That’s the choice some fans might have had to make for their Saturday night in Barcelona.

Today’s venue, the Palau Sant Jordi, is right next door to the Olympic Stadium. That is the home of Andorra today, for their game with England in the 2010 Football World Cup qualifiers. The atmosphere should be amazing outside later, as fans of both events converge on this hill overlooking the city, soaked in sunshine. It will give our volunteers a whole different crowd to speak to as well. I wonder which crowd will make the most noise..

Judging that on the noise inside the Halle Tony Garnier in Lyon on Thursday, it could easily be Coldplay that wins on noise volume. It was electric in there. I was on such a high during and after that show. Easily one of, if not, the best show so far.

Read the full blog at the Oxfam Blog website here

10.28pm: And we're done. Amazing gig. Hope you enjoyed tagging along. See you next time...

Anchorman (deserves our vote!)

10.17pm: We made it just in time for the end of the B-stage bit, which is where the first pic is from. The other two are from Viva La Vida, which made 16,000 people go extremely tingly. It was quite a wrench to leave them all singing as we came back to post these. Roy Castle would be proud of us.

The key to live photography: take dozens and two or three might be half-decent

9.55pm: And here's one of Guy. Right, the B-stage section just started, we'll see if we can dash and take some pics of that.

9.46pm: Anchorman would never, not ever, claim to be a great live photographer. But these were taken during Fix You, which lifted the ceiling of the venue at least another few feet higher.

In other news, there's a HUGE thunder storm going on outside the venue.

9.27pm: The chaps are on now, and the atmosphere is amazing in there. Here's a pic of them just before they went on, with tour manager Franksy...

8.58pm: Twelve minutes until stage time...

8.51pm: You'll never guess who we just ran into...

8.26pm: We just saw Prospekt. He wrote you a note.

8.06pm: Here's a picture of Albert, doing his thing. He's getting a good reception from what's now a pretty packed venue. At least he was for the 60 seconds we watched before we whizzed back to post this picture.

7.51pm: Guy, checking his emails at the band's PAs' desks, outside the dressing room. We're off to watch a bit of Albert Hammond Jr.

7.14pm: We've just bumped into Will and Jonny in catering. They were mainly talking about the following two things:

- The new ISS Pro Evolution game for the PS3 ("Brilliant," says Will)

- Jonny's all-time Spurs XI (as he just did an interview on that subject for the official Tottenham magazine). For the record, Jonny decided to use Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne as a second striker, as he already had an embarrassment of riches in his midfield.

Oh, and we've finally realised that we've been doing this whole blog on English time. We've adjusted it to French time now.

6.55pm: There are people in the venue. And they're all sitting very calmly on the floor, chatting and listening to ambient music over the PA. It is, we'd have to say, a slightly surreal scene. And it's still over two hours until Albert Hammond Jr. Proper dedication.

6.48pm: Look who we just bumped into in the car park (the connection's gone slow again - it took 15 mins to upload this one picture. Sigh...)

6.11pm: Ooh, it sped up. Thus, here is a short, amateurish silent film designed to give you an idea of the venue.

6.01pm: You really wouldn't believe how slow this connection is...

5.12pm: The band are trying out an old song in a new style. Sounded a bit like vintage New Order from where we were standing. We were going to upload a few pics, but the internet connection here is tres, tres slow, so let's start with one for now...

4.45pm: We're in the venue and the band are just off to soundcheck. We'll report back from there soon. In the meantime, here are a few pictures.

The inner sanctum

Guy, preparing his shoes for the soundcheck

Chris models his cool new T-shirt

9.45am: Good morning. We're pleased to announce that we're heading to Lyon with Coldplay today, from where we'll be updating the site with behind-the-scenes footage throughout the afternoon and evening. So keep it locked (as they say) to Coldplay.com. Anchorman

The sound in some of these arenas is incredible. I will never get tired of hearing the crowd spontaneously chanting that ‘Viva’ chorus. The echo and the sheer number of people singing as one, is something else. Amazing. Another thing that’s amazing, is another 982 signatures in Mannheim, the first stop for Oxfam Germany. 982 people lending their voice to Oxfam campaigns. Many thousands more learning from our volunteers, about Oxfam, Coldplay’s support of Oxfam and the ways that they can support campaigns, helping to tackle poverty and injustice.

These people have power to make change happen. Imagine if EU leaders heard all those people singing along to ‘Viva La Vida’, and then the same leaders heard the same voices calling for Fair Trade policies or FOR ALL people to have access to clean water, health, education, sanitation. Every person has the power to lend their voice for positive change. Together, we are so much stronger.

Today we are in Lyon. The baton is passed back to Oxfam France agir-ici. Their volunteers will again have the chance to be the start of a movement.

Read the full blog at the Oxfam Blog website here

Monday 1st September 2008, 22:30. Zenith, Strasbourg, FR.

I just came upstairs to write a little note to the world. It’s heaving down there. Will Champion just dropped the beat for ‘Politik’. I have 1411 signatures sitting next to me. The Oxfam France agir-ici volunteers just handed them in before they went in to enjoy the show. In just 3 hours, 1411 people in Strasbourg called for Health and Education FOR ALL. That’s amazing. When the numbers are added for the whole tour, world leaders will have to take note. I’m heading back down to catch some confetti, before the volunteers come back again to get even more people signed up.

