TORONTO -- If Chris Martin was a little miffed that U2 and those pesky Rolling Stones eclipsed Coldplay’s supposed 2005 triumph, he didn’t look it.
Checking in for the first of two nights at the Air Canada Centre with bandmates Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion, the shaggy-haired frontman seemed to recognize that time is definitely on the eight-year-old group’s side.
As a beaming clock counted down the seconds to the band’s third-area appearance in less than a year, Martin asked the crowd, “You’re in control, is there anywhere you wanna go?” before bursting to the front of the stage several verses later with “Square One’s” full-throttle lyrics, “From the top of the first page/ To the end of the last day.”
Cavorting around, bathed in rich hues of green, red and blue, the opening number set the tone for the evening’s exuberant amounts of energy and cathedral-like atmosphere.
Led by Champion’s booming drums, “Politik” gave Coldplay fans the first of many opportunities to become bona fide backup vocalists as the sold-out crowd belted out the song’s “open up your eyes” chorus with freakish abandon.
With strobe lights cued perfectly to the song’s frantic bits, Martin could barely keep himself seated. “We believe you to be the best audience in the world,” he said.
Grinning, and showing a definite fondness for his pals onstage, the 29-year-old singer grabbed a guitar as Buckland plucked the familiar strains that usher in “Yellow.”
Colouring the audience appropriately, the song’s sunny disposition was made that much nicer when dozens of large balloons descended from the rink’s ceiling. With cameras capturing the action from every angle (the band is filming their shows in Toronto for a DVD, to be released later this year), fans eagerly sang along.
Many of “Yellow’s” balloons now near the stage, Martin asked for the audience’s help during “Speed Of Sound.” Saying, “Yes, please,” he held the microphone out and fans obliged.
Taking full advantage of the circular stage, Martin used the track’s ample vocals to solidify his own rock pose. With his head arched back, a slight stomp in his step and one arm raised in absolution, rock’s pretty boy finally had his answer to Liam’s crotch grab.
Clearly enjoying himself, Martin took a moment to explain the various cameras sweeping to and fro across the stage. “We auditioned audiences around the world, and we’re afraid you came in number one.”
Covered in a cherry-red glow, he acknowledged Toronto as being the first proper stop on their North American tour and then invited fans, who by now were beside themselves, to help sing “God Put A Smile On Your Face.”
Floyd-like atmospherics tickled a syrupy rendition of “What If?” before the band tackled “How You See The World No. 2” (from last year’s Help: A Day In The Life” compilation).
Midway through, Martin paused to poke fun at his un-glamourous new hairdo and congratulate the crowd. Saying he now looks like a young Michael Bolton, the singer was like a high-school gym teacher. “Well, so far so good. You’ve done fantastically well.”
Dedicating “X&Y’s” hidden track – “Til Kingdom Come” – to the late Johnny Cash, the band played a three-song acoustic set, which featured a juicy cover of Cash’s “Ring Of Fire,” before closing the show with “Clocks” and “Talk.”
Thanking fans for giving up their Wednesday and missing Frasier, the band were gone but a minute before racing back onstage for the night’s encores.
A rousing “In My Place” followed a subdued “Swallowed By The Sea.” Taking a page from his Grammy playbook, Martin ran out into the audience covering the length of the arena in seconds and ending up in the arms of some very lucky fans.
Determined to be the flag-bearers for optimism, the quartet ended the night with their popular ballad, “Fix You.” Acquiescing to the 16,000 would-be singers, Martin let the crowd handle the song’s emotive outro as he and the rest of the band waved gleefully.
But if it all seemed too perfect, and it very nearly was, the one thing that prevented this show from being truly great was the group’s unwillingness to breach the 90-minute mark and go for U2-like two-hour-plus glory. When Coldplay eventually assumes rock’s heavyweight title, they’ll have to be willing to stretch themselves just a little bit more.
Then again, maybe I was just being greedy.
Opening the show, Richard Ashcroft proved he is a man of his word. Flirting between selections from his recent “Keys To The World,” and material he recorded with ‘90s super-group The Verve, the British singer bounced when he needed to bounce; shimmied around the stage when the music moved him; and raised his arms to the ceiling like he was some kind of musical preacher.
Doing what few opening acts can successfully manage, Ashcroft used his first local appearance in many years to remind music fans that he’s one of the most versatile artists around.
Repeatedly thanking the boisterous crowd for their support, the sunglasses-wearing, barefoot singer belted through the Curtis Mayfield-flavoured, “Music Is Power, the introspective “Words Just Get In The Way,” and Verve hits like “Sonnet” and “Lucky Man,” the latter of which he dedicated to his drummer, and former Verve-mate, Peter Salisbury.
He also uncovered little gems, like “Science Of Silence” (from 2003’s “Human Conditions”) for the hardcore Richard Ashcroft fans, of which there were many.
Thanking the near-capacity crowd for being “so beautiful tonight,” he ended his set with a rollicking take on the Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony.”
Fans now out of their seats, the singer asking how many times we’d been down, the song was cathartic. Peppering this version with lines from Sly & The Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again),” Ashcroft seemed genuinely taken aback by his enthusiastic reception as he exited.
Next time he comes back, here's hoping he’ll leave the cavalry at home and stay for a bit.
Coldplay and Richard Ashcroft perform again tonight at the Air Canada Centre.
