At The turn of the millennium Coldplay stumbled apologetically into the limelight, four skinny, sensitive chaps whose songs walked a tightrope between mercurial and mawkish. How times have changed writes the Coventry Telegraph today, in yet another positive review article of Coldplay's concert at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on Tuesday night (29th May). Catch up on more on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from the shows at the Coldplay Live forum now. Read on for the Coventry Telegraph review article...
It is hard to believe the same band has grown into the superstars who stun the Ricoh Arena in Coventry with show of muscular magnificence. The evening opens in inauspicious fashion. Support acts Rita Ora and Robyn seemed an unlikely choice when they were first unveiled and the pair struggle to produce anything to justify the decision.
Ora inexplicably cuts short the chart topping hit Hot Right Now that made her name. Meanwhile Robyn spurns her eponymous breakthrough album in favour of some decidedly dodgy dance moves over what sounds like electro-reggae before begrudgingly pulling out With Every Heartbeat to wrap up her set. By the time Coldplay emerge nearly 20 minutes late there is a slightly underwhelming undercurrent... but the moment the band set foot on stage the fireworks - quite literally - begin...
Coldplay hurtle through Hurts Like Heaven as the sky above the Ricoh lights up with flashes of red and smoke drifts across the packed arena. Despite the stifling summer heat there is something festive about this stunning show. Perhaps its the geezer of gaily colour confetti that erupts during In My Place, transforming the Ricoh into a stadium-sized snow globe. Or the radio controlled armbands that flash a rainbow of colours as Paradise brings the concert to a crescendo, lighting up the arena like the world's biggest Christmas tree. And the giant, graffiti marked beach balls that bounce like bauble across the surface of the crowd.
Major Minus, Life In Technicolour, The Scientist, Yellow, Violet Hill and God Put A Smile On Your Face are rattled off as a stunning sequence before Martin asks the audience if they are enjoying themselves and boldly declares that the best songs are yet to come. Coldplay then ease off the gas for slower songs Princess Of China, Up In Flames and Warning Sign.
Princess of China is perhaps the only disappointment of the night as something of a missed opportunity. Given Rita Ora's widely acclaimed status as the next Rihanna she would have been an obvious choice to deputise on this duet, but instead the band settle for a video rendition from the R&B queen on the big screen.
Martin and co. quickly resume their stride with Don't Let It Break Your Heart, followed by the thrilling trio of Viva La Vida, Charlie Brown and Paradise as a climax to the main set. As the band retire for a well earned rest and to rehydrate the arena echoes to the refrain of Viva as 40,000 voices join as one. The wristbands blinking like fireflies in the twilight complete a magical scene. Martin emerges on a small stage at the rear of the stadium to kick of the encore, strumming through Us Against The World as his band emerge one by one to milk the applause as they join him.
Speed of Sound and Clocks follow before Fix You builds to a stunning sing-a-long finish. Coldplay finish on a high with Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall as a fresh battery of fireworks light up the night sky. Martin may have become increasingly aware how fickle fame can be, ruminating on a king who "sweeps the streets he used to own" on career high Viva La Vida. But for now Coldplay rule the music world, a ubiquitous behemoth of a band capable of commanding the loyalty of quiffed indie kids while simultaneous straddling the charts.
New photos of Coldplay performing at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, England (29th May 2012):
Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:
FEBRUARY 2012
8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]
9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]
10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]
12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]
16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]
17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]
21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]
MARCH 2012
2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]
4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]
APRIL 2012
17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]
18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]
20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]
21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]
24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]
25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]
27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]
28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]
MAY 2012
1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]
4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]
18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]
20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]
22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]
24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]
26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]
29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]
JUNE 2012
1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]
9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]
9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]
10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]
22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]
23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]
25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]
26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]
28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]
29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]
JULY 2012
2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]
3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]
5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]
6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]
8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]
9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]
23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]
24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]
26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]
27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]
29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]
30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]
AUGUST 2012
1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]
3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]
4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]
7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]
8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]
11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]
28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]
30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]
SEPTEMBER 2012
2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]
4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]
6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]
9 London, UK @ Paralympics Closing Ceremony [discussion]
12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]
14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]
16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]
19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]
22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]
NOVEMBER 2012
10 Auckland, New Zealand @ Mt Smart Stadium [discussion]
13 Melbourne, Australia @ Etihad Stadium [discussion]
17 Sydney, Australia @ Allianz Stadium [discussion]
18 Sydney, Australia @ Allianz Stadium [discussion] [NEW!]
21 Brisbane, Australia @ Suncorp Stadium [discussion]
Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)
Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)
Read also: 2012: Live Appearances - Easy Thread Finder (last updated - 12th January 2012)
Read also: 2012 tour date rumours (please post dates for ALL countries in here)
Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]
The new range of Coldplaying merchanise (unofficial of course to the official shop) has hit our stores, with our biggest range of goods so far. Prices are as low as they can be for a Cafepress shop so more people will be able to afford them. We don't take any profits for the sale of the merchandise as a result. Take a browse in one of the online stores nearest to you: UK | US | Canada | Australia | European (shipping is worldwide, but you can choose what currency to pay in) - simply alter the country dropdown menu at the top of the shop page. [thanks to TracieMorgan and zzz]
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