Coldplay continued their World Tour with a one night stop at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, and with incessant rainfall, a rather wet 50,000 fans were rewarded with one of the best live shows currently on the road anywhere in the world. writes the What Culture today, in a review article of Coldplay's Sunderland show on Thursday night (7th June). Catch up on more on the latest tweets, pictures, videos from the shows at the Coldplay Live forum now. Read on for the What Culture review... we'll have some more articles coming soon!
It was fitting that Coldplay brought the show to a close with Every Tear is a Waterfall as tears and waterfalls were served up in equal measure in Sunderland as the cold and rain set upon the waiting 50,000 Northerners present, challenging even the toughest stereotypes who favoured t shirts and short skirts over waterproofs normally favoured by hardy explorers. But frankly by the end of the night no one could have cared less.
With Rita Ora and Robyn offering support, gazebos were a necessary on-stage prop to protect equipment as they warmed up the crowd, engaging the crowd with their biggest hits and distracting from the increasing dampness. The R&B/Jazz/Dance/Electro/Pop sound both offer wasn’t necessarily something the average Coldplay fan would have been interested in but both were entertaining and worked to involve everyone.
With the rain offering no respite the crowd kept in good spirits while waiting for the night’s entertainment to arrive. As the stage hands desperately tried to brush the water off the stage until the last moment, eventually the tarpaulins covering the instruments went off, the lights went down and the “put your flashing wristband on now” signs disappeared.
With the Back to the Future theme score welcoming them on, the band leapt onto the stage and got things flying with Hurts like Heaven, the stage lights going into overdrive and incessant fireworks meant there was a sensory overload that had everyone bouncing around in instantaneous glee. A kaleidoscopic light show dazzled as the radio controlled wristbands sparkled like multi-coloured stars creating an arena of light and sound that completely swept you away.
Chris Martin when not needed on piano and guitar duty cavorted down the runways down the middle of the crowd and to the sides, literally rolling around to the enchantment of the near by fans and covering every available inch of stage. A phenomenal opening somehow got even better as confetti canons launched thousands of butterflies onto the crowd, the rain ensuring everyone was plastered in multi-coloured paper Mache for the rest of the night. Next up about 50 huge multi-coloured balloons were thrown to the crowd to bounce around creating a joyous and playful atmosphere that crackled with excitement and delight.
Slower songs like The Scientist brought a more minimalist AV approach as the last of balloons disappeared down the back of the crowd and the band worked their way through their older tracks before moving to the end of the central walkway for a semi-acoustic set, the highlight of which for the younger fans was new single Princess of China, featuring a video cameo of Rhianna on the big screens. Having worked their way through the sing-along, arm waving part of the show, they moved back to the main stage and upped the tempo with more wristband featuring songs, the darkening stadium meaning the effect became increasingly mesmerising.
With the crowd still bouncing after Charlie Brown, eventually the torrential rain started to have an effect and prompted a change of piano as Chris Martin played the opening chords ofParadisethat admittedly sounded a touch gurgled.
The crowd filled time with an unprompted “woh oh oh” Violet Hill chant as the crew worked rapidly to wheel out dryer equipment. New piano in situ, the show got back underway. The band disappeared for the customary break before the encore and took everyone by surprise when they appeared on a smaller stage at the rear of the stadium to the pleasure of the fans at the rear, each band member entering separately to build up to a full rendition of Us Against the World and then Speed of Sound.
Finally the band returned again to the main stage and brought the night to a close, the energetic Clocks making full use of the last of the wristbands’ batteries and producing a hypnotic light show when coupled with the lasers that created a wall of light above the standing fans that stretched back across the stadium. The emotional Fix You followed with the increasingly hoarse and wet crowd matching the band in giving their all and being dazzled by yet more fireworks at the crescendo before the closing track brought the house down. All the lights were turned on full for one last time, the five massive circular video walls dancing with images of the band and graffiti as the pyrotechnics lit up the sky again and again to bring an incredible night to a close.
The crowd, soggy of foot and sore of throat, applauded and cheered what was an incredible performance as the band took their bows. The rain and local train strikes could quite easily have put a dampener on things, literally, but this was a spectacle of the highest measure that embraces all your senses and delivers more than was expected from even the most loyal of fan. A fantastic night from a fantastic band.
New photos of Coldplay performing at the Stadium Of Light, Sunderland (7th June 2012):
Photos courtesy of nikkinakkinoo @ Flickr (click for more!)
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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