I’ll never forget it. [thanks to http://deathwillneverconquer.tumblr.com]

8 July 2012: Verizon Center, Washington, DC, USA (Photo: Live Nation

This concert was awesome! You never really know how beautiful Xylobands are until you see them in person. As for the show, what can I say that hasn't already been said. I'll start with Wolf Gang. They were amazing. Like, "I'm gonna go buy their album today" amazing. A real kind of 80sish sound, right between U2 and Coldplay. After their set they said we could meet them, so down we went. Now I was way up in the 400s, so by the time I got there the line literally stretched 200, 300 people back. We waited for a while but it was clear if we kept waiting we'd miss the beginning of Coldplay, that's how long the line was! (these guys are destined for greatness). So while we were waiting Robyn had started playing and perhaps because of that the halls were very crowded. Now I don't mean to offend and everyone was really nice, but there were a lotnwho couldn't sit through her whole set. It's not her fault, it was just a different crowd. Still everyone clapped when she was done and it was all very civil. It was strange she covered Coldplay at a Coldplay show though. I can't say I approve of that personally. Now, I think 2 opening acts is a bit much, but soon we were all doing a wave, and the most successful one I've ever seen at that (it went at least 3 times around the whole stadium. The crowd was ready! And may I add the crowd was all over the place. Mostly college age youths, but plenty of kids, adults, and old folk. My mom's friend was even there! Then the lights dropped back to the futures came on and you know what happens from there....

As MX begins all the Xylobands start to glow (I was a green xylobryte myself...). Like I said above, you can not truly comprehend their beauty until you see them in person. They're like 20,000 Christmas lights that glow from the heart of every person in attendance. The lasers? Awesome. This was like Glastonbury inside. It was so crazy, I've never seen anything like it. But all that is just fun extras, the real thing we're here for is the music. They played a lot of stuff I didn't think they would (though for you who've been keeping up with setlists, you may have expected these songs. Chris added lots of references to DC like, "I took my love down to Capitol Hill". It was awesome. He was running around the whole time. That man has insane amounts of energy. The stage with the ramp is essentially a playground build for him so he can do his thing. Jonny was on fire from the start, and all of them managed to rock it out while still balancing that with beautiful, quite moments. When "A Warning Sign" began I literally tilted my head back and said (out loud may I add) "Yesssss....". I was so glad they played it. During Charlie Brown I really felt like I was a part of some bigger community. The whole place moved to Coldplay and I felt like the whole stadium was like a family. It sounds weird and cheesey but it's true. All those lights backhatch that killer tube... I also noticed the running man made a switch to Charlie Brown, and now he's coming in all shapes and sizes....

Another key moment? The C stage. Now I didn't know they were doing this this time around, and they came right under me. We watched until people got in out way, and then went down to get a better look. We watched for a while then a lady told us to leave, but it was worth it. They were so close! Then, much to my delight, they played Speed of Sound, a personal favorite of mine. After this Chris ran into the crowd and they finished with an encore. They all bow in unison and everything about them is class. Live on video does not compare to live in person. It was a magical experience, and I'm not joking. Absolutely brilliant! Still, I'm looking forward to see what #ColdplayFilm is.... [thanks Cheese Nip 2]

Tonight, Sally and I attended the Coldplay concert at the Verizion Center in Washington, DC. It was an amazing concert and we truly lucked out with regards to where our seats were located. Where we were had a view that allowed us to have a full view of the stage and at a height which allowed you to have a great perspective of everything with out having to really look down from high above. But before I get carried away writing about Coldplay’s performance, they had two great opening acts. Sally and I caught the tail end of Wolf Gang, which was a young group, that had a great sound. Wolf Gang was followed by Robyn, an artist who had first appeared on the scene back in the 90′s with two songs, “Do You Know (what it takes)” and “Show me love”. Robyn hasn’t been active in the U.S. charts much, but she has continued to put out albums. Robyn released her latest album, “Body Talk” in late 2010 and performed a number of songs from the album. She was great at getting the crowd ready and put on a great show. Coldplay really put on quite a performance and for anyone who has seen their Austin City Limits performance that aired back on New Years Eve in 2011, their performance at the Verizion rose above what the delivered on PBS. They added a bit technology to the performance, at the entrance, everyone was given a coloured bracelet with a battery pack/radio receiver. During the performance, the bracelet was wirelessly activated and it would turn on a set of embedded lights sown within in the bracelet. [ thanks Alex Rushton] http://www.rushtonphotography.com/2012/07/08/coldplay-concert-july-8-2012/

