Fri 3 Oct – Coldplay, Albert Hammond, Jr.

Being a Coldplay fan since the first album, the last few years felt uneasy for me. Coldplay playing on safe by hitting the ' big emotional' ballad style song (What If, Swallowed in the Sea), and succesfull but somewhat outdated formula-like tracks (Speed of Sound, Fix You). Luckily, these slight let-downs are concentrated on just one album, so my hopes were high for Coldplay to 'grow' over this period. It is, after all, in potential still one of the biggest names in the industry, combining really good songs and a global popularity, still best showcased on their second album A Rush of Blood to the Head.

With Viva La Vida Coldplay inventively evolved to a next level, but in a comfortingly recognizable way. Chris Martin's voice experimenting further to diversify his sound, unusual instrumentation, with a certain positive creativity, made their last album highly enjoyable. By the time I bought my tickets for this concert, I was not yet fully into Viva La Vida, but I knew I would by the time they would perform.

Albert Hammond Jr. is not an obvious choice to accompany Coldplay. Sure, I enjoy although his albums lack a certain constant quality, his songwriting skills are nicely displayed in some of his more wellknown tracks. But the key word here is context. To me, the best way to get into Albert Hammond Jr. seems a small(er) venue than Ahoy Rotterdam. The largeness of this hall makes the charming rock music echoing into the nothing, and to honest, the style of Albert Hammond Jr. is not quite fit for a regular Coldplay fan. It is simply too loud. The (lack of) response of the audience to Albert and his band showcased a general disinterest in him, as well that the only reason of this evening is just Coldplay. Albert Hammond Jr. deserves much better, altough to my opinion they should not burn their hands on the big arenas filled with fans of gentle pop/rock.

After some curious rapsong and a Wiener waltz (!!) came out of the soundsytem of Ahoy, Coldplay suddenly followed with the beautiful instrumental opening of Viva la Vida, Life in Technicolor. The stage was still behind a curtain, but the band was visible. With the first tones of Violet Hill, the stage was fully visible. During the first couple of songs, I was blown away by the visuals. With some kind of live edited video on displays and 'globes', the atmosphere in Ahoy changed with the minute. Especially during the marvellous Chinese Sleep Chant, the saturated visuals were intensifying the experience. By that time audience favourites as In My Place and Clocks have already been played. Coldplay seemed in a good mood, mentioning the succesful concert that was the evening before, and speaking some Dutch words. After Strawberry Swing, Coldplay moved to a more centrally located small stage to perform stripped versions of God Put a Smile Upon Your Face, Talk and The Hardest Part. The drummer played on an electronic drumkit, which gave a nice lo-fi effect to these songs. It somehow reminded me of the early The Postal Service.

The strings of Viva La Vida announced the highlight of the set, the audience went crazy and the 'whooohooohoohooooo's were unstoppable from that moment. It must be said that the sheer quality of this song is just overwhelming live. The track that followed (Lost!) is one of the weaker songs of the new album, and it did not really impress me live either. But what could, after Viva La Vida!

After a small pause, the band showed up in the middle of the audience in the back of the venue to play beautiful versions of The Scientist and the well sung Death Will Never Conquer. The variation of performing location was a nice addition to the already impressive concert. The finale came after an addictive, but to me (yet) unknown 'tribal' dance remix of Viva La Vida, and started with Politik. As earlier, the visuals were astounding during this part of the concert. Especially during Lovers in Japan, I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere created by the music, the performance and everything around. There were even butterflies in the air! The encore was Yellow, and even to me, being a fan of Parachutes, it did not feel like a shortcoming to play just this song from their first album. Their discography on this moment is extensive enough to do without, and the experience I and many others had, could not have been better. Coldplay is having a sweet revenge on all critics!

Sat 4 Oct – Coldplay Concert Antwerpen 2008

After three nights of fun and joy, the Viva La Vida European Tour is over. Coldplay finished the tour with a special treat for the Belgium audience, in collaboration with Albert Hammond Jr. they played a new song called "Glass of water" due to be released in November as part of the Prospekt's March EP

Last night's setlist is stated below:

Life in Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Speed of Sound
Cemetries of London
Chinese Sleep Chant
42
Fix You
Strawberry Swing

- B-Stage
God Put a Smile Upon Your Face
Talk
The Hardest Part
Postcards From Far Away

Viva La Vida
Lost!

