12 Coldplay Months of 2012: May (In which the band are in full concert swing)

[LFDianne]

May 2012 was a busy month for Coldplay! They continued with the first leg of their North American tour in Los Angeles, CA, playing three shows at the historic Hollywood Bowl, appearing on American Idol, and headlining Los Angeles-based radio station, KROQ’s Annual Weenie Roast. All these performances in just five days! On a personal note, I was fortunate enough to have been able to attend all five performances.

 

Coldplay return to the Hollywood Bowl

The three Hollywood Bowl shows sold out very quickly and May 1 marked Coldplay’s first appearance at the Hollywood Bowl since 2003. The show was spectacular and made use of the Bowl’s iconic arch above the stage to project the awesome graphics that Coldplay is using in the Mylo Xyloto tour. The Hollywood Bowl is a unique venue in that the very front section is a pit, the next two sections are individual boxes, with four to six chairs in each box, and the remaining sections going back are benches. The venue is in a natural setting carved into a hillside in the Hollywood Hills just above the city of Los Angeles.

 

 

A few photos from the shows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orange County Register review of the show:

http://soundcheck.ocregister.com/2012/05/02/live-review-coldplay-thrilling-at-hollywood-bowl/93848/

 

Having attended all three shows, there was not a significant difference between the shows, other than the surprising addition of Speed of Sound on the C-stage on May 2.

[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LcOPJslosI[/ame]

 

Chris’s wife Gwyneth Paltrow was in attendance at probably all the shows, but Chris dedicated Yellow to her during the May 4 show.

[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCDODgCZdcE[/ame]

 

I volunteered for Oxfam for the May 4 show, and before the show, a group of volunteers were walking around the empty Hollywood Bowl, and who did we run into? Mr. Chris Martin himself! He was gracious enough to come over to our small group, speak to us for a little while and took photos!

 

and my favorite photo…ever…

 

 

Roadie #42 Blogs

Roadie 42 posted a blog entry on May 2, sharing details about how the band communicate with the crew during a show.

http://www.coldplay.com/archive.php#!prettyArticle/15/

 

American Idol Welcomes Coldplay to their stage

The band performed on American Idol for the first time, on May 3. They played two songs, Paradise and Every Teardrop is a Waterfall. The entire studio audience was given two xylobands, which was exciting to see on network TV!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqkq26_coldplay-paradise-live-on-american-idol-2012-results_tv#.UNUZjqWaEug

 

KROQ's Annual Weenie Roast

On May 5, Coldplay performed at the annual KROQ Weenie Roast at Verizon Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA. They headlined a day that included Incubus, The Offspring, Garbage, Sound Garden, Dirty Heads, among other alternative/punk bands. They performed a touching tribute to Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys who had passed away two days prior.

[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBrcaq1J0vU[/ame]

 

Roadie #42 is back again

Roadie #42 posted another blog on May 9, sharing his feelings about how much the band have grown and accomplished since their first appearance at the Hollywood Bowl.

http://www.coldplay.com/archive.php#!prettyArticle/14/

 

And with that, Coldplay were done with the first leg of the North American Mylo Xyloto Tour.

 

But while the band were taking a few weeks off for a well-deserved break, news in the Coldplay world continued. They announced four shows in Australia and New Zealand, scheduled for November 2012, much to the delight of fans in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

The Princess of China single, featuring Rihanna, was released on May 15. It peaked at No. 20, on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart.

 

After a two-week break, Coldplay were back in the stadiums of Europe.

 

Roadie #42 Posts Panoramic Photo in Porto

They performed in the rain at Estadio Do Dragao, Porto on May 18. And so began Roadie #42’s Panorama Photos, that continued for the remainder of the tour.

 

 

Based on the number of tweets from the band, they were very excited to be back on the road again!

@coldplay: On the way to Porto Portugal. CM pic.twitter.com/j7OyRBGQ

@coldplay: Phil in Porto. CM pic.twitter.com/VNvcDePr

@coldplay: Dragao Stadium, Porto, Portugal. Right now. First Mylo Stadium. Showtime minus 9hrs. R42 twitvid.com/IGXS2

@coldplay: We haven't been to this part of Portugal since Aug 2000, playing a festival with the Flaming Lips. Great place to start the stadium tour. WC

@coldplay: Thank you Porto for an UNBELIEVABLE start to our stadium run. WHAT A CROWD! PH

 

Coldplay to Play the Closing Ceremonies of the Paralympics

A very exciting announcement was made after the show in Porto!

http://www.coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=952&page=

 

“With exactly 100 days until the London 2012 Paralympic Games begin, it's been announced today that Coldplay will perform at the Games' Closing Ceremony.

 

Seb Coe, London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) Chair, said: "The London 2012 Paralympic Games are going to be spectacular. I am delighted that Coldplay are going to be helping us celebrate not only the end of a fantastic Paralympic Games, but also the end of a seven year journey.

 

"With tickets back on sale tomorrow I can guarantee that whatever ticket you decide to go for, the Paralympic sport will leave a deep and lasting impression on you. The athletes involved in the Paralympic Games are incredible sportsmen and women and I urge everyone to take this chance to be there and to form memories that will last a lifetime."

