COLDPLAY AND RON SEXSMITH, Saltair Pavillion, Feb. 7.
From "Yellow" to more spendable green, the sound of success rocked its way to the shores of the Great Salt Lake.
Coldplay sold out Saltair Friday, riding on the back of radio recognition and with one American tour already under its belt. It was singer Chris Martin's emotion from the get-go that defined this show.
Shocking strobes dazzled the audience during the opener "Politik," from Coldplay's second and most recent CD release, "A Rush of Blood to the Head." Strapped into a lively acoustic guitar, Martin's energy flowed right into "God Put a Smile Upon My Face."
For the next hour the four Brits that make up Coldplay flip-flopped between "Rush of Blood" and their first CD "Parachutes," offering up songs such as "Don't Panic and "Trouble." By the way, props to the fifth guy just offstage who filled in on acoustic when Martin tackled the piano.
The politically conscious Martin took the opportunity during "Everything's Not Lost" to take a poke at President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. According to Martin, if the two are re-elected, the world is (cleaning up his language) in a lot of trouble.
For all to see on four large video screens, Martin also scrawled onto his left hand the Web site name maketradefair.
com. A camera zoomed in on the hand as he made the rounds on keyboards. The Web site claims to give voice to "farmers, labourers and factory workers who are being cheated by the blatantly unfair rules of world trade."
Activism aside, the sparks and spinning chords from Jonny Buckland's ofttimes surreal guitar sounds equaled the electricity created by Martin's writhing body, bobbing head and punching fists. Buckland made his mark with consistently memorable, radio-worthy licks, notably on the new song "Moses." That one is not yet on a full CD but perhaps destined for an FM locale near you.
Drummer Will Champion and bassist Guy Berryman kept up their end as drama from songs such as "Spies," "Daylight" and "Warning Sign" unfolded around them. But the two bandmates wouldn't be denied more prominent roles in the new "One I Love" or "Yellow." And "The Scientist."
The first encore featured "Clocks" and the popular "In My Place." The band's final return to the stage treated an abundantly adoring crowd to the new song "A Ladder to the Sun." For fans of Ian McCulloch, formerly of Echo and the Bunnymen, it was no stretch to detect a little of his influence on the band — particularly on Buckland — as of its latest CD.
Canadian Ron Sexsmith and his three mates opened the night with a 13-song set that could best be described as pleasant, well-executed and even a bit relaxing, in a Morrissey sort of way.
E-MAIL: sspeckman@desnews.com