- C-Stage -
The Scientist
Death Will Never Conquer
Viva La Vida (Remix)
-
Politik
Lovers in Japan
Death And All His Friends
-

Yellow
Glass Of Water
The Escapist

Fri 3 Oct – Coldplay, Albert Hammond, Jr.

Just a quick update before I heading to Antwerp to see Coldplay for fourth and last time this year. A proper review of the three concerts will follow as soon as possible.

Last night's setlist:

Life in Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Speed of Sound
Cemetries of London
Chinese Sleep Chant
42
Fix You
Strawberry Swing

- B-Stage
God Put a Smile Upon Your Face
Talk
The Hardest Part
Postcards From Far Away

Viva La Vida
Lost!

- C-Stage -
The Scientist
Death Will Never Conquer
Talk (Remix)
-
Politik
Reign of Love
Lovers in Japan
Death And All His Friends
-
Yellow
The Escapist

Thu 2 Oct – Coldplay, Albert Hammond, Jr.

Just a quick update before I heading to Ahoy Rotterdam to see Coldplay again.
Last night's setlist was:

Life in Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Speed of Sound
Cemetries of London
Chinese Sleep Chant
42
Fix You
Strawberry Swing

- B-Stage
God Put a Smile Upon Your Face
Talk
Trouble
Amsterdam
The Hardest Part
Postcards From Far Away

Viva La Vida
Lost!

- C-Stage -
The Scientist
Death Will Never Conquer
Viva La Vida (Remix)
-
Politik
Lovers in Japan
Death And All His Friends
-
Yellow
The Escapist


Planned Setlist, stated below

GUESS THE LYRICS

Step 1: Put your MP3 player or whatever on random.

Step 2: Post the first line from the first 50 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song.

Step 3: Post and let everyone you know guess what song and artist the lines come from.(You must post Artist & Song, spelling doesn't matter And taking a guess is always welcomed)

Step 4: Strike through the songs when someoneguesses correctly.

Step 5: Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!





1. Is it still me that makes you sweat? Am I who you think about in bed?
Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off

2. I'm building up a dream with you, and somehow we're gonna make it come true Never Alone

3. I came home in the morning and everything was gone, oh what have I done?

4 .Fear and panic in the air, I want to be free from desolation and despair
Map of the Problematique

5. We make the music that divides you, it's handed down as a thing to cry to

6. Because I'm happy to be sad I want it all I want it bad
Torture Me

7. Jag stängde aldrig nånsin några dörrar jag bara gick ut

8. När våran dagistid tog slut, så såg vi likadana ut med samma drömmar om att bli en popidol

9. Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man play a song for me
Mr. Tambourine Man

10. Ooh, life is bigger It's bigger than you and you are not me
Losing My Religion

11. Du går nedtryckt i två alldeles för grova skor, det börjar visst bli höst

12. Ikväll är vinden stilla det var så stormigt hela dan.

13. Hon vill ha dig men du vägrar så stolt att förlåta.

14. I want to live where soul meets body, and let the sun wrap its arms around me Soul Meets Body

15. This is the time to die I'm not someone on whom to rely

16. Hey, it's your ride, get your petals out and lay them in the aisle.

17. Du säger ingenting som svar, men dina ögon är så tydliga ändå

18. My life is brilliant. My love is pure.
You're Beutiful

19. Everytime our eyes meet This feeling inside me Is almost more than I can take

20. .. håll min själ, lägg mitt huvud i ditt knä

21. Det var vår och det var midnatt igen och det var glädje och kärlek uti försommaren.

22. Solen står högt över taken och vinden har vänt, isen har smält och det luktar som vår

23. There are no monks in my band (There are no monks in my band)
Funky Monks

24. Jag dricker glögg med balkong dörren öppen inatt jag är så trött på alla mail och koder Hugger i sten

25. Hope dangles on a string like slow spinning redemption
Vidicated

26. To seem you're in me and over me relief in all things

27. Du är fri och tar allting för givet, du kan skratta åt livet

28. The heart is a bloom, shoots up through the stony ground
Beautiful Day

29. ... And the strangest thing was waiting for that bell to ring It was the strangest start The Hardest Part