 

The London 2012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony, called ‘Festival of Flame’ and starting at 8.30pm on 9 September, will see Coldplay take to the stage and perform a live and one off concert in the Olympic Stadium, broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 750 million.

 

Coldplay's Chris Martin said: “Being asked to play at the closing celebrations for the Paralympic athletes in London is such a great honour for us. Kim Gavin and Misty Buckley are working hard to put on a spectacular Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony for the athletes and spectators in the stadium, and everyone watching around the world, and we are so happy to be involved.

 

“It will be one of the biggest nights of our lives and we're very excited to try to create a performance for the last night of the games that will close London 2012 in style.”

 

Will the Weather Cancel the Show in Madrid?

The tour continued with a show on May 20 at Vicente Calderion, Madrid. Before the show, however, there was a bit of panicked news being tweeted by fans in attendance because of the rain and hail. But the show must go on, and it did.

 

@ColdplaySpain: Fans at @Coldplay show in Madrid today are reporting case of aborting the show because of the weather. It's been hailing today.

 

The crowd looked amazing in Roadie #42’s panorama, in spite of the rain.

 

 

@coldplay: We LOVE playing shows in Madrid PH

 

Coldplay Wins Big at the Billboard Music Awards

Also on May 21, it was announced that Coldplay had won multiple awards at the Billboard Awards in Las Vegas. Anchorman was quick to share the news:

Good afternoon. We're pleased to report that Coldplay won four awards at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, which took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last night. The band won Top Rock Artist, Top Alternative Artist, Top Rock Album and Top Alternative Album. http://www.coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=954&page=

 

Nice is Nice

Next stop on the Mylo Xyloto tour was Nice, France on May 22, 2012.

 

 

@coldplay: merci Nice you beautiful people PH

 

Live Twitter Chat

Coldplaying.com and the twitter-verse exploded when Anchorman announced that Chris, Jonny, Will and Guy would be answering questions tweeted to the band before the show in Nice!

 

First up, Guy and Will’s answers to many awesome questions from fans:

http://www.coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=956&page=

 

And not to be outdone, Chris and Jonny gave their responses:

http://www.coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=961&page=

 

Roadie #42 continues to blog

And if this didn’t provide enough excitement, Roadie #42 posted yet another blog for the month of May, about the beginning of the European stadium tour, and how it’s all coming together nicely.

http://www.coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=963&page=

 

Touring in Turin

Coldplay rounded out their final May shows with an enthusiastic performance at Olympic Stadium in Turin, Italy, on May 26.

 

 

@coldplay: Turin's Olympic Stadium looking very twinkly just now... A pic.twitter.com/kZCe2Zxy

@coldplay: A little cameraphone video of the pre-show Mexican wave which swept around Turin's Olympic Stadium tonight youtu.be/HzF6jTSji3s A

 

Beautiful Zurich

They wowed the crowd in Letzigrund, Zurich

 

 

@Jayreg1969: ZURICH was great and a beautiful place :) Great night yet again

 

Back in the UK

And they finished the month of May with their return “home” in Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK.

 

 

@coldplay: What an incredible crowd we just played for in Coventry Thank you so much for making it one of our favourites C

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

Great stuff LFDianne. Fantastic video of Speed of Sound. I think the acoustic version is absolutely brilliant and far surpasses the record and previous live version.

[zzz]

Great review! Thanks! :smiley:

[suzanafg]

Such an eventful month! Thanks for the review, Dianne!

 

Voted for the beginning of the panoramas by R42.

[filiprasmusson]

what a great month. Great review :)

[nancyk58]

Thank you for a great review, Dianne.

 

I find it absolutely amazing that you were present at all these Coldplay events and also volunteered for Oxfam. You totally deserve that your group ran into Chris and had a little talk and photo opportunities with him.

 

The pictures of your Oxfam group with Chris and the photo of you and Chris are very great.

 

I voted for Coldplay's big wins at BillBoard Music Awards.

[Raphaele]

thank you Dianne:)

[A Coldplay fan]

Great Review !

[thetelephoneline]

Nice review! :D

 

but who should have done June and July?

[suzanafg]

Nice review! :D

 

but who should have done June and July?

 

June should've been Anchorman. July is coming up tomorrow. There's no new review today (Dec 25th). :)

 

Info can be found here: http://coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96215

[thetelephoneline]

Oh okay, haha

 

But has Anchorman forgotten his review of June?

[JillyBlue]

Oh okay, haha

 

But has Anchorman forgotten his review of June?

 

I hope not! I'm standing by with July but don't want to tread on Anchorman's toes. He's probably been celebrating Christmas today.

[Lu'kaa]

I think this tweet was actually the review. Were you guys really expecting more?

[42JTR]

I think this tweet was actually the review. Were you guys really expecting more?

 

Yeah I was thinking exactly the same thing....

[suzanafg]

Either way, before it's decided was to be done about June, maybe we could proceed with the reviews? What you guys think? What do you think, JillyBlue? :)

[Tash]

I'm standing by with July but don't want to tread on Anchorman's toes. He's probably been celebrating Christmas today.

 

You don't have to wait for the June review : )

[JillyBlue]

In the process of posting now, hopefully should be up within the hour.

[aschall]

Its almost been a year since I saw coldplay at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the best experiences of my life