In the last leg of its North American tour, Coldplay delivers an invigorating show from beginning to end, with bright lights and lots of confetti, writes Star Tribune magazine in a review of Coldplay's show at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN last night (10 August). Catch up on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from these shows at the Coldplay Live forum here (10th - Friday) and here (11th - Saturday - tonight) onwards now. Thanks to everyone who has contributed with tweets, photos, reviews, videos and comments! Read on for the rest of the Star Tribune review article below...
The two biggest bands of the century couldn't be more disparate. Canada's Nickelback is proudly and dunderheadedly macho while England's Coldplay is strikingly and hopelessly feminine (the musical equivalent of chick flicks). Nickelback's frontman Chad Kroeger is all about drinking and getting laid. Coldplay's Chris Martin is all about emotions and caring about everything from relationships to world economic issues. In concert, Nickelback is all about pyro and explosions while Coldplay is about colors and confetti.
In fact, Coldplay couldn't wait to shower the confetti Friday at Xcel Energy Center. Most headliners save it for the end of the evening, but Coldplay fired the confetti cannons during the night's third selection, "In My Place." (By the way, the confetti was in the shape of butterflies, hearts, flowers, exclamation points, etc.) During the fifth number, giant multicolored balloons filled the arena. But the coolest special effect started on the very first song, "Mylo Xyloto," the title cut of Coldplay's current blockbuster album...
Every concertgoer was given a special wristband in a half-dozen different colors that blinked to the beat of the music (thanks to remote radio controls). The arena turned into a ginormous Lite Brite flickerathon as circles of day-glo colored lights flashed onstage, as well, along with various colors of laser lights.
The first 15 minutes of the concert were more like a finale. In fact, this was more visually exciting than the Olympics Opening Ceremony.
While the special effects certainly invigorated the 15,000 fans, they didn't completely overshadow the music. No major rock band is more eager to please than Coldplay. The quartet borrows majesty from U2, arty sonics from Radiohead and pure poppyness from the Beatles to create a bright, shiny, breathtakingly pretty sound. Then factor in the hyper exuberance of the athletic Martin and you've got the most over-the-top pop band in the universe.
Coldplay is the only band that turns love ballads into anthems. That happened Friday with "Yellow," the group's 2000 breakthrough hit, and "Paradise," a hit from the current album.
Coldplay is easily the most jovial band from across the pond. Martin, 35, and company simply sold happiness and positivity -- whether he was talking about a merger of the U.S. and U.K. water polo teams, promising to party like it's 1999 (without mentioning Prince) or standing in the bowl end among the crowd to play the first encore.
The 95-minute set may have seemed front-loaded with hits and bogged down by two consecutive ballads played on the end of the runway. But the bouncy "Viva La Vida," the elegantly lovely "Clocks" and the soaring, bracelet-blinking finale of "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" with its ringing U2-like guitar were highlights from the second half.
With this tour (which concludes its North American leg Saturday in St. Paul), Coldplay hasn't shaken the albatross of comparison to U2. But they've demonstrated that they, not Nickelback, deserve to be the halftime entertainment at the next Super Bowl. Or why wait? How about Sunday's closing Olympics ceremonies? [Article ends]
New photos of Coldplay performing at the Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN (10 August 2012):
Photos courtesy of TwinCities.com (Pioneer)
Thumb by Rachelparker @ Flickr
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]
10 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy 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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