30. Snipping, snipping, snipping goes the scissor man
Scissor Man

31. Som om inga sorger fanns, naturens lagar i balans, som om vi alltid varit tillsammans

32. En ensam kvinna söker en man Svar till "Hjärtat talar sant"
Dom Andra

33. We don't need no education we don't need no thought control
Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)

34. Where did I park my car? If I found it I would drive so far from here
PUNCH DrunK

35. I have a sexy wife called boredom, about her I don't really care
Boredom

36. Går och drömmer om dig ibland, ja jag går och drömmer att du var här.

37. Goodbye to you, my trusted friend we've known each other since we were nine or ten Season In The Sun

38. Transmission third world war third round a decade of the weapon of sound above ground

39. I once had an ice cube, pretty little ice cube
Mary the Ice Cube

40. Frida vi e som typ "in the house"
Summer of Dåka

41. Usch, hur kunde jag dejta det där? Att jag trodde det skulle fungera
Nöjd

42. I met a man locked away for things he hadn't done
Exploder

43. Could you move in slow motion? Everything goes by so fast
Admiration

44.The more you see the less you know the less you find out as you go
City of Blinding Lights

45. They come from every state to find some dreams were meant to be declined

46. Take a look on my girlfriend, she's the only one I got
Cupid's Cokehold

47. You know I’m around ya I wouldn’t be if I didn’t love ya

48. I am a man cut from the know rarely do friends come and then go
BREAKING THE GIRL

49. A heart of gold but it lost it's pride beautiful veins and bloodshot eyes
Let It Die

50. Jag tror att jag är mera kär i kärleken i sig än i dig, förlåt, men det sitter mest i skallen.

Weekend’s bad weather… lots of rain. How I should be trapped at home by the whole day, decided creating what I love most… lists.
Yeah, I’m pretty fanatic for them… you know, ten most sad songs, the best 10 alternative British bands… whatever… lists and lists. The last one I saw that really impressed me was “The 50 greatest UK indie records of all-time” published by MOJO Magazine this march 2008.
Ok, The Smiths was on the top with “This Charming Man” and everybody who took a fast look at my most played artists here know that I love Morrissey… but the others 49 artists were carefully selected… most of them represented in my CDs collection.
Well let’s go to my new list.
I spent lots of time last cloudy week, walking around the city hearing Coldplay on my Ipod… don’t know hell why I picked up these guys for a listening… the thing is the sound really matched with the weather.
My new list it’s about the 10 bands I most listened these last couple weeks.

1. Travis - There are something wrong with these guys, don’t know why but every time I put “The Boy With No Name” I think that there is something that doesn’t work well. It’s not about to like or dislike it, because I know I like… I already wrote about it here when it was released. The point is I like so much the velvet sound of “The Man Who” and “The Invisible Band” that at least for me “The Boy With No Name” looks like a bit rough and raw. Big Chair, Closer and My Eyes are amazing… but there is something missing in their melodies.
By the way, a nice album and I gave it a long listening the last week but Fran Healy, when will the new album be ready?

2. Pet Shop Boys – This time maybe I went too far…
I started to listening pop music with those guys in the late 80’s, knowing every lyric and note of their songs. And besides they are a dance group, I still think they do nice pop songs. It has been a long time I didn’t listen any of their albums and the last one I bought – Fundamental – stayed among some not-so-interesting-CDs in my CD shelf for months… till now. I enjoyed the last days singing along the songs and remembering how I used to love Neil Tennant’s sharp lyrics.

