From the backdrop of Eugene Delacroix’s famous painting of Lady Liberty leading the people to their Les Miserables-style, “Storm the Bastille” clothes, Coldplay’s tour shouts “Vive le Revolucion!”  But on the opening night of their tour at the Forum in Inglewood, it was not clear what freedom was being celebrated beyond the sheer joy of musical release.   Occasionally, the songs approximated a European soccer match—boisterous sing alongs where all were temporarily united as one.    It was nice in an era of concert calculation to feel the arrangements being tested in front of us.  

Earnestness remains key to the Coldplay oeuvre.   They are a post-ironic band (which naturally begets a critical backlash).   Singer Chris Martin expressed genuine appreciation throughout the concert, concluding, “This is gonna be a good one” after thefirst song.   It is easy to imagine these four lads sipping coffee, reading the newspaper and playing withtheir kids.   No drug overdoses for such studied musical pros.

Yet, given their positioning as the world's biggest new band, the heir apparent to Bruce Springsteen, U2 or other arena rock faves, Coldplay still have a ways to go.   Surely their song catalogue has reached ample proportions. They trotted out some of their most beloved hits—like “Clocks,” “In MyPlace,” “Speed of Sound,” and the new anthem, “Viva La Vida.”   The lighting, particularly six holographic supporting orbs, was creative, unobtrusive and original.    Perhaps it hinted at their global domination of the pop charts.  So why didn’t the audience seem utterly transported?  

The comparative brevity of the show (an efficient 90 minutes) undercut claims to greatness.   There was plenty of energy and fight left in their adoring fans. A single encore of “Death andAll His Friends” and “The Escapist” felt a bit truncated.  At times, the guitar work of JonnyBuckland matched The Edge reverb for reverb.    Chris Martin careened around the stage withgangly dance moves that can only be characterized as “Stuff White People Like" (Check out the hilarious, growing list at www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com).   It also seemed a bit chintzy to employ so many offstage musical effects.   Couldn’t they hire a local string quartet to fill out“Viva la Vida’s” sound?   I’d rather see a keyboardist fill in the synth portions of their hits than listen to backing tapes.  

The most endearing and memorable moment of the evening occurred right behind us.  After 75 minutes onstage, Chris Martin said, “I’m getting a bit bored up here.”  The band dashed into the audience, down the aisle and up the stairs into our section.  They wanted to get closer to fans in the cheap seats.   (Although when surcharges brought my tickets to $120 each, it could hardly be considered cheap!).  Coldplay crammed onto a tiny platform for an unplugged version of their first monster hit, “Yellow.”  Then drummer Will Champion sang a simple version of “Death Will Never Conquer.”  (It is available as a free download on Coldplay’s website this week).   The purity of these musical moments elevated the night beyond arena rock.   From fifteen feet away,Coldplay’s ordinariness made their success that much more extraordinary. 

Their heroism doesn’t come from bold gestures but from earnest nerdiness banging away on the piano.   The most memorable renditions were ballads like “The Scientist,” “Trouble” and a rousing “Fix You.”   By the time hundreds of paper butterflies wafted from the ceiling during “Lovers inJapan”, the ladies had long since been won over.   It was a beautiful ending.  But for those who still wanted to rock, it was too little, too soon.   Bigger isn’t necessarily better for Coldplay.  Perhaps the mantle of rock savior weighs too heavily.   How about nicest rock stars?   That seems a good fit.  

Here is the complete setlist from Monday, July 14, 2008

“Life inTechnicolor"

"Violet Hill"

"Clocks"

"In My Place"

"Viva La Vida"

"42"

"Yes"

"The Scientist"

"Chinese SleepChant"

"God Put a SmileUpon Your Face"

"Square One"

"Speed ofSound"

"Trouble"

"Lost!"

"StrawberrySwing"

"Yellow"

"Death Will NeverConquer"

"Fix You"

"Lovers InJapan"

"Death and All HisFriends" / "The Escapist"