Who is playing all the keyboard parts?

mrmario · 01-08-2008, 03:54 PM

I saw Coldplay last night in Toronto. My big question: who is playing the keyboard parts on Viva La Vida and Lovers In Japan. Certainly not Chris... he's usually jumping around far away from any instruments. This made me pay attention more carefully to other songs... and most have a keyboard part in them, definately not played by Chris. Clocks for example. His hand are up in the air during the "confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks" part.

Do they have another person backstage, or do they play along with pre-recorded tracks? The guitar solo on "Yes" was too absolutely note-for-note perfect, which makes me think they have a lot of pre-recorded stuff behind the scenes that they are either triggering or simply playing along Karaoke style.

I must say, as a huge Coldplay fan, this is disappointing.

Mr. Mario

professa95 · 01-08-2008, 03:59 PM

just signed up and already a critic?

FloxBox · 01-08-2008, 08:22 PM

the guitar solos aren't exactly hard to reproduce... they'll always touring so they know the parts backwards so obviously they're going to play them perfectly...

for clocks the main theme isn't being played when he starts singing so there's no need for him to play the piano at the same time

and for viva i saw him play it, and then step away so perhaps he put it on a repeat

otherwise... BAMAMAWHKADHAGSJT8OU93WY90

tigermilk · 01-08-2008, 10:16 PM

There is nothing wrong with using a 'extra' member live. In fact most bands do this after a while. The usual justification is that it frees the frontman from having to just sit and play. Also sometimes a band needs to augment its sound with strings, horns etc. Sometimes it is just impossible to play every instrument live.
Here is a list of some bands that use an 'extra' member live permamently or temporarily:
The Killers, Muse, Manic Street Preachers, Travis, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Keane, U2, the verve, Beck, RHCP. Are you getting my point?

I can confirm there is an extra member on this tour. They are off-stage. I heard the soundcheck for a 'off-stage keyboard'. Its not like coldplay are miming the performance.

roche714 · 01-08-2008, 10:57 PM

just curious what you mean by an extra member,a person or something electronic??

guyy · 01-08-2008, 11:04 PM

Well, Chris messed up a note in Clocks at the San Jose show, so I think he was actually playing it, not playing along with a recording. But of course they don't mess up that often, they've played these songs hundreds or thousands of times.

JDFSX1 · 02-08-2008, 01:56 AM

Well Chris's "simple" upright paino isnt as simple as it looks. I heard him say in an interview that it was digital so maby he sas a few tuesn preprogramed onto it.

-Jesse-

robins32 · 02-08-2008, 02:45 AM

no excuses, play all the shit live or go home and listen to the cd.

01-08-2008, 03:54 PM	#1
mrmario Coldplayer Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1 Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Who is playing all the keyboard parts? I saw Coldplay last night in Toronto. My big question: who is playing the keyboard parts on Viva La Vida and Lovers In Japan. Certainly not Chris... he's usually jumping around far away from any instruments. This made me pay attention more carefully to other songs... and most have a keyboard part in them, definately not played by Chris. Clocks for example. His hand are up in the air during the "confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks" part. Do they have another person backstage, or do they play along with pre-recorded tracks? The guitar solo on "Yes" was too absolutely note-for-note perfect, which makes me think they have a lot of pre-recorded stuff behind the scenes that they are either triggering or simply playing along Karaoke style. I must say, as a huge Coldplay fan, this is disappointing. Mr. Mario

01-08-2008, 03:59 PM	#2
professa95 coldplay = life Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,105 My Mood: Location: New york Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	just signed up and already a critic? __________________ Sean I AM THE NARD DOG ]

02-08-2008, 01:56 AM	#7
JDFSX1 -Proud Coldplayer- Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 199 Location: Massachusetts, USA Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Well Chris's "simple" upright paino isnt as simple as it looks. I heard him say in an interview that it was digital so maby he sas a few tuesn preprogramed onto it. -Jesse- __________________ Twitter.com/JesseToday [SIZE="4"]Warning Signs[CENTER]

01-08-2008, 08:22 PM	#3
FloxBox Coldplayer Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 8 Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	the guitar solos aren't exactly hard to reproduce... they'll always touring so they know the parts backwards so obviously they're going to play them perfectly... for clocks the main theme isn't being played when he starts singing so there's no need for him to play the piano at the same time and for viva i saw him play it, and then step away so perhaps he put it on a repeat otherwise... BAMAMAWHKADHAGSJT8OU93WY90

01-08-2008, 10:16 PM	#4
tigermilk Coldplayer Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 195 Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	There is nothing wrong with using a 'extra' member live. In fact most bands do this after a while. The usual justification is that it frees the frontman from having to just sit and play. Also sometimes a band needs to augment its sound with strings, horns etc. Sometimes it is just impossible to play every instrument live. Here is a list of some bands that use an 'extra' member live permamently or temporarily: The Killers, Muse, Manic Street Preachers, Travis, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Keane, U2, the verve, Beck, RHCP. Are you getting my point? I can confirm there is an extra member on this tour. They are off-stage. I heard the soundcheck for a 'off-stage keyboard'. Its not like coldplay are miming the performance.

01-08-2008, 10:57 PM	#5
roche714 Coldplayer Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 849 Location: New York City Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	just curious what you mean by an extra member,a person or something electronic??

01-08-2008, 11:04 PM	#6
guyy Might be a ghost Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 356 Location: The Universe Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well, Chris messed up a note in Clocks at the San Jose show, so I think he was actually playing it, not playing along with a recording. But of course they don't mess up that often, they've played these songs hundreds or thousands of times.

02-08-2008, 02:45 AM	#8
robins32 Coldplayer Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 127 My Mood: Gender: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	no excuses, play all the shit live or go home and listen to the cd.