I just got home from the Coldplay concert, and I'm hyped. It was an awesome show! I think this is the fifth time I've seen them, and they don't disappoint. They really are strong musicians; It's fun just to hear them rock out during a show. What I loved about this concert was the the use of light and stage. We each got a bi-colored wristband upon entering the arena. (Mine was pink and blue chosen by yours truly.) During the show, these bracelets lit up in various colors, creating an awesome effect. At one point, our bracelets were lit, confetti was rapidly falling from the ceiling and massive balloons were being tossed about. It was magical. As to the stage, they performed on your usual stage, and then also played on an X that extended via a runway from the main stage. They performed part of their encore out in the audience on a make-shift platform created on a few seats within a section. It was fantastic to see them all around this massive arena (DC's Verizon Center). With the shouts of thousands, they performed their hearts out. Rock on Coldplay. [thanks Lauren] http://laurenincapitolhill.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/coldplay.html

Last night at the Verizon Center in D.C., I finally got to see a live Coldplay concert (their Mylo Xyloto Tour). I love the band, devour all of their music, and have watched many of their concert DVDs--so I had a feeling it would be a good show. . . and I was right! (Even today's Washington Post rained praise on the show). It was such a good show. There is a huge different between listening to their music on the radio and hearing them play it live. First, they are all incredibly muscians. I love love love Chris Martin on the piano. But a lot of their music comes off as pretty mellow when you listen to it on CD. Live, however, it is so powerful. The concert was a super, mega-show. Lots of lights, lasers, raining confetti, fun. As the Post article describes, "Plainly, Coldplay’s current tour takes arena rock production to new levels. As Martin et al kicked into the set-opener “Hurts Like Heaven,” the LEDs on the thousands of wristbands, called Xylobands, that were being given away at the entrances were activated simultaneously by remote control, instantly transforming the huge sports arena into a psychedelicatessen of moving multicolored lights. (The UK press reported a few months ago that Coldplay is an owner of the company that manufactures the accessories.) Lasers shot from the stage to the roof and back. The next tune, “In My Place,” featured not one, but two, massive confetti blizzards, with day-glo-colored paper cutouts of animals and stars filling the room. Shortly thereafter came “Lovers in Japan,” during which fans got treated to a balloon-drop worthy of a political convention and yet another confetti blizzard." It was super fun. Then! Toward the end of the show, the band left the main stage and popped up on a little side stage in the middle of the arena--and just 30 ft from us! It was so awesome. They had an intimiate little mini concert in the back of the arena (nothing like the lasers/lights/mega-show that was the rest of the night). [thanks multitudes] http://ebmultitudes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/coldplay.html

After church, I went to the most amazing concert of my life: Coldplay! I knew they would be amazing, they've won seven grammies. Seven. They are known all over the world. I went with my one work friend and her roommate. My work friend is originally from Mexico and has the coolest accent. Unfortunately, we were in the nosebleed section. Not only that - but the VERY last row/highest up row in the entire arena. Somehow, this did not dampen the experience one bit. At the concert they gave us all wristbands and told us to put it on. Once Coldplay came out, the wristbands lit up TO THE SONGS! So there were thousands of people throwing their hands up in the air with their wristbands lighting up, all different colors. It was spectacular. We were sitting behind the stage, but they have giant screens so we could see just fine! Everyone was singing along, dancing, and of course waving their hands frantically in the air because the light-up wrist band were so cool. Some greats songs at the concert were The Scientist, Paradise, Hurts Like Heaven, Fix You, and Yellow. You can't really listen to Fix You without crying, so good luck. [thanks Bonnie] http://thebonbon.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/science-and-progress-do-not-speak-as.html

Media Reviews

8 July 2012: Verizon Center, Washington, DC, USA (Photo: Washington Post)

Washington Post: Coldplay is sort of a Nickelback for cool kids. Over the last decade the chart-friendly UK quartet has inspired ridicule at about the same rate it has record sales. The Web site Yahoo Answers, an Encyclopedia Britannica in our social media age, even has an entry titled: “Why do people hate Coldplay so much?” Yahoo’s “voters’ choice” for “best answer”: “Its [sic] boring.” Another possible and similarly syntaxed explanation for all the Coldplay animus could be “Because Ive never seen it.” In any case, nobody who saw Coldplay on Sunday at the sold-out Verizon Center came away bored.

Plainly, Coldplay’s current tour takes arena rock production to new levels. As Martin et al kicked into the set-opener “Hurts Like Heaven,” the LEDs on the thousands of wristbands, called Xylobands, that were being given away at the entrances were activated simultaneously by remote control, instantly transforming the huge sports arena into a psychedelicatessen of moving multicolored lights. (The UK press reported a few months ago that Coldplay is an owner of the company that manufactures the accessories.) Lasers shot from the stage to the roof and back.

The next tune, “In My Place,” featured not one, but two, massive confetti blizzards, with day-glo-colored paper cutouts of animals and stars filling the room. Shortly thereafter came “Lovers in Japan,” during which fans got treated to a balloon-drop worthy of a political convention and yet another confetti blizzard. The first 15 minutes of the performance were bombastic and breathless enough to leave an underprepped Coldplay concertgoer wondering: Have I died and gone to a U2 show? Yet the band kept up the pace for nearly two hours.

