Coldplay!

Okay, so this blog may be uninteresting to many of you, but Heather wants me to post something on it. Many months ago, we found out Coldplay was coming to Utah for their Viva La Vida tour. I'm a Coldplay fanatic, so naturally, we bought tickets as soon as they were available, especially because Viva La Vida is one of my favorite albums they've put out. We also got Chris and Jeni to go in with us, which ended up being awesome.

(The stage setup was great . . . I nearly cried when they came out)

Fast forward to last weekend, and the concert was upon us. It was perfect timing for Heather and I, as we both needed a night out away from the kids, and as we needed some serious cheering up after the disastrous BYU/Utah game (which was the same day). I was somewhat worried about how well Coldplay would be live because some of their recent TV performances (SNL, Today, etc.) weren't exactly terrific; during those performances, Chris Martin looked like he was hyped up on Red Bull or something, and his vocals were all over the place. Their live tour album from 2003 is amazing though, so I didn't know what to expect.

(Me and Heather . . . I look like I've had a few Red Bulls myself)

After a very strange opening act, by some unknown artist, Coldplay came out, and they were SPOT on! They sounded fabulous for the entire show. They played all of my favorite songs. Chris Martin was on throughout the concert and very . . . charming (for lack of a better term), and Jonny Buckland's guitar was ringing. This concert was right up there with U2's Elevation tour in 2001. The whole show went by so fast, even though they played a number of tunes. Our seats were in the upper deck, but we were dead center and toward the bottom. The stage set was also cool. At one point in the show, all of the bandmembers disappeared and suddently showed up running up the steps into the crowd. They were fairly close to us. They ended up playing about four acoustic songs in the stands, with fans literally right in front of and behind them. It was unbelievable how good they were.

(Coldplay in the crowd . . . this is about how far away they were . . . sorry our camera stinks)

A huge thanks to Charisse and Kory who watched our kids. Meg and Adin had a blast at their house. Meg apparently made up quite the stories, one of which was about how she doesn't use a pillow for bed (which is complete hogwash).

Thanks to Chris and Jeni for going with us; they made the show twice as fun. I apologize a million times over for my embarrassing dancing. When I go to concerts, I go all out: with my white man's dance and all. Chris was pretty stoic for the duration of the show. Jeni was a crazy headbanger . . . we were going NUTS during Politik. It's the most fun I've had in a long time. I nearly headbutted and fell down into one of the girls in front of us. My wife wanted to stand up from the beginning. For some reason, the people behind us sat throughout the show; we stood anyway. After all, it's Coldplay! My wife is about the cutest thing ever when she dances; I found this out at the BEHS stomps. She'll probably kill me for saying this.

(Me really into a song . . . notice Jenny in the background--she's looking at me with a face of stunned amazement)

(I'm not sure what Chris is doing, but it looks like I'm trying to ward him off)

Here are a couple of videos from the concert. They are from our cheap, digital camera. The picture quality is horrible, and the sound isn't so great . . . but it brings back memories. In the second clip, I'm singing pretty loud, so just ignore that.

Next time Coldplay comes, we're there . . . probably on the floor. Everyone should come--the more the merrier! By the way, we missed you for this one Mig and Mel. Now, if I can see Radiohead and Oasis live, I'll die a happy man.

(Me in sheer awe at what I'd just seen. Sorry all of the pictures are of me--how embarrassing. Heather had the camera)