Tuesday 2nd September 2008, 14:15. SAP Arena, Mannheim, DE.

Another day, another city, another arena, another language, another Coldplay concert, and a brand new group of Oxfam volunteers. I have just had my lunch on day 3 of this European tour. Just before I go to set up the Oxfam stall, I wanted to finish off this post I started last night. I had a strange moment last night. Albert Hammond Jnr walked past me when I was brushing my teeth and said ‘hello’.. With a mouth full of Colgate and toothbrush, my reply was a muffled ‘hey’. There is the guitarist from The Strokes, walking past in his pristine cream suit, there’s me, unable to even say hello properly. It’s all about first impressions! Mind you, at least I will have minty fresh breath.

Read the full blog at the Oxfam Blog website here

Bonjour, Nazdar, Hallo, Hello’, Salve, Hola!

After a few weeks to get some sleep, rest a bit and catch up on life at home (where I lay my hat..), i’m back out on the road again with Coldplay. The crew room has a strangely orange glow. Light fittings, chairs and floor are all a matching ’Dulux’ tangerine colour. That’s in keeping with the awkward-but-stangly-interesting-tango-tent-like structure that is the Strasbourg Zenith, home of tomorrow night’s show. It sort of looks like a pile of bright orange plates.. Nothing like the sports arenas of North America. This is yet another strange and interesting place I have seen on this Oxfam/Coldplay tour. It feels very clean.

Quiet too. No voices, ringing phones, truck engines, bleeping radios, running feet, sweating or busy atmosphere that usually fills these places on show days. Not forgetting the amazing music and live shows of Coldplay and their support acts. Mind you, there are a pile of bath towels on the floor, which suggest the crew who arrived a few days ago for tech rehearsals, have been working up a sweat getting the venue ready and the stage set. Thank you to them.

Read the full entry at the Oxfamblogs website here

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 reports from last night's BBC show

Like the school summer holidays, our three weeks at home went all too fast. In many ways, starting again at the BBC is perfectly consistent with the "back to school" analogy. The BBC has that wonderful institutional feel, a similar must and polish smell and a strict adherence to regulations that is at first mildly annoying, but eventually becomes quite endearing.

We're at the BBC Radio Theatre today, in the West End, which I'd guess holds around 250 people. The stage is undoubtedly the smallest space we've tried to fit the gear into on this tour so far. There's a good deal of juggling and repositioning until it all begins to make sense.The soundcheck is a relaxed affair, with Chris dropping into Gravity (as per 24th June 2003 in the timeline) at the piano for a brief moment. Chances of this making it into the set are well below slim I'd say, as Jonny didn't even recognise it and Chris couldn't remember half the chords. I've always loved that track myself though. Easily the best song they've never released!

After the soundcheck, it's a quick run around the BBC buildings to do a couple of radio interviews. It truly is a one stop shop here at the BBC! First up is Dermot O Leary, possibly the most affably chipper man in broadcasting. Dermot goes onstage to warm up the crowd and introduce the band later this evening, so it's a nice way to hook up with him prior to the event.

Then it's on to Steve Lamacq. Once described by Mr. Buckland as "like the Yoda of radio", Steve gave the guys their first huge step up on British radio (as per 25th Feb 1999 in the timeline) with a live session before they even had a proper record deal. There's laughter aplenty, then a rather out of the blue announcement of future plans. Steve has Michael Stipe on the phone for an interview, so the fellas chat with him and talk about plans for an EP, asking him to choose a name for it. It's a multiple choice question, but he's emphatic in his view, so it looks as though he's settled the matter of what the next Coldplay release will be named (no doubt Anchorman will be making that official before very long). There was also time for Will and Jonny to check the football scores...

There is really very little point in me describing how the gig went, as it went out live to radio.

There was a particularly amusing roadie tale doing the rounds as stage-time approached this evening, though. Apparently, the lampies loaded in and started programming the previous night. Now, when pointing beams of light, it's much easier to see them if there's a bit of "fog". Apparently, Sparky (our lovely lighting man) dutifully checked that there would be no trouble with smoke detectors. After being assured that all was well, he pumped out a rather generous amount, ready to get to work. Somewhat inevitably, the BBC's smoke detectors had a major panic attack. This led to the whole building being evacuated. Apparently the BBC chaps were most apologetic to him and took the heat (probably not the best phrase under the circumstances, I agree...). They assured all concerned that their errant fire alarm system had been recalibrated and that all would be well. The fire chief was less than sure and insisted that before he leave, the smoke machines were fired up again. Needless to say, alarm bells and flashing lights ensued and all and sundry were out on the pavement once again. Apparently, the result of all this fun and games was that Radio 3 and Radio 4 ended up being off air for some time. Now if this man's smoke machine trigger-finger can bring down two national radio stations, empty an entire building and summon half the London Fire Brigade, you really do have to wonder what it was he did that earned him the nickname Sparky...

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Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 muses on the band's time in Japan

Can it really be a week since we left Japan? Worse yet, I've not yet submitted my journals from those shows. "Jetlag" sounds far more glamourous and interesting than "couldn't get off the sofa", so I'm sticking with that. Somehow though, I think we all know where the truth lies.

