But it couldn't top what was (for me) the best song of the night: "Trouble." Somber but beautiful in its own way, "Trouble" is a rare find in the setlists of today's Coldplay and was absolutely fantastic. "Don't Panic" was sung by drummer Will Champion it's one of my favorites. The lovely riffs of "In my Place" started off the set. Then came the highlight of the night for me: an acoustic quad of older (*cough* better *cough*) Coldplay songs which were as intimate as they were nostalgic. The groovy "Adventure of a Lifetime" finished off this section, featuring Chris gettin' down with the audience, asking everyone to "Get low!" This was followed by the radio hit "Hymn for the Weekend," a candlelit (okay.Iphone flashlight lit) "Fix You," and "Viva la Vida." This last one was remarkable, as nearly the entire stadium knew the lyrics and sang along to the triumphant "Oh-oh-ohhhh" chant. Next came the lighthearted "Charlie Brown." Before it began, lead singer Chris Martin asked everyone to put away their phones and simply enjoy the show. Soon, however, things picked up with the timeless piano strokes of "Clocks," themed to a magical red light show. This included one of the better tracks from the sub-par "Ghost Stories", "Magic." Next the show slowed down for an intimate trio of songs (most of us actually took a seat). This part of the show finished with the anthem "Paradise," featuring an incredible remix outro. Then came fan-favorite "Yellow," followed by "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall," the ever-popular "The Scientist," and "Birds" (the latter was a bit of a personal disappointment as it replaced the brilliant "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" from recent setlists). The show began with an explosion of color and light (including the LED wristbands supplied to every concertgoer) in the titular track on the band's touring album.
They did not disappoint last night at Fedex Field, right in the midst of their joyous and decidedly over-the-top Head Full of Dreams tour. I had always heard Coldplay were a fantastic band to see live.