Originally Posted 5/21/2005

The Big News…..

You’ve waited patiently and for that, I thank you. So what’s the big deal? About 2 weeks ago my brother Joe asked me if I’d be interested in traveling to Washington DC for a new program they are doing on XM Satellite Radio (Radio to the Power of X) called Artist Confidential. (For further explanation click here) The idea of the show is that a well known band does an intimate show for a handful of people. It gives the ability of the artist to really connect with the fans and it give us (the fans) a greater appreciation for the artist the music and a little window into what it must’ve been like to be in the local pub before this band (or artist) got really popular.

So Saturday I got to see the biggest band in the world – Coldplay. (Say what you will about The Rolling Stones, U2, or Three Dog Night…after this album comes out, you’ll know what I talking about) Even now as I recount this it doesn’t seem real. Jonny, Guy, Will, and Chris played to a packed house of 60 in a room that was no bigger than the closest Starbucks Drive-thru.

The Full Story…..

I drove up to DC on Saturday Morning. As road trips go it was a great one, I haven’t had a time of me vs. the road for a while and summer definitely gives more of an option to peruse the country. Met up with Joe after some issues with directions. (he forgot to tell me about the part where he lives in a gated community and that he didn’t give me his Apt. number) Met his roommate Brandee and enjoyed part of Dude, Where’s My Car? (It’s seriously funny) Next, I promptly filed his 2004 taxes. (What are brothers for?) Then the 3 of us made our way to the studio, when we arrive there are a lot of people just hanging out in the hallways fully expecting to see the star power as Gwyneth Paltrow to come waltzing out and announce her arrival. But no such luck. This is Coldplay and not a circus sideshow. Gwyneth does not equal to Yoko. And for that the whole world breathes a sigh of relief.

We mill around for a bit and meet up with Ross (Joes other roommate) and commence to giggling like 8 year old girls with excitement. When they ushered us in, the set up of the studio was similar to a VH1 Storytellers minus the Geritol. I do the quick count and observe that we are only 20 ft from the front microphone. They bring in the band to a roar of applause and the interview starts. If you have XM be on the lookout for this Artist Confidential and if you don’t, GET IT! You’ll thank me later.

The band walked through 3 new songs (sans drums) from the upcoming album X&Y and when you hear it be prepared for a thrill ride, “classic” (if I can use that term) Coldplay. I think a personal favorite will be “The Massage” the melody is taken from an old hymn and gives the song a lot of substance. They also played Clocks and In My Place and told stories of when they got started and how they settled into life after the giant success of the massive Rush of Blood to the Head Tour.

Due to the overwhelming secrecy of this event and the limit of photography I wasn’t able to get any pictures to show you except one. I’m sure more will pop up in the next week but until then please enjoy a DanPortnoy.com exclusive. This was taken from the DanPortnoy.com Collectible Closet. (It’s a real place) It’s worth serious money, notice that it’s signed by all of us.

Also I found a promo photo of Joe and I with the band

My favorite quote from the show:

“What does it mean to be big? Being big means that a whole bunch of people who don’t know music bought your album and keep it in their car. It doesn’t mean anything. We don’t want to be big we want to be good.”

– Chris Martin