In a nice follow-on from the previous journal, I opened my hotel room curtains in Osaka to be greeted by a building in the distance bearing the word "Yodobashi". The very same camera shop I arrived at in Tokyo minus my credit card. Over breakfast, I enlist the permanently Leica-bearing Berryman to join me for a trip over there. I've managed to obtain cash and today there's no stopping me. We both return somewhat lighter of wallet, but laden with photographic goodies.

I'm getting ahead of myself here, though. The day prior to this shopping spree, there was the small matter of a gig in Osaka. This was a rather large outdoor festival. Now, Eastern crowds have the reputation of being extremely reserved. If you were to believe everything you hear, you'd almost expect the shows to be pin drop silence from the crowd save for a polite round of bowing before and after the set. This most certainly is not the case. They're hands-aloft, bouncing, cheering bonkers right from Life In Technicolour onwards. On previous tours, Coldplay haven't been quite as well known here as they are in other parts of the world. It's clear when Viva La Vida kicks in tonight though, that this has changed. The collective roar of recognition is overwhelming and carries on throughout the track. It's utterly unexpected and quite simply immense. This song has permeated the consciousnesses of so so many around the globe it can't help but take you a little aback. It takes us completely by surprise and all of a sudden everyone realises it's going to be one of those nights again.

The show isn't without it's imperfections, however. Tonight's B-stage section is performed way out on the edge of the stage wings, beyond the PA system and the video screens. Being as this is a huge stadium-sized stage, this puts the band almost in the car park. As Jonny later puts it: "that bit is supposed to be about getting closer to people - and we ended up being about as far away from everyone as it was possible to get".

Far more effective, is the "C-stage" acoustic section. As in Pemberton, there is a tiny platform right out in the field where the guys suddenly appear halfway through the show. There is a somewhat worrying surge from the crowd as they realise what's occurring. This itself drives the excitement level up another notch. So much for overly polite and reserved crowds!

Inevitably, Lovers In Japan is utterly mental. "Dreaming of the Osaka sun" indeed! Glorious evening!

The day of the Osaka show is tour manager Franksy's birthday. This, combined with the location, means that a karaoke night is pretty much inevitable. We meet in the hotel lobby and are driven deep into the city to a tiny club. I stay for drinks, the meal and the "Happy Birthday to youuuu....", but when the songbook starts getting passed around the table and it becomes clear that nobody present is to escape performing, I bail. I employ my now standard karaoke drill of enquiring where the toilets are and then running for dear life yelling 'Taxi!' as soon as I get around the corner.

I did catch a rather tremendous Bjork from Vicki, the band's lovely assistant. Rob from EMI also made a great Beastie Boy. I'm led to believe that other highlights included a rather stunning Michael Jackson from keyboard tech Neill Lambert - complete with dance moves, no less. Drum tech Bash Buttery gave it his best David Lee Roth with Just A Gigolo and so it went on. By this point, obviously, I was in my cab speeding towards the hotel. I have to say, it may have been worth staying just to catch security chief Kelly Samuels giving it some Stevie Wonder, but I guess I'll never know...

All this fun made for a somewhat quiet ride on the bullet train the following morning, needless to say.

At last, the final checkpoint for this leg came into view. It's a pretty big one to go out on too. The Tokyo Summersonic festival takes place in a pretty huge stadium. Indeed, it's the band's first stadium show on this campaign. As with the Osaka show, the place positively erupts at Viva La Vida. The cavernous echo of the stadium gives the crowd that "jet-engine-at-a-hundred-feet" roar that pins you to the back wall right away.

Coldplay have played stadiums before, as far back as their first record. But I've never seen anything like this before. This isn't a tiny band trying to fill a huge space. Tonight, the songs take on a scale that is truly epic and the band are every inch capable of not only riding it, but working it. Chris is clearly feeding on every crackle from the crowd. I've never seen him STRUT the way he did this evening. Even with pretty minimal production the vibe of the show builds and expands until it feels as though the stadium may no longer be able to contain it. It sounds like hyperbole and nonsense writing all this, of course, but I have to say, I've been working for the band for a long, long time now and I simply cannot remember a show this exciting. If they don't do some stadium shows of their own on this tour, I say it's a crying shame.

What else can I remember? Ah yes, there was a curious Japanese cover tune. Chris has cottoned on to a Japanese pop act who are utterly huge here. As Speed Of Sound fades, he drops into a song completely unfamiliar to all of us, but the bonkers reception from the crowd soon makes it clear that they know every note....

The B-stage section was completely canned tonight and they just ploughed through Sleep Chant and God Put a Smile on the main stage with the full drumkit. Sleep Chant is transformed. Totally muscular and swaggering with Mr Champion giving it loads up there. The new version of GPAS also kicks like a mule this way. At every turn, this gig gets better and better. Usually, I'd be reminding myself to guard against the cock-up fairy, who tends to visit when you're most pleased with how things are going. There's so much momentum and power tonight though, that it truly feels like the gig would be impossible to de-rail. You get the impression that the guys are on such a roll that the PA system could fail, the lights could go dead and they'd still carry on, just them and the crowd, too caught up in the moment to notice anything had changed.

Following another jaunt into the center of the crowd for the acoustic section, the encores begin. Rather than coasting gently to a finish, the ante is upped as Chris introduces Ms Alicia Keys, who joins them for Clocks. She's sat at the piano next to Chris, who alternates between singing, duetting on the ivories and cooling Ms Keys with a fan that's been thrown on stage.