3. Coldplay – While my Japanese special edition of Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends that I already bought don’t arrive here, I took some time to listen the other albums. My favorite Coldplay’s album is Parachutes and the others, for me, have their nice moments but aren’t as beautiful as the first one. I won’t deny that songs like “Rush to the blood to the head” , “Fix You” and “The Hardest Part” are awesome but as an album, Parachutes works better.
Lose my count of how many times I put “Spies” and “Everything's Not Lost” to run today… just perfect!

4. British Sea Power – On the first CD sleeve you can read: “…there is a land for the living and there is a land for the dead…”
This album is so intense like those lines that I agree when people compare them with Joy Division. It’s not about the sound but about the ideas and the entire dark environment inside their lyrics. “There is a land for nice British bands like them…”

5. The Bravery – When I bought the first album I did because I red something about it on internet that caught my attention. Can’t remember right now what was about but I remember getting inside some CD store and seeing that beautiful cover. I fall in love with that painting but when I gave it a listening… something didn’t sound so good. It seemed a bit untrue for me.
When they released The Sun And The Moon, I didn’t give any attention… and that cover it wasn’t an improvement for the band (in my point of view). Then appeared this new version of the album – The Sun And The Moon Complete – and I told myself… “Let’s give them another try”.
Yeah, I need to regret what I though before, I pretty enjoyed this one and the first makes more sense now. Those guys are nice and while I’m writing these lines the Moon is running in my Itunes.

6. The Clientele – This one I downloaded. Can’t explain yet how it likes for me because I just started yesterday hearing them. My favorite album till now is the more recent – God Save The Clientele. I discovered them while was searching an Itune’s pod cast called KCRW's… (http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb) If you don’t know it you don’t know what you’re missing… lots of nice bands appears on it playing alive.
The Clientele is soft and easy listening…

7. Galaxie 500 – Dean Wareham… how I like his voice and I rather him singing on Galaxie 500 than on Luna, but both bands are cool.
Lots of friends whose I introduced this band didn’t enjoy the sound and I just can’t understand why because it’s so beautiful… and maybe it was one of the best choices for this raining days I’m facing here right now.

8. James – I was so anxious about the new James album that I spend several days hearing their old material. I just loved “Hey Ma”… Tim Booth voice’s still awesome and the new lyrics really impressed me. The sound are more closely to they late work than to the last two albums… Hope they keep playing together and releasing other materials for long time. Definitely one of my favorite bands.

9. Weezer – This one came to me as a surprise a week ago. Besides have been listened some songs before they weren’t so special to me. Saw in the internet the announcement of their new album and became a bit curious about it and looked for the Weezer (Blue) in my collection to try another listen and remember how it likes. I think I’ll need to by the others cause… yeah, they caught me this time.

10. Morrissey – Yeah… I never stop playing this guy. Everything he does sound perfect because he’s got a wonderful voice, writes fantastic lyrics and sounds every time more and more actual. Hope September arrives soon to I put my hands on the new album… while this doesn’t happen, I’ll keep hearing the others. This last collection called Greatest Hits received lots of bad reviews for critics because of the songs Moz decided to compile on it. I agree with that once, those songs don’t represent his entire career but… the art is beautiful and the two new songs are pretty great. All You Need Is Me is one of that Morrissey songs that I could listen forever… love the last verses: "YOU DON'T LIKE ME, BUT YOU LOVE ME
EITHER WAY, YOU'RE WRONG
YOU'RE GONNA MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE"

1. How did you get into 31?
Chester Bennington - when I was much younger I used to listen to Linkin Park a lot... some time later I saw "Queen of the damned" movie and there was his song in the soumdtrack...

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?
The Cure - How Beautiful You Are - I still love this song

3. What's your favourite lyric by 29?
Howard Shore - well :D there is actualy no lyrics at all xD

4. What is your favourite album by 49?
no number 49 :D

5. How many albums by 13 do you own?
Eagles - truely? none...

6. What is your favourite song by 50?
Budka Suflera - I listen to only one song by Budka suflera and it is "Jolka, Jolka"

7. Is there a song by 4 that makes you sad?
Creed - yes there is... One Last Breath... lots of memories..

8. What is your favourite song by 15?
Ville Valo & The Agents - Paratiisi :D great one - even my mum loves it!

9. What is your favourite song by 5?
Coldplay - The Hardest Part

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?
Kent - well... actually no...

