Official Coldplay Tour. Chicago, IL UIC Pavillion 6.9.03
Tue Jun 17, 2003 12:27 am
Official Coldplay Tour. Chicago. UIC Pavillion. 6.9.03
I posted a few comments about this show and the surrounding dates on an earlier post but I can't remember now what I said, and...to find out, I'd have to research my postings...and it's late...plus, I'd have to log back onto AOL long distance from this "somewhere-past-Memphis, lo-fi Best Western to find out.
In Chicago, we had 2 friends drive 4 hours from Indianappolis, one friend fly from Tyler, one friend fly from Nashville, 2 friends drive from St. Louis and one friend drive from the suburbs of Chicago to see Eisley. Needless to say, we spent plenty of time hanging out with friends...and there was plenty of social time; one of those nights we were asked to come down for night caps with the Coldplay crew in the lobby; There's an arsenal of memories and conversations and relationships that were built on this tour; I don't have time to go into it. Perhaps later, we can chat on the forum about specifics when we get home. We certainly enjoyed our Coca-Cola night caps and staying up till 3:30am yakking.
Something that stood out to me was when we were watching Coldplay's rehearsal, Chris busted out into his own vocal rendition of TreeTops...but it was weird on purpose. He was playing this electronic keyboard on top of his Make Trade Fair.com upright... Anyway, it was like, "when I was a young girl.....(minor chord progression but same melody) tryin' to find my way above the treeeee-tops...the treeeeeee-tops....the treeeeeee-eeeeeeeee topppssss"...real slow and eerie. Funny. He kept coming back to it after Clocks and others they were doing....even mimicking Stacy's break..."uh-ahhh, ahhh, ahhhhh, ahhhhh, ahh" etc. but in that Chris Martin falsetto. We clapped in a typical round of applause and he seemed stunned we were watching. I think he knew. I think I caught some on video but I might have taped over it by accident. whatever.
The show was great. See pics. A healthy crowd showed up for the opener...fun had by all. I can't speak for the Chicago-ians, but they sounded like they were "amped" by the first band. I'm brain dead. Have to start the post part of this process. Thanks everyone.
btw. We had a slow day of driving...we're in Arkansas now. I worked on gathering the images that appear after all day in the van while Kevin drove. We had dinner with Will and Josiah Holland and Dudley in some town as they were heading to Nashville from Texas and we were heading down. That was a happy reunion. dern. why didn't I videotape them?
You realize i'm going to be back home by early evening tomorrow. That means I'll have to work on this at the house after spending some quality time with my beloved wife and family....then I can brew some fine gourmet vienese roast coffee in my 70's commercial Bunn restaurant coffee machine... after grinding it on my late 30's Art Deco, commercial coffee grinder. mmmm.....
I've learned to appreciate Starbucks out on the road. Most of the midwest gas stations from the North to the South have horrid, weak, burnt, bad tasting, old, terrible, acidic, sick tasting coffee. And that powdered crap they pass off as Cappuccino...omg. That's the worst....
Later, I'll remember things about this trip that I didn't post. I've been posting with little brain waves....it's the best I can do under the circumstances. I'll post cut lines (copy under the images) tomorrow. bd
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15 minutes can make all the difference in the world to an opener. They
packed in by the time Eisley was about 3/4 finished with their set. I figure
many people come in just in time to hear Tree Tops. That's sad.
She has a nice beanie cap on...or what do you call those?
Jon, striking a businesslike pose checks his email for the 2nd time on
the entire tour. Or maybe it was the first.
Looks real junkie and run down from the outside. Inside is nice!
Stacy in the lobby; we're waiting to go out into the city for food.
Only the Hotel knows were to go. Somewhere I have a tape of
us at the Rainforest Cafe...
That's our crazy, creative friend Aaron. He's creatively brilliant, owns
1000's of first release sci-fi novels, Shakespear, collects Tolkein (sp?) and
does slam poetry readings with the most serious roughians in Chicago...is
a total music buff.
A very arty hotel. Studying the lines....
Starbucks was just across the street from the hotel. I got up early that
morning and drank coffee while clicking away on my "Titanium" as I
watched the city whirl past.
...speaking of whisking back, here goes Jon...
It rained and rained......and rained. We all bought umbrellas.
colorful moments.
Stacy brands...
That's Aaron again. We used to all hang out together all hours of the night
here in Tyler...listening to underground music and his electronica; Aaron
totally meshed with the Coldplay crew since he spent years in London and
knows the history of rock music as well as anyone I know.
That's what it looked like to some photographer long ago.
I shot the shot on the wall.
For real, Weston's name was enscribed on one of the many graffiti-laden
walls. Chicago pizza is good....but very different from ours.
This city has these wonderful images...waiting for someone to capture
them. I don't know what they are. I just like the architecture
and graphics.
Relief sculpture...it's everywhere. Amazing. Chicago is nice to walk around
in at night....not too many people. Not so scary. Of course, we traveled as
a horde...a clan...and had that "don't mess with Texas" look.
And the girls were happy. There were Castles.
Chauntelle scored some Willy Wonka bars. For real. They sell them.
I bought one and slowly unwrapped it...hoping....
That's Tim Turley from Tyler. He flew all the way to Chicago to see the
band and hang out. Hi Tim. Thanks.