By the time Death and All His Friends draws to a close, it's been a monstrous show. What a way to round out this leg. Japan had been fixed, in my mind at least, as a couple of shows to tick off before home. It's turned out to be one of the very high points so far - on a tour that's had more than it's fair share of great shows.

It's been the perfect way to bookend the beginning of the tour. Without a doubt, it feels like we've climbed a mountain - and the view from that last show was breathtaking. Now it's time to head home for a glorious three weeks of resting aching bones, soothing frazzled minds and catching up on six months of fractured sleep.

Talking of which, I have a sofa to attend to....

See you all again very soon.

R42

Discuss the latest blog entry here

Great news for Oxfam, and Coldplay fans everywhere! Well.. mainly great news for fans who live in Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, or Atlanta.

The band have added 4 dates to the second leg of the Viva tour in North America. The USA is getting it’s fair share of those lovely boys from England. If you missed it, there has also been a date added in Dublin, Ireland, in December.. Loads more opportunities for Oxfam to talk to the fans, and a second shot for me, at seeing more or Washington (I spent most of the day inside the venue last time..) Only this time there will be lots of ghouls and goblins wandering about (as that concert’s on Halloween).

After their quick trip to Japan, both band and crew are on a quick break from touring at the moment. Looks like we are going to need it. Oxfam is busily preparing to hit the road again.

More on the Oxfam blogs here

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 reports from Japan

I have to wonder whether it's called "the land of the rising sun" due to most visitors spending their first jetlagged days waking at 5am. Indeed, it was apparently a skewed body clock that had Chris walking round an Osaka park at sunrise when he began writing Lovers In Japan. It's cheesy and obvious, but it's impossible to wander the humid streets and not have the tune as a mental soundtrack.

Humid, now there's a thing. It's hot here. Not the ant-under-a-magnifying-glass hot of desert festivals like Coachella or Austin City Limits, but a special kind of oppressive clammy heat that the East specializes in. Walking out of the air conditioned oasis of the hotel converts you from a smartly dressed tourist to a wrung-out-damp-cloth in under a minute.

The locals of course, take it all in their stride. They are slender and superlatively healthy. Us? We simply gasp for shade and pour bottles of water down our necks as fast as we can find vending machines to provide them. Besides the heat, I always forget how fragrant Japan can be. Even in the hyper-dense city, tiny well-tended gardens are everywhere - most pleasant.

Before soundman Dan Green and I head for the Bullet Train for the Summersonic Festival in Osaka, I dive out for a little shopping. I congratulate myself on negotiating the subway alone only to find upon arrival at Yodobashi (camera and general gadget mecca) that I've left my credit card in the ATM near the hotel. In all honesty, it's probably for the best, as whoever finds it wont spend nearly as much as I would have....

Discuss the latest blog entry here

The quiet hum of a computer. The muffled bleep of a printer. The distant mingled voices of the office. Grey clouds outside and the smell of freshly brewed tea. It’s all very different sights, sounds and smells to life on the road. No radios, no lines of cables on the floor, no waiting crowds filling arenas..

Most of the crew, myself included, have returned home after the first leg of the tour. Only a select few crew members have travelled on with Coldplay to Japan, for the two dates at Summer Sonic Festival. If you happen to be at the festival, why not check out Oxfam Japan, after catching the headline set..

It’s time to re-charge batteries (and not just those belonging to the radio sets). I’m exhausted. My eyes feel like crutons. It’s past home-time in the office, but it feels like lunch-time. From what I hear, we are all going to need our rest. Europe is going to be intense. From Spain to Germany, Coldplay are popular, wherever they go. Oxfam will be there all the way.

Read the full blog entry at the Oxfamblogs website here

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 sends Pemberton video footage...

Greetings from the East. Whilst we adjust to the jetlag and the culture shock, here's a little home movie from that festival in the mountains we did a little while back. R42

Discuss the latest blog and watch the video again here [thanks melanieau]

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: In which #42 runs into Barack Obama

After spending the day off in New York, the Hartford show is close enough to drive to. Everyone climbs into a couple of vans outside the hotel and we head off. It's been a fair old while since the days when the band traveled to every gig by van. The nostalgia for the van days steps up a notch when they pull off the freeway after 90 minutes for a break. 'Motorway services are as integral a part of any band's early touring experience as hangovers, smelly socks and lost sleep.

Everyone piles out into the sunshine. Ice creams are purchased and grimy vending machine coffee plops its way into paper cups. It could be any band heading to play a divey club anywhere in the world. Except, of course, it's Coldplay and they're heading to Hartford, Connecticut to play a sold out arena...

The Production Office is the warm beating heart of the crew's world in the venue. Not only do Fin and Marguerite have all the answers, but there's wi-fi here. This means everyone passes through for email and a catch up at some point in the day. In the hour I spend in Production today, a constant stream of crew saying, "Have you seen the opening act? She's amazing". Now all of the local opening acts have been good, but it's unusual to get such unanimous glowing praise from roadies. I understand her name was Amanda Kaletsky. Given that roadies are notoriously tough to impress, I guess I'd better check her out. Maybe you should too...

