To watch a live performance in your pajamas is a pretty great thing. As Iman huffed out to Radio City Music Hall on Sunday night, I slipped in to a Snuggie and watched The Secret Policemans Ball from my futon. Live Streaming for the win!
Not a bad show though it did drag a bit. What impressed me most was Coldplay.
I have been on the fence about the band for a long time. I, like many, loved “Parachutes” but lost interest with the work thereafter. No fault really it just didn’t move me. As stadiums filled with adoring fans I felt detached and no longer a part of their ‘scene’. So much so that when I saw Chris Martin dashing in to an NYC Apple store, I didn’t even double take. Meh, it’s the Coldplay guy.
Unfortunately, I missed the bands enterance. Live streaming may be great but it’s not perfect. Periodically it would drop to black screen. I did pick up right as Martin was working to resolve some technical issues and false starts for the song ‘Paradise’. From the moment the gap toothed Brit sat at the graffiti pained piano on that silly little stool, I was hooked.
It’s the enthusiasm that pulled me in. The personality that delivers the words. The black light sentiments tied in so well that more than once a chill ran up my spine.
Coldplay connects.
From the nasal drawl of Martins vocals coupled with the fierce angry piano slamming to the steady and constant drum of Will Champion, they connect.
They don’t preach, though some say they do. They don’t self depreciate as Brits do by genetics.
They play songs that say something in ways that connect with an extremely diverse audience. I wouldn’t wear a Coldplay t-shirt. I would go see them live. This three song (2 for me!) performance at Radio City took me from indifferent to a supporter.
They’re moving people. Not just hardened and jaded people like me but others. They speak to their audience not at them. They aren’t U2 and Martin is not Bono.
If we separate who we think they are to what they are on stage- it is hard not to love them.
As Martin climbed the rafters of confetti cannons the dangerous and spontaneity of ‘performance’ came to light. They had fun, the audience had fun and they did the job.
A chill was a bonus in an otherwise perfectly connected rock and roll performance.