Where architecture and iconography unite....branding at it's finest.
Our mics and other things had toppled...of course, we were at an steep
angle. Nothing damaged...routine. But after the gig, there were issues with
the Union's assistance, Coldplay's production manager; yikes, it got weird.
And Jon's head and the Fender Bassman head got dropped... Thank God
for Anvil cases. Nothing was damaged.
Walking around in Chicago during the day...going to mall's, eating food,
etc. That's Tim and Carissa with us. I think she flew from Houston.
It looks like Derek is about to harm Chris. But, not. dunno.
This is Ron's gang minus Don who drums and plays strings. Shown are
Ron, Tim (left) and Jason right. These are very genuine people. We had
fun with them.
Friends, Own and Thomas from a band called the Elms - drove from
Indianapolis I think to hang with us. Relationships are important to the
band.
The quintessentially redundant sound check shots....here they are.
Sherri warming up.
Stacy, pink from lights. The show is happening now. The lights
blast her head... always hard to get decent shots.
I think I started out with this one. But..this one is bigger. Maybe you
can find yourself. People were waving. I was a rock star while I was
out there on that stage... well; I was an aging dork, rather;
shooting video so that one day we can prove to people that this tour
actually happened. Anyways, you're all aging...while not all balding.
Blurry, but I like it. Ok? (fine)
awww....
awww...
This is pre-show...sometimes the security guards hassel me...."sir, you
can't have that in here". I flash the lanyard (sp?) and most of them leave
me alone. But occasionally, they are like pit bulls and say I have to have
a media pass. So I say, go talk to Derek Fudge - Coldplay's production
manager. I CAN do this. And they persist...and I say, "Man, you're just..
(ahh!!), you're just trying to bust me! Come ON! please, stop this!...those
are my kids on thatstage, we're on tour with Coldplay and I tape every
show....and this is the freakin' Hollywood Bowl (or, fill in the blank)...
You're ruining the moment! Go talk to your supervisor and leave me
alone!! Once I told a guy..."I am going up to that stage and you'r not
gonna stop me". Gosh. I'm a nice, regular guy, but...I guess I went
ballistic a few times. sheesh...
Sherri... singing.
A "photo-op". Teen People wanted a shot with Eisley and Chris. Just so
you'll know...well, yes; there are major Teen publications covering
the story of Eisley. Don't freak out. It's good; Seventeen, Teen Vogue, Teen People...others; but understand - it's a young band. If you're in rock
music and you're got members like 19 and under, it's a given... They're
going to want the scoop. It might seem way out of scope - considering the
press in Rolling Stone...and Blender is coming out some- time soon; and
Filter; and others... but it's a chance to invade pop culture; for Eisley, it's a
chance to be themselves in a world that isn't used to, well.. .bands like
them; right? I can't be so arrogant as to say they'll raise the standard
in that environment. But, it's just my opinion that the teen, pop/glam/radio
patrons/clones of the world need the levening of Eisley; the creativity,
the non-conformity, the moral manner, the culture of Eisley....ok?..the
music of Eisley. Nobody has to agree. The band is just going to be who-
ever they are...and go wherever it's right; So far, the photoshoots have
been cool. We'll see how the stories turn out. That's what matters. Still...
editors can say whatever they want....no matter if you're a Teen mag or
a Rock zene; We've already witnessed that. And WB publicity folks aren't having to beat the bushes. After SXSW, there was a line at the door of
interested media people. No sell outs here. Time will prove this. At the
moment, there is no radio play to speak of, no hit songs, no hype. The
band is getting ready for their full length with no restraints on songwriting;
management nor label wants anyone to "mess" with it.
That's Rock on the left...Chris's personal body guard. He's a real
sweetheart of a guy; just don't mess with Chris and you'll live. Derek and
he are yakking.
That's stoic jon. The road; it does weird things to your head.
Grainy, lo rez. rock.
Stealing Coldplay fans. You have to know how valuable this is... how could
this have happened? It's unheard of. Eisley is just this unknown band from
near-Dallas, Texas. It's a great mystery.
New "Photo-op with Fans" category in every venue from here own out.
Sherri, porcelainesque.
entitled: "blurry, blown out, bad shot of eisley in Chicago."
AH HA!! a shot of Weston. But he's hard to find. There's a layer called
the "front line" masking his beauty. Who wants to see the lurchy goon
anyway? his mom and girlfreind...THAT's who! But, seriously, Weston
is the funniest manboy on the planet. Without him, we would all still be
alive. But we died from laughter many years ago.
Signing and talking with nice people. This is the fun part for the band.
Well, after the fun of doing a show... they will never be rock stars.
Stacy....pinkish/purplish...
Sherri/Jon
Trying to get back stage to help clear the stage of Eisley's debris;
and shoot the crowd with the Sony.
shots from stage...oh, about 40 seconds after they walked off stage.
same thing. Could've made a panarama but I'm tired of that.
Friend, Chris York. Flew from Nashville. A&R for Sparrow. Dad runs Sparrow. Hi Chris. Thanks for coming out.
Stage right Eisleyans.
Oops. a warm up shot is in the wrong place.
glowhead.
midstage shot
So many decent frames. I had to display them.
Signing at the UIC Pavillion.
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That's it for cutlines and images for this show. Thanks for tuning in.
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