After the acoustic section of the show, I'm standing in the dock behind the stage waiting for the band to get back from way up in the back of the arena to do the encore. Obviously, night to night, the route varies from a simple jog around, to a convoluted route through the bowels of the building. Judging by the look of Jonny when he makes his way around the side of the nearest truck, I'd say tonight has been quite a trek. I'm not sure whether the word 'knackered' translates into other languages really.....

Next up, Washington DC. The guys play very well tonight. After the chaotic start to the tour, things are really beginning to settle in now, which is a most welcome feeling. It's a nice sweet spot between the confusion of constant change and the boredom of repetition. The band are relaxing into the set now, which gives it a very solid and powerful feel. I guess they can finally stop thinking about "what happens next" and finally get on with just playing music. Will in particular turns in a powerful performance this evening. Whether or not this has anything to do with the fact that his pal Taylor Hawkins is in the crowd, nobody is sure. Either way, it feels as though everyone (I'm talking crew as much as band here) is starting to really nail it now - two shows before we go home for a break! Not to worry, there's probably another hundred or so to go...

I believe I touched upon the concept of the "runner" in an earlier blog. Essentially, in order to avoid getting stuck in the heavy traffic of an arena emptying, the band dive straight off stage into waiting vehicles. They are then sped off into the distance before the house lights have even come on and the punters have even got their coats on. Often, there is a police escort, which adds nicely to the drama. Tonight's runner is pretty impressive, it has to be said. There's not only flashing lights aplenty, but as we whizz dart-like down the avenue, each junction has a police car holding the traffic so we can jump every set of lights with ease. It's only when we turn the corner and start to see the sights that it becomes apparent why things are so slick this evening. We slide past the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial as we head out towards the airport. This is DC and these guys are plainly used to escorting foreign dignitaries and many other of the world's most powerful men into the White House. Running a few Brits to the airport after a pop concert must be a decidedly small-fry way to spend the night for them.

Notwithstanding, tour manager Franksy still wants more. "Can we keep nice and tight together and don't let the speed drop please," comes his voice on the radio from the car in front. We accelerate up the freeway to a pace that would give OJ Simpson the sweats and there's a questioning reply, "What's the problem? Traffic ahead?". "No," comes the dry-as-a-bone response. "The pizzas have just arrived on the plane and I don't want them going cold". And with that, Washington slips away behind us.

Somewhat bizarrely, the White House theme continues the next day, as we land in Boston beside Barack Obama's plane. He's whisked away before we have a chance to wish him a happy birthday or offer to stick him on the guest list. We're then caught in the exact opposite side of our journey last night. That is, we're being blocked at a junction by police cars holding traffic for Mr. Obama's motorcade. "You might be a big fish, in a little pond.... but along may come, a bigger one..." I believe the song (kind of) goes.

The last day of any tour leg always has a slight feel of "the end of term" (that's "semester" to the rest of you). Everyone is looking forward to some time off, but at the same time, everyone is going to miss seeing their friends every day. We've still got Japan to do before we collectively put our keys in our front doors, but after the immense mountain-climb of work that's gone into getting the show up on its feet and fighting fit, it finally feels like we're getting a chance to catch breath.

There was a show tonight, of course and inevitably, the fellas shoulder-charge into it with nothing held back. With no gigs until the end of the week, they don't need to worry about pacing themselves, they can truly let rip. The crowd do the same, giving it plenty throughout. As the butterfly confetti settles and the encore finishes, it's time to say "see ya later" to the states and "konichiwa" to Japan. I'll see you jet-lagged and disorientated in a few days.

R42

Discuss the latest blog here [thanks melanieau]

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 reports from Canada

So that's Canada done for a little while, eh? This time out, a good proportion of the crew are Canadians, so Chris's claim from the stage that it's a "home from home" have an extra resonance. As soon as Life In Technicolor hits in Montreal, I'm suddenly reminded about this place. Nobody knows whether it's the crowd or the acoustics, but the cheering is absolutely deafening throughout, which can't help but lift the show to new heights.

There's a mix up over the piano early on in the set and nobody can work out if it's actually broken. We've carried a spare piano for about five years now and never had to switch them out mid-show. I've always wondered if it would even be possible - after all, it's not like strapping on a new guitar if there's a broken string...

My question is answered when I get around the curtain behind the stage. There is a huge crowd of riggers, carpenters and other assorted roadies huddled at the bottom of the stairs around the spare piano. Many of them are in bodybuilder poses in readiness for the dead-lift ahead. As soon as the lights fade up on the B-stage, there is an ant-like frenzy of activity as the switch takes place. It's a glorious group effort and a truly textbook manoeuvre. I can't help but ask Chris what the trouble was as we head back to the hotel later. Was the damper pedal stuck? Had one of the hammers broken? No, he explains somewhat sheepishly. "I thought we were doing a different song and I panicked". Classic! Well at least we've had a good drill and we know we can do it!

Toronto will always be a special show for Coldplay. They chose to film here last time for a reason and we're reminded all over again why that was. It's also a glorious two shows in a row here which, for the crew means that the first night is a "walk away". For those not familiar with roadie parlance, this means no load-out! Not only that, but there is a party down the road and tour manager Franksy is buying.