11. What is your favourite album by 40?
No 40 :D

12. What is your favourite song by 12?
Rammstein - I love "Rosenrot" and "Nebel" and "Adios"

13. What is a good memory you have involving 33?
Dire Straits - their song "Walk of Life" is older than me - I know it since I remember.. no memories though

14. What is your favourite song by 37?
Two bands :D Hans Zimmer - At Wit's End & Oasis - Stop Crying Your Heart Out

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?
Coma - I'm not sure if they have any happy song.. :D

16. How many times have you seen 24 live?
Sweeney Todd Soundtrack... well.. never :D

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 17?
Mizrock - Good Bye Yesterday

18. What is your favourite album by 11?
Sia - Colour the small one

19. Who is a favourite member of 1?
Placebo - I guess that vocalist.. I'm not so interested in members :) I love their music :D

20. Have you ever seen 14 live?
Muse - nope..

21. What is a good memory involving 21?
The Dillinger Escape Plan - my friends making fun of me because I listen to such shitty band as DSP (it's only their opinion)

22. What is your favourite song by 16?
Kapitan DA - Sliding

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47?
Three Bands this time :D
Atreyu - You Give Love a Bad Name
Emmure - 10 Signs You Should Leave
Cult of Luna - And With Her Came The Birds

24. What is your favourite album by 45?
No 45

25. What is your favourite song by 18?
Lifehouse - You and Me

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 38?
also no 38

27. What is your favourite lyric by 3?
Blind Melon - Mouthful of Cavities
I write a letter to a friend of mine
I tell him how much I used to love to
Watch him smile
See I haven't seen him smile in a
Little while
haven't seen him smile in a little while
But, I know you're laughing from the
Inside out


28. What is you favourite song by 2?
HIM - No favourite cuz I love all of their songs the same - This band used to be my nr1, for me it is still my nr1 and it will be my nr1.. and I dunno why the hell placebo is first on my top list...

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32?
Nick Cave & PJ Harvey - Henry Lee

30. What is you favourite song by 8?
Linkin Park - In the End

31. How many times have you seen 26 live?
Moloko - never

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy?
three bands again :)
Eighteen Visions - no :)
Ville Valo & Manna - no
The Last Goodnight - no
Conclusion - I never listen to happy songs

33. What is you favourite album by 9?
ZAO - The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here

34. What is the worst song by 46?
no 46

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34?
Good Charlotte - I Just Wanna Live

36. What is you favourite album by 42?
The Cranberries - No Need to Argue

37. How many times have you seen 39 live?
Three bands again
Andreas Johnson - never
Brand New - never
Bayside - never

38. What is your favourite album by 35?
Hunter - T.E.L.I

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28?
David Guetta & Cozi - my lil bro listen to it when Last fm is working.. so...

40. What is you favourite album by 7?
AFI - decemberunderground! one of my the most favourite albums ever!

Take ten bands/artists that should play at your show and determine their set lists:


- The first one plays 5 songs.
- The second one plays 5 songs.
- The third one plays 5 songs.
- The fourth one plays 5 songs.
- The fifth one plays 6 songs.
- The sixth one plays 7 songs.
- The seventh one plays 7 songs.
- The eighth one plays 7 songs.
- The ninth one plays 11 songs.
- The tenth one plays 14 songs, with a 2 song encore.




First Band: Kettcar
1) Landungsbrücken raus
2) Im Taxi weinen
3) Deiche
4) 48 Stunden
5) Graceland


Second Band: Richard Ashcroft & The Verve
1) Everybody
2) New York
3) Lucky Man
4) Bitter Sweet Symphony
5) Break the Night With Colour


Third Band: Franz Ferdinand
1) This Fire
2) Take Me Out
3) Jacqueline
4) The Fallen
5) Walk Away


Fourth Band: Travis
1) Big Chair
2) Selfish Jean
3) Sing
4) Flowers In The Windows
5) Why Does It Always Rain on Me?


Fifth Band: RoySeven
1) Crash
2)