Coldplay @ Burswood Dome,Perth (27/02/09)

Sat 28th Feb, 2009 in Gig Reviews

There comes a point in some band’s careers when they get branded with the term “stadium rock”, and it’s a double edged sword. On one hand, it’s acknowledgement of achieving a certain status and playing to crowds that most bands dream of, but on the other hand, it’s an industry dirty word for predictability, blandness and an emotional disconnect from the audience. With their latest album Viva La Vida reaching number one in every corner of the globe, Coldplay can now lay claim to the upper echelons of stadium rock, even to go so far as to mention them in the same breath as U2 or REM. But tonight at the Burswood Dome, Coldplay proved that stadium rock can still shock, surprise and stir sensations of wonder in those watching.

And what a spectacular evening it was.

Opening proceedings was Sydney outfit Decoder Ring. After bursting onto mainstream radio with their breakthrough album Fractions in 2005, Decoder Ring has been quiet lately, but are returning with a new album due for release in a few months. Their fractured melodies of old have given way to a fuller, droning psychedelic sound. Flanked by video screens projecting montages of landscapes, industry and cloudscapes, Decoder Ring’s swirling rock instrumentals sounded like a band twice their size. Their short set was over all too quickly.

Included on the bill at the last minute at the express request of Chris Martin, indie legends Mercury Rev took to the stage next. Clearly overawed at their supporting role, Mercury Rev’s set switched from being raw and heavy in one breath, to fragile and beautiful in the next. Opening with Snowflake In A Hot World and Holes, Mercury Rev sounded much bigger than on record, with guitars swathed in walls of reverb and the thunderous drumming of Jeff Mercel. Frontman Jonathon Donahue came into his own on People Are Unpredictable, his floating voice soaring high over the arpeggiating piano drops. Mercury Rev aptly closed the set with a cover of Talking Heads’ Once In A Lifetime, underscoring their admiration for the main act. For a band that could easily have headlined their own tour, Mercury Rev commanded the attention of the crowd in a way not normally reserved for supporting acts.

Shrouded by a black curtain, Coldplay ran onstage with sparklers in hand, and kicked into Life In Technicolor Part I and Violet Hill. Keeping with the theme of the Viva La Vida album artwork, each member of the band was dressed in black with patches of red and blue sewn on, and each could have easily passed as a member of Napoleon’s troupe. It was an impressive stage setup, with a lighting rig looking like something out of Star Wars and large light balls doubling as circular video screens. With a wall of lasers bursting from the stage, Coldplay lead the crowd into sing-alongs Clocks and In My Place. As Chris Martin strummed the opening acoustic chords of Yellow, giant exploding yellow balls filled with glitter fell into the Dome from all angles, adding to the joyful refrains of the crowd.

The set then took a darker turn, with new album tracks Cemeteries of London, 42 and a frenetic version of Chinese Sleep Chant. While Fix You got a mild reaction on the X&Y tour, time seems to have aged the track like a good wine. With arms in the air, the crowd burst into song, drowning out Martins’s organ. Martin was even moved enough exclaim “Perth is an incredible city!” before Strawberry Swing. With the crowd now squarely in the palm of their hand, Coldplay had their U2 moment and walked to a stage in the middle of the crowd and, much to everyone’s surprise, played a thudding electro version of God Put A Smile On Your Face, which segued into Talk (perhaps a nod to the song’s Kraftwerk roots?).

The Dome positively erupted for iPod favourite Viva La Vida, with the crowd chanting the ‘oh-oh-ohhhh-oh-ohhhhs’ long after the song finished. After Lost! and a Martin piano solo for The Hardest Part (“If you’re wondering where the other three go, they’re out the back with masseurs and loads of cigarettes”), Coldplay disappeared into the crowd and re-appeared on a small stage in the upper tier of the stands armed with acoustic guitars and mandolins to play acoustic versions of Speed of Sound and hidden gem Green Eyes. “This is where we take away all the smoke and mirrors and expose ourselves as bad buskers” quipped Martin.

Back on the main stage, the hits kept flowing with pulsating versions of Politik (“Look at Perth from outer space…”) and Lovers In Japan (complete with butterfly confetti canons). As the word Viva unfurled across the stage, the main set closed with Death and All of His Friends.

As the Viva La Vida chant erupted again, Coldplay emerged for an encore. Martin’s voice accompanied by Jonny Buckland’s guitar on The Scientist harked back to Coldplay’s earlier roots and reminded everyone of why Coldplay became so popular in the first place – a young, earnest voice singing heartfelt truths over glorious melodies. Coldplay’s set closed as it began with Life In Technicolor Part II. With a simple “Thanks very much, we’re Coldplay, god bless”, Martin and co bowed and left the stage.

Tonight’s set was sadly lacking tracks from Parachutes, but given the spectacle, no-one really seemed to mind. From casual listeners who know “that track from the iPod ad” to the most ardent of Coldplay fans, tonight’s set left everyone breathless. Roll on the rest of the tour.