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24 September 2014
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Live reviews


Chris Martin (photo: Elly Roberts)
Chris Martin (photo: Elly Roberts)

Coldplay at the Reebok Stadium - 7/10

Elly Roberts (gig: 05/07/05)
The huge stage took 4 days to erect. Overnight, it takes less than eight hours to dismantle. Coldplay performed for roughly two hours. They left the arena at the speed of sound to a police escort. That’s life in the super wad squad.


Guy Berryman (photo: Elly Roberts)
Guy Berryman (photo: Elly Roberts)

After a pathetic charm offensive at Live 8 (except for Richard Ashcroft’s fantastic Bitter Sweet Symphony slot), it was time for pop’s slush puppies to show their mettle. Sandwiched between legends U2, The Who and Pink Floyd, they were made to look like complete novices last Saturday. Their recent album X&Y is selling like hot cakes, though it shows no real signs of progression or adventure. The single Speed Of Sound was a recent global download phenomenon, though a certain frog kept them away from their desired number one in the UK singles chart, much to the annoyance of Chris Martin.

Jonny Buckland (photo: Elly Roberts)
Jonny Buckland (photo: Elly Roberts)

So what of this night? 30,000 fans braved the elements as thunder clouds threatened to turn the event into a damp squib. Taking to the stage to a huge roar, the foursome launched into a vibrant Square One, as the tee-total one bopped like an excited teenager. Followed rapidly by Politik, Chris Martin chomped at the keys of the rickety piano, and then took to guitar on a thunderous Yellow, as the lights went into complimentary colour. From the outset they sounded very good, remaining so all night with Martin singing much better than Saturday. But would I finally fall in love with Coldplay?

Coldplay (photo: Elly Roberts)
Coldplay (photo: Elly Roberts)

Moving from photo pit to my stand seat, I could hear Speed Of Sound blasting out inside the stadium. In my seat, I had a chance to see the bigger picture. Considering the enormity of the wrap-around stage and gear, the light show was low-tech until the latter stages, and even then it was hardly dynamic.

Taking it down a pace, Warning Sign was delivered with great tenderness but all too short. White Shadows showcased their arena engulfing sound with Buckland’s riffs and Berryman’s synths echoing into the twilight. Clocks brought out the rockers in them, going into frenetic overdrive with collective simultaneous clapping and jumping. Talk was more of a Simple Minds tribute.

Coldplay (photo: Elly Roberts)
Coldplay (photo: Elly Roberts)

A finale brought a sublime In My Place and two video takes of Fix You complete with a fireworks blast, sending smoke across the whole stadium. Individually, Buckland rarely exhibits any emotion or showboating almost in The Edge’s low-key manner. Berryman is always industrious and effective, with Champion being the unsung hero on thumping sticks. As a unit they are top class, allowing Martin to do the PR work. They are a very good live band, and I like their tunefulness. But I never fell for them, as they never touched me like Zeppelin, Queen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, Elton John et al.

There’s a line in the next single Fix You that goes ‘stuck in reverse…’. Coldplay are not so much as stuck in reverse, as not quite out of first gear. Self proclaimed ‘best band in the world’? Get in line boys!

last updated: 06/07/05
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Cherilyn
i travelled 8,000 miles to see them (all the way from the Falkland Islands) and it was worth every single mile. Absolutely fantastic!

Em
Nothing could compare to that night at the concert, will always be a great memory

laura v
For me, coldplay is the besta band right now, they are doin what just a few will make, they bring us a new style, a new soun...for that and for much more they'll be remember for a long time...And their concerts are just amazing!!!

rabz
go and fob off. coldplay r da best bands eva. how can ya diss em like dat. u shud b ashamed of urselves.....

Mike
What a fantastic Gig. Have to say the reviewer wasn't at the same day I was and yes that was the 5th. Third time I have seen Coldplay and this has to be one of the best. No problems with traffic really in or out. The atmosphere was fantastic and the concert was twice as good as U2 seen a few weeks earlier. They are a class act.

Jack
Coldplay fans should read the monday review. Stuck-up music critics should read this one and dream of coldplay writing 5/4 prog rock songs...

Gem
Errr i'm sorry but save your idiotic and sarcastic comments for bands such as The Red Hot Chilli Peppers! Coldplay are the bestest British band ever and we should be lucky to have them!

Sharon From Wigan
I went on Tuesday, GOt absolutley soaked on the way there! But is was most deffinately worth it ! God really did put a smile upon my face.... heyyyy yeah!

Kaz
i'm an avid music listener, and went to see coldplay on the tues, rain did'nt damppen the mood, was great concert, i think cris martin was great, he has an amazing stage presence, but the rest of the band did lack a bit, and could of played-up to the crowd more, but all in all, it was one of the best concerts i've been to (P.S. Also great light show with the concert)

Simon
Coldplay are good without a doubt and will always be known and loved for their wallowing in self pitty type music,the thing is, to presume there has to be some sort of progression from one album to the next is a little stupid! ever heard the phrase if its not broke dont fix it?

tom
Hmmm... Saw U2 in their first Dublin concert on friday 24th... Saw Oasis in their first Manchester concert on Thr 30th... Saw Coldplay at Bolton on Mon 2nd... All concerts were AWESOME... If someone were to ask me to rate these groups before my concert bonanza I would have said U2 > Oasis > Coldplay... I walked out of the Bolton concert amazed - I thought that Coldplay performed better than both U2 and Oasis previously. Chris Martins voice was chilling. Simply amazing!

Rick
I think coldplay r mint..........

Sazzle
I went on Tuesday night, and despite the threat of rain and beers (cans as well!) at £3 a go had a brilliant, brilliant time. Had my first shoulder rides ever in the crowd down at the front too (and I'm 36!) Maybe Elly you should have got out of your seat, joined the proper fans down at the front by the stage and rocked it out with us, you might have enjoyed it :-) Come on Chris and the boys, we love you!

Scott
Great band, good gig, bad venue.

david
waddaya want? lasers and more fireworks or a very live, very energetic set showcasing music from all three albums. The encore alone was worth the entrance money. Wy do big blokes always push their way to the front though? My gf isn't very tall and the 6'6" lump in front of her was a pain in the proverbial.

prgo
self-proclaimed?don't thinks so...

Kevin
I went and I think this review sums them up. I had started warming to coldplay, but then I got bored of Horlicks too. Coldplay are the new opiate of the people.

Adrian
You obviously don't like Coldplay and are trying to make a name for yourself by writing an acerbic review of the concert on Tuesday. I took my girlfriend, who incidentally is not a Coldplay fan, and as a neutral she proclaimed them to be "Excellent". Maybe you should stick to the bands of old that you mentioned, as you really don't understand Coldplay.

hayley
i went watching coldplay on monday at the reebok and they were fantastic best ive seen them, keep it up lads!

Steve
We wnt on Monday night and were blown away by them. Saw the Red Hots at Murrayfield and they were good but the stadium was way to big. The samller Reebok gave it some real atmosphere.

ciaran
you, quite simply, are wrong.

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