11.17.2008

Coldplay = .......

I don't even know what words to use to describe the performance that Coldplay gave in St. Paul, Minnesota. I do however know that I will always remember Friday, November 14th , 2008 as the end best concert i've ever been to. The only reason it was the 2nd best is because on Friday, September 23rd, 2005 I was privelaged enough to be about 6 feet from the stage while Bono, The Edge, Larry & Adam (you may know them as U2) played their hearts out in Minneapolis.

Anyways, to start the night off right, a small band from El Paso, Texas named Sleeper Car opened up with some good tunes and were followed by a killer fella by the name DJ Jon Hopkins. I recommend you look into the music that these folks all make, it's good.

After Mr. Hopkins mixed awesome beats accompanied by the trippiest videos i've ever seen, the Xcel center went dark.

A few minutes later the sweet sounds of "life in techincolor" began to play with 4 sets of spot lights growing brighter & brighter behind a thin curtain and by the time the lights were up to full strength it was time for "violet hill" to kick in. "Clocks" followed with what I thought was a pretty rad lazer/light show.




The greatness just kept right on coming with:
"in my place"
"speed of sound"
"cemetaries in london"
"chinese sleep chant"
"42"
"fix you"
"strawberry swing"

At this point in the show all 4 of the guys went to a stage that went out into the crowd, the floor light up and they play techno versions of "god put a smile on your face" & "talk", i thought they were done rather nicely. when "talk" was finished every one walked off into the darkness, except mr. martin; he stayed seated at the piano and played a wonderful rendition of "the hardest part" which he followed with a piano instrumental titled "postcards from far away".
Once he finished playing they picked it all right back up again and play the 'new classics' (as i like to call them) "viva la vida" & "lost!"

The whole band had just about had enough, said, "thank you" and walked off stage. people around me were not quite sure what to do because they really hadn't played long enough for it to be the end of the show yet. the band continued off stage but then walked through the crowd to the far end of the stadium and up 17 rows into section 114. ........ why is section 114 important?
well, i had sold 2 tickets to my friend becky & her friend john. their tickets were section 114, row 14. i gave them those tickets because i had thought that my tickets, in the club level were a little better, i was wrong and they were 3 rows away from an acoustic perfomance by Coldplay.... anyways.....
As the band stood on a small stage amongst their fans they played an acoustic version of "the scientest" and then mr. will champion took the mic & sang a lovely version of the song "death will never conquer". As the lights went out the room filled w/ bass as a remixed version of "viva la vida" played with many people swaying their phones/cameras/anything w/ light to the beat.








The band took the stage once again and rocked out on "politik", "lovers in japan" and "death and all his friends" with the crowd at a level they none of us had been to throughout the evening, they left the stage. a few short minutes of cheering the band reappeard and showed us all why they are so good and played "yellow". they finished playing and all 4 men took a bow. as the left the stage, "the escapist" (the second part of 'death and all his friends' on the album) began to play. the crowd was cheering for more but after about 3 minutes of music, more black lights and a slight level of anticipation for more... the house lights came on.

As much as i wasn't ready for it all to end yet, i sat back, thought about the past 1&1/2 hours and then remembered how great each minute really was. it was great, but i really don't know what words to use to truly describe how great it was.

the best i can do is to sum it up as, COLDPLAY = ..........................

11.13.2008

Livin' in Technicolor

COLDPLAY: Viva La Vida Tour
- TOMORROW - NOV 14th - XCEL CENTER - ST.PAUL, MN -

I will be going to my very first Coldplay show tomorrow night. I have only heard great things about their shows and cannot wait to see for myself how great they truly are. Now, I do already know that they are great, but hearing a band through speakers in your headphones/house/car/etc is a totally different experience than seeing and hearing that same band live & in person. I love seeing music performed by the artist(s) that created it, nothing left out or withheld from the performance and it comes across as it was meant to, not just as sound coming out of your speakers. dang, i'm excited! i'll comment on the performance afterwards.

~later

11.02.2008

Toast.

Bacon, Eggs (over easy), Hash browns, Sausage, Ham & Pancakes; That is what I ordered at I.H.O.P. this morning and I was pretty excited to eat all of that deliciousness. Before the waitress was able to escape I managed to ask her for a side of wheat toast, so I would have something to mop up my plate. Everything came to the table in a speedy manner and it was all very good & filling.

Our waitress brought the checks and as I looked at the un-itemized bill, I thought $14.90 was a bit more than the $11.40 (or so) that it should have been. I asked one of the folks across the table, who had the same meal as me, what her bill was. she said, "about $12." I was taken back by this and could not think of what would have made my bill nearly $3 higher. The only thing we had different was my toast, but we laughed at the idea the toast would cost more than $1 so we just waited for our waitress to return.

When the waitress did return I asked her how much the toast cost. she responded, "$2.50".
I think my mouth was hanging open a bit and I responded (in a calm, still happy w/ my breakfast tone of voice) with, "what? really? those two slices of toast cost $2.50! I could go buy a loaf of bread for about $3 and have toast for a week.... really? $2.50?" to which she said, "yeah, that kinda surprises me too." and she waited for me to sign my receipt and after i signed and handed it to her (I could have put up a fight, but why, it's only $2.50 & i don't really care) she just walked away.

Yes, I could have looked at the menu or asked what the price was prior to adding my side of toast to my order, but should I really have been expecting it to be over $1? ... it's just toast! ..$2.50!

COME ON, I.H.O.P!!!

Now don't get me wrong, I like breakfast food & I hadn't been to I.H.O.P. in about 4 or 5 years so it's not that big of a deal, but because of their ridiculous cost of toast, I don't see myself returning anytime soon and possibly never again.

sorry International House of Pancakes.

Best Costumes Ever! ? ... Chicken

Brad was a Panda. I was a Chicken. I'll let the picture explain the greatness.
I hope everyone had a fun & safe halloween.