The show did have moments where the Nickelbackish backlash that Coldplay has suffered through made sense. Martin called a timeout in the middle of “Yellow,” the song that got the whole Coldplay juggernaut going back in 2000, and told the band to start over, saying he’d messed up a line; recent reviews show he just used the same see-this-show-isn’t-scripted! shtick during a Glastonbury performance. But of course it’s all scripted! During “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall,” Martin fell to his knees to sing the line “I’m on my knees!” He smashed his guitar to end “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face,” and within seconds the screens throughout the arena showed a replay of the poor instrument hitting the stage, providing evidence that the smashing was premeditated. (Then again, Jimi Hendrix had matches and a can of lighter fluid at the ready at the Monterey Pop Festival, so the most famous guitar combustion in rock history wasn’t exactly spontaneous, either.)

The music occasionally seemed no match for the theatricality. But how many tunes by anybody can compete with a rainbow-lit confetti blizzard amid balloon droppings? And, besides: Oh, what a wonderful time everybody had. On the soccer-anthemesque pop song “Viva La Vida,” the crowd provided utterly glorious “whoa-oh-ohhh-oh-oh”s over which Martin sang his pop smash about a guy who ruled the world. The wristbands lit up again for “Charlie Brown,” and some couples danced and sweated in the aisles while the rest of the crowd just pogoed to the beat. Then it seemed like the show couldn’t get huger, Martin jumped into the recent superdupersmash, “Paradise,” and, well, it got huger. Sure, “Paradise” sounds a lot like other people’s pop — Beyonce’s “Halo,” particularly. But any melody that can get 20,000 people screaming together in key, and this one did just that on this night, is worth borrowing. “Speed of Sound” and the incredibly U2-esque “Clocks” kept up the gigantitude during the encore.

The band was loving it, too. Martin spent some of his last moments on stage performing some sort of free-form dance, kicking up leftover confetti and twirling his arms toward the upper decks of an arena filled yet again with all those blinking lights. Should Martin ever actually get to rule the world like the guy he sang about earlier in the set, there’s no way that’ll be as much fun as ruling a band as big as his is right now. Coldplay performs again Monday at the Verizon Center. [2]

Twitter Updates

8 July 2012: Verizon Center, Washington, DC, USA
  • @john_worldflyer: @coldplay. Ready to party at Coldplay concert in Washington DC. #verizoncenter pic.twitter.com/J67hQeEP
  • @S_Kat_T: First Coldplay concert... Holy shit. Chris Martin's sweat may drip on me we're sitting so close. instagr.am/p/M1jMuIJ1id/
  • @oxfamontour: Washington we are going to WOW you! ‪#lovefoodhateinjustice‬ twitpic.com/a5im3z‬
  • @dylanhares: In the nosebleeds at the #verizoncenter for #Coldplay #coldplayfilm
  • @AKRiddle7: Watching @wolfgang tear it down in DC, definitely a fan now, awesome opener for @coldplay
  • @bethughknee: Looking forward to seeing this bad boy in action. :) ‪#COLDPLAYFILM‬ ‪#COLDPLAY‬ ‪#MyloXyloto‬ pic.twitter.com/jagNFBZi‬‬‬
  • @mtwindlan: Got this #ColdplayFilm bracelet for tonights concert, pretty sure its gonna light up!#ColdplayWashington
  • @davidgorodetski: @coldplayfilm @Coldplaywashington Robyn is one of the warm up bend and they are so bad that I want to go home now
  • @WeezerBaby: At @Coldplay concert. Just saw Robyn. I love the way she dances! #coldplayfilm #coldplaywashington
  • @Linzy7654: The entire stadium is doing the most epic wave I've ever seen. I love #Coldplay #ColdplayFilm #ColdplayWashington
  • @EriicaChristina: Coldplay!!!!!!! Chris Martin is rocking out! :) #ColdplayWashington #Coldplayfilm pic.twitter.com/cSDXrdxK
  • @Drewskii10: #coldplaywashington #coldplayfilm best concert I've seen in a loooong time. Love it!! Bracelets were awesome. pic.twitter.com/zTU4x43p
  • @justin_garcia36: That was the best concert I will ever see hands down #coldplayfilm
  • @OlaFitness: That was seriously the best concert I've ever seen! @coldplay #coldplaywashington #coldplayfilm
  • @AngieBuckland: Just spent 15 minutes talking with chris.
  • @isabel_milan: AWESOME @Coldplay concert in Washington, DC...one of the best ever!!! Tomorrow second round... yfrog.com/klfewufj
  • @AngieBuckland: waited around after show by gate. He stopped and got out. spent quite a long time talking with everyone and taking pics.
  • @CDomaas1: @coldplay concert was absolutely amazing! Everything I could have ever imagined and more! Best show ever! #coldplaywashington #coldplayfilm
  • @Chris_Ashby: Sitting in Section 109 at the Coldplay show in #DC tomorrow night? Hint: You're going to love your seats. #coldplayfilm pic.twitter.com/Ip0beA1r
  • @coldplay: Looking forward to tonight Great DC crowd last night ‪#coldplaywashington‬ PH
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