Concert Reviews, Photos, Videos and Rock and Roll Stories from fans who love live music

…..I have to say Coldplay was a pretty tough ticket to get last minute. For the first time in a long time (probably since U2′s Vertigo Tour) I didn’t find any last minute singles on ticketmaster. At any rate I made out better than OK with a side stage (Bucklands side) seated 8 rows from the edge. Nice!! The crowd was a very, very happy bunch. It seemed like everyone I talked to was much more than a casual fan. They all seemed seriously devoted. When I squeezed into my section 110 row 8 seat 9 location (I’m a bigger guy) I said to the woman I sat beside, ” I bet you hoped no one would be taking this seat” her reply exemplified what the overall vibe of the entire ACC seemed to be, she said ” I wouldn’t deny anyone this experience”. Those words quite simply said it all! What a perfect line!!

The instrumental Life in Technicolor opened the show. This was another statement of sorts. A song to say “we are a working, rocking band and not just a singer/ songwriter on keyboards. It also comes through in the mix with a richer guitar and drum sound on the new CD. Coldplay rolls into the huge single Violet Hill and then Clocks from A Rush of Blood, which is the first of what will be 5 tunes from this CD. Clocks comes across perfect. The crowd is into every word. I love Clocks. We are on our feet from note #1 until the end of the show.

We get a nice run of tunes from Viva La Vida starting with the title track then Chris Martin does his best Lou Reed on Yes and then 42. Fix You from X &Y is a great tune live. (more…)

When the alignment of a really good band, a really good venue and a general admission situation that allows the opportunity to arrive early and get up close, great things can happen!! They certainly did last night as The Raconteurs brought their sold out Nashville Tennessee Rock & Roll show to the Kool Haus in Toronto!!

I was so glad to hear that the show had been moved from the Ricoh Coliseum to the much smaller venue. I guess Kool Haus may hold 1500 at capacity. Aside from venue size I understand the acoustics at Ricoh are not the greatest. I haven’t witnessed it first hand but have heard this complaint more than once.

First off Jack White is impossibly pale. He must work at that look!! Workin’ nights staying away from daylight!!

The band rolls right into Consoler and hardly takes a breather for the first few. I guess about 4 or so songs in we get Jack on the keyboards for You Don’t Understand Me the keyboards are so nice! (more…)

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

Third show into the tour and it was very apparent Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are happy to be in Toronto. After the great show Steve Winwood put on we were ready for Tom Petty and we get 2 hours worth with lots of hits and some cool rare stuff.

From the first chords of the opening song You Wreck Me, we were on our feet and Tom was smiling and laughing was encouraging clapping and singing. We get Mary Jane’s Last Dance, I Won’t Back Down and Even The Losers before we take a breath!!

I have to say the stage design was really outstanding. There were these 5 “branch” like metal beams that come up from behind the stage and hang over the band. On each “branch” hung a square grill that seemed to be covered in LED lighting but could also play video. The video image could wrap the square and there were lights inside the squares. Believe me my description doesn’t do a thing for this state- of- the- art setup.

Go see it for yourself !!! Huge audience participation for Free Fallin’ amazing sing along (more…)