It's pretty much the first time we've had the band and crew in one place at one time on this tour and there is plenty of back slapping, hugging and not a little drinking. Unsurprisingly, most people gravitate to the quietest, lowest profile part of the club and pretty soon we're all in the basement. The DJ puts on a dance remix of Viva and there is a collective whince. When it finally fades, it's replaced with Kanye West's Homecoming. I turn and see Chris with his head in his hands from embarrassment and Will shaking his head. Soon, normal service is resumed, with the speakers booming Franksy's voice. He announces that it's time to celebrate Mr Champion's birthday. A cake arrives, the song is sung and glasses are raised. Franksy gives thanks on Will's behalf and then explains there will be no speeches. I expect he may have even had a drink or two on Will's behalf. Always going the extra mile...

The second Air Canada Center crowd is even louder than the first, giving way to discussion that they may have been louder even than Montreal - a feat previously thought impossible. Just as well that they're in good voice, as they are invited to give Will his second song of the day. What better way to turn 30 than in front of a bunch of rowdy Canadians?

The ending of Speed Of Sound gets extended and in the darkness, Chris's piano carries on. Slowly, it becomes apparent that he's picking out another tune. The crowd roars as he begins to sing and people realise it's an impromptu rendition of The Hardest Part. Will chimes in with a harmony and they gently pull out a rather wonderful version of the song completely from nowhere. I've always loved it when the fellas go off the set-list and I'm really pleased that it's happening a lot on this tour. I'm reminded of the Rush Of Blood tour, when I first heard Moses long after the house lights had gone back up, people were leaving and the guitars were back in their cases. It's great to see them relaxed enough to play with things this early in the tour. There's a minor technical glitch though, which breaks the spell and the bubble bursts, the moment gone forever.

Or at least until the encore... Politik ends and the same "piano in the darkness" emerges. The guys reprise The Hardest Part giving it a dignified finish to insane applause. Nice recovery!

With the show complete, the vans pull up at the plane and it's been turned into a full-on party-tube. Our very own air traffic controller Janice (with help from trainer Dan) has decorated the place with balloons, streamers, banners and some rather funky disco balls. By the time we sing the third and final Happy Birthday of the day, it may well be far enough past midnight that it's not actually strictly accurate. Either way, it's an event well celebrated. Cheers Mr. C!

Discuss the latest blog here [thanks Lore]

The walls are shaking. The crew are checking the huge sound system. Both band and crew, are back in the USA. Canada behind us, until we roll into Ottawa, next time we cross the pond. A very sleepy crew left Toronto after 3 consecurive show days. We made the (slightly) bonkers border crossing back South.. (all off the buses at 4.30am, only to be sent back to our buses without checking out passports).

Oxfam America volunteers will be here in an hour. All geared up and ready to ask this Connecticut crowd to join Coldplay’s support of Oxfam. It’s a crazy world that gives millions of people less than $1 each for a hard day’s work. The same world that sells bottled water for $5 at a festival.. when billions don’t have access to clean water. Something is not right. Oxfam knows that. Coldplay have shown their support for Oxfam for years.

Read the full blog entry at the Oxfamblogs website here

It’s the end of the road in Toronto. We will soon cross the border back into the United States of America.

I’m in the production office, post-shower. I’ve packed the Oxfam road case. I’ve seen off the awesome Oxfam Canada volunteering team. Another 1615 signatures for the FOR ALL campaign. Signed. Sealed. Delivered.. (or something like that).

I took my shower in the dressing room (after the band had left). Paper butterflies still littered the floor. There are not many better feelings than a hot shower after a long day at the ‘office’. The Toronto crowd were treated to an unscheduled version of ‘The Hardest Part’ tonight. It sounded like a great show.

Read the full blog entry at the Oxfamblogs website here

Santogold just warmed up in a huddle to my left. Black hats, white shirts, balck ’pants’, white ’sneakers’ and sunglasses. The lights are bright out there you know.. They just took the stage, with a roar rippling through the excited crowd. Sirens ring around. There goes the beat. There’s the bass.

Backstage always sounds like a glamorous place.. all couches, plants.. etc. This is just where we work. I’m sat by a concrete wall. Surrounded by road cases. Roadies and crew are perched on cases with laptops, catching up with the world. Radios are being charged. It’s true though that some unusual things happen. Earlier on, two huge bundles of helium balloons went past me.. I think it must be someone’s birthday… Should make for a good show tonight.

Read the full blog entry at the Oxfamblogs website here

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 becomes a mountain person

We arrive in Whistler pretty dazed and confused. The travel has been fairly brutal once again - but hey,nobody said it was easy...

All I knew about this in advance was that it's a festival. I think I vaguely got the idea that there would be some trees. But the van ride from the airport to Whistler lays it all out before us in glorious technicolour. Mountains, lakes, glacial streams, it's all here. The road hairpins its way around the mountains revealing another breathtaking vista with every turn.

By the time we reach the hotel, pretty much the entire crew have decided that they're going to knock touring on the head and retire here to write their memoirs. OK, maybe that's just me, but it's pretty much as gorgeous as planet earth gets here, so suddenly the sleep deprivation seems a little more worthwhile.

The fact that the hotel itself is an out of season ski-lodge can't help but bring to mind 'The Shining'. This doesn't improve when I meet Production Assistant Marguerite in the lobby at 3am for the load-in. She tells me there is only one road in and out, which has been closed due to an accident. I decide to go back to bed, but the first sign of a little bloke on a trike shouting "Red rum" and I'm off.

