Here's a review by a Boston Globe staff on last night's concert:

By James Reed, Globe Staff  |  October 30, 2008

It's hard to dislike someone who's determined to please you. So for all you Coldplay haters - and your numbers are strong - here's a bit of advice: See the band live before you judge.

No one wants you to love Coldplay more than lead singer Chris Martin. With a perpetual bounce in his step, he worked hard at TD Banknorth Garden last night, bounding like a clumsy toddler down the two side stages that led into the audience. On the swooping chorus of "In My Place," he swept his arms out to the crowd, midriff exposed, as if he had just hit a home run.

And when the house lights came on so he could get a good look at his loyal subjects, you got the genuine feeling this was where he belonged - and wanted to be. He also thanked everyone for selling out the Garden again just two months after Coldplay's last show at the venue.

And the music? Shockingly good. Martin is the backbone of Coldplay, but the quartet gets its flesh and blood from drummer Will Champion, bassist Guy Berryman, and especially lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, whose solos on "Green Eyes" and "42" added dimension and unlikely textures.

Coldplay has solved the age-old dilemma of how to make a stadium feel like a living room. Its solution: play somewhere where your audience least expects it - and far from the front row. At one point, the band bolted to a surprise spot halfway up the Garden and launched a mini acoustic set.

Martin then offered an odd preface to "The Scientist": "This is a romantic song about the governor of Alaska." Once the boos died down, his retort was decidedly more crass: "Politics aside, she's a [expletive] superbabe!"

Earlier in the evening, as a makeshift side stage materialized, the quartet huddled close for "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face," which bled into a snippet of "Talk." That gave way to Martin's solo piano rendition of "The Hardest Part" (made famous by Hall & Oates, "and we made it less famous," Martin cracked).

But the heartfelt sentiment was over soon enough, as the intro to "Viva la Vida," the big hit and title track from the band's latest album, thundered out of the speakers and launched the requisite sing-along.

So that was what Martin said... It was hard to hear him with his British accent, the microphone and the clapping crowd (and of course my poor hearing).

was letting go
not taking part

-- another magical night here in Boston with Coldplay!

Takes a while to upload the videos, so a couple of pictures first ;)

Acoustic session on Stage C - this was the closest look I got at the band for the entire evening. Before performing "The Scientist", Mr Martin actually brought up politics. "Vote Barack Obama", he said, followed by loud cheers from the audience. Of course he got booed just by (jokingly) mentioning Sarah Palin's name (first I thought I heard it wrong... but then the boo confirmed that I was right). Massachusetts is apparently a Democratic state ("民主黨的票倉")...

Confetti during "Lovers in Japan".

List of songs performed tonight:
Life in Technicolor. Violet Hill. Clocks. In My Place. Speed of Sound. Cemeteries of London. Chinese Sleep Chant. 42. Fix You. Strawberry Swing.
b stage: God Put a Smile. Talk. Hardest Part.
Viva La Vida. Lost.
c stage: The Scientist. Death Will Never Conquer
Encore 1: Politik. Lovers in Japan. Death and All His Friends.
Encore 2: Yellow

(and I do mean males - okay, for females too if that's your thing)

You should really learn to speak this Italian phrase: "il momento perfetto con la donna perfetta"

It may come in handy when you want to make a toast (that could lead to a kiss or even more...)

Too random? Well, GET USED TO IT.

What a night for the Red Sox Nation! NOW I believe anything can happen in baseball!

I had to admit that I stopped watching the game after seeing the 0-7 score in the 7th inning. I did not want to see my beloved team being jumped all over like two nights ago. When I was just getting ready to watch McCain on David Letterman, I checked the score once again just to make sure that the game was over - and I could not believe my eyes! The Red Sox came back from the big hole and got a 7-7 tie, and it was the top of the 9th. After failed attempts to re-connect to the online channel broadcasting the game, the top of the 9th was already over. Then I knew the Sox was gonna make it this time, and they DID!

What a game! I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have watched the whole game - what an emotional roller coaster that must have been! Now I can't wait to see the newspaper coverage tomorrow!