Cutting to the show itself, I can't not mention standing at the side of the stage to watch Jay-Z's set. Not only is he more than able to blow a crowd away, but the punters are right up for it. As for his band - well any tighter and they'd have imploded. He "bigs up" our boys generously before he leaves and walks away from a job well done - not to mention leaving the bar set rather high.

Never ones to shy away from a challenge, our fellas throw themselves into it with abandon. It's one of those size crowds where you start to wonder whether the people at the back can see for the curvature of the earth, but they're clearly trying to project right to the very back. As they steam into In My Place, every part of Will's drumkit is bouncing,rocking and swinging in an almost cartoon-like slo-mo explosion. It looks like he's literally trying to break his kit to pieces - and may well succeed!

Inevitably, the hits get the rowdiest response. Festivals are ever thus. It's telling, though, that despite the prospect of utterly horrendous traffic and the temptation of leaving early, the crowd hardly dwindles until the outro is run. It's been the first run for the Pemberton festival, as well as the first festival show for us on this tour. I reckon we all did pretty damn well.

Discuss the latest blog here [thanks mimixxx]

The singing was ringing in my ears as I packed up and took a shower last night. Chris Martin had told the crowd the rules of the encore: that they had to make lots of noise, if they wanted the band to come out again. That was before they played the last song of the set.. then, even with a mic, you couldn’t hear him speak to introduce it.

Montreal was an amazing show. The crowd in full voice from start to end. Coldplay couldn’t help but play a second encore. There’s a lesson in making some noise for one more song. 1887 strong of that same crowd signed Oxfam Quebec's FOR ALL petition. Exigez l’accès de tous aux services publics en signant la déclaration Pour tous!

Read the full blog entry at the oxfamblogs website here

Ole, Ole Ole Ole .. Cold-play Coldplay! (repeat many times).

There’s nothing like a festival crowd. Squished in tight for the best spot. For some that’s right by the speaker, on your friends shoulders, by the fence, or it might be at the back.. where there’s room to dance. For everyone, it’s on the grass/mud/dust/hay, or whatever else is underfoot. It was dust at the first ever Pemberton Festival.

For most, the best spot was as close to the stage as possible, when the night reached Coldplay time. Some of those at the back got a surprise front spot when the band played two songs by in the middle of the crowd. Festival crowds are so close, you can feel the heat, just standing. And when the roar goes up for the return of Coldplay to Canada, 5 weeks at number 1 here, you can almost hear it.. the heat i mean.

Read the full blog entry at the oxfamblogs website here

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 sends pictures from Philly

We're in the mountains doing a festival right now.

In the meantime, here are some photos from during Yellow the other night.

R#42

Canada and the Rocky Mountains.. the latest destination of the Coldplay Tour. It’s the day of their headline slot at the Pemberton Festival, which will also see Jay-Z perform before the London boys take to the main stage. Quite an impressive pair of headliners. Surely rumours of a collaboration will circulate the site. We shall wait and see.

Philadelphia Wachovia Center was the last to play host to Coldplay’s sold out show. A night to remember for thousands more fans before the tour headed for it’s 4 dates in Canada. A few of those fans being dedicated enough to show their appreciation by handing out ‘Viva La Coldplay’ and ‘USA Still Loves Coldplay’ signs to the audience. This was the idea of www.coldplaying.com to follow in the footsteps of a previous stunt at the end of the Twisted Logic tour. These dedicated fans also kindly gave their time to hand out Oxfam postcards to raise awareness. The message being a joint one, of appreciation for a great band, and that together, we can change the world.

Read the full blog entry at the Oxfamblogs website here

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 reports from Philly

I only realise that today is a Friday when I head out of the venue in the afternoon and see the first of the 'tailgaters' setting up in the parking lot. This is something that doesn't seem to happen in Europe - maybe it's the weather. For the uninitiated, what happens is that folks arrive way early for the show and have a barbeque / picnic / party out of the backs of their cars - all getting into the spirit of things with music blaring from the car stereo. This should mean that by the time the band are on, they'll be on fine fine form.

And indeed they are!

When the guys got to the end of the first attempt at The Scientist in the acoustic section a few days agoin Chicago, Chris claimed it was the first time they'd ever tried playing it that way "and would very likely be the last". Seems that perseverance has paid off!!

There's another "mad-dash-extra-encore" tonight. This time, Green Eyes followed by The Dubliners. Tonight, The Dubliners is shortened to a whip-fast super-compact length and is all the better for it. It's a nice mad blast that's over in a blink. It makes the perfect blow out to close proceedings and the fellas wave their goodbyes and are gone.

Me, I'm back with the crew for a few days, as we head off for the Pemberton festival. It seems somehow fitting. I turned 30 leaving this venue in the back of a tourbus some years ago. My wonderful friends (the same ones I'm travellingwith this evening) converted the back lounge of the bus into a most excellent Hawaiian bar. I still have the fantastically tasteless shirt somewhere. The Margarita hangover, thankfully is some way behind me. I can't vouch for how the day off tomorrow is going to turn out, however...

You can discuss this entry here [thanks Carlaatje]

Check out coldplay.com for a new newsreel entry: Fortis est veritas ("truth is strong")

Good afternoon. It has been brought to our attention that the Wikipedia article on hard-living rock combo Coldplay is not as accurate as it could be. For starters, it was Mr Tim Crompton who first suggested the name Coldplay, not Mr Tim Rice-Oxley.

Also, the song featuring Miss Kylie Minogue is called Lhuna, not Lunar, and is not confirmed to be on the band's next album. Furthermore, eagled-eyed readers of the band's album sleevenotes (or, indeed, their MySpace page) will have noted that Coldplay officially have five members - with the mysterious Mr Phil Harvey making up the quintet. The band would, we're told, be enormously grateful if these inaccuracies could be corrected, so that they don't keep having to answer questions about them.

Anchorman

You can discuss this entry here [thanks Jpw48]

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 tells of unexpected encores in Chicago...

So today we exchange the sun-drenched palms of Western California for the 'Windy City' of Chicago. It's a rudely early awakening for the flight - made no better by the fact that I didn't really start packing until about 2am. We get to the plane and the luggage van looks like an explosion in a childcare store.

You can't help but wonder whether the huge burst of bright colour and 'home-made' artwork that have come along with this record are a result of all the new Coldplay young'uns. I remember Will telling me that in the very early days, they used to sell 'Official Coldplay Baby-Grows' on the t-shirt stand. I wonder if they're thinking of starting again?

The show today sees the band's old mate Mat Whitecross on site with a full crew to capture the show for posterity. For those of you wondering where he fits into the picture, take a look on the timeline in September 1999. Funny to watch that back and realise that plans changing at the very last minute isn't exactly a new thing in the world of Coldplay! Currently, the setlist is receiving the force of the band's tweaking spanner. Every time it changes, the entire crew need to know about it. To this end, production assistant Marguerite prints a heap of setlists and puts them in a folder on the Production Office door, Every time there is a change, the old pile goes in the recycle bin and a new bunch get printed. I can't help but laugh when I realise there's been so many versions, that the latest pile has been placed directly on top of the recycling bin ready for the inevitable. Such faith!

To be honest, I'm all for it. When the shows become too set in stone boredom can creep in pretty quickly. Consequently, I'm utterly delighted when tonight, there is a completely unexpected second encore. The show ends as normal and I realise that I don't know if the band are doing a 'runner' (ie getting straight in vans to the hotel and screeching off before the traffic traps them). If they are, I need to be with them, to avoid being left behind. I'm assured though, that Jonny and Guy have left, but everyone else is hanging around for a while. I go back to my world under the stage to grab my things and drum-tech Bash tells me they're going back on. "They can't be, - Guy and Jonny have gone". He points to the stage, where true enough, Will and Chris are climbing back up the steps.

The crowd goes understandably bonkers as the stripped down band try to work out what to do. They settle on Green Eyes - Will on piano and Chris on acoustic. It's funny watching them, thinking that the two of them started off busking together in Covent Garden ten years ago and (literally) couldn't get arrested. All these years on and all these miles from home, here they are in front of this huge crowd who know every word. Funny how it works out, eh?

Day two in Chicago sees more filming with Mat. Soundcheck is a perfect time for the cameras to get in close, without being all over the stage and in people's way during the show. The guys bound through Lost! a few times. I have to admit, they do well summoning the enthusiasm, given that last night's screaming crowd of sixteen thousand has been replaced by about 50 hungover roadies and a bunch of cameras. The soundcheck then opens its doors to a bunch of competition winners who get treated to an impromptu Warning Sign along with a totally unexpected track from the album sessions that I've never even heard them play before - I couldn't even tell you what it was called! Talk about exclusive...

As showtime approaches, Arlene, the band's lovely management assistant asks me if I want to 'do some tickets'. I often don't understand what she's talking about - she's Scottish, so it's to be expected. She explains though, that the front five rows of seats are never sold. These tickets are purposely held by the band to give to fans from the very back of the arena who will appreciate them to the full. What a fabulously mad idea!

I decide to take the stairs way, way up to the "nosebleeds" in the third tier, where I'll distribute my fistful of tickets. The first thing I feel is vertigo. You wouldn't want to lose your balance up here! I start explaining to a few folks what I'm up to and at first they simply don't believe me. Especially as I have to exchange their tickets to avoid them simply heading outside to sell these prized seats. Eventually, once I convince them, they go properly bananas, skipping off high fiving and hugging. Word gets round and suddenly I'm swamped. There's a crowd gathering and I only have three tickets. Everyone is in fours or twos. I can't leave empty spaces down in the front rows. Suddenly it's not quite as fun, but suddenly, someone makes a new friend and a group of three claim the tickets.

I see the front rows filling up as I'm setting up one of Guy's cameras at the front of the stage. I can see five rows of people who can't believe their luck, turning round and pointing at seats way up high in the back where they used to be. They're having a great night and the intro tape hasn't even started yet...

Tonight sees another unexpected encore. They go back to a track that I believe was called The Dubliners. I guess there's a pretty strong Irish community in Chicago, so the country tinged folk-stomp goes down a storm. Tonight is a "runner" so once I see that the song is going well, I head for the vans. It seems I'm a little early though. Apparently, they did Green Eyes as well, this time with Jonny, too. Eventually, they dive into the cars and the police sirens start for the escort. Nobody can work out whether soundman Dan Green is stuck in the crowd trying to get out, or if nobody told him it was a runner tonight. Either way, the police escort is screaming up the ramp and our van has to follow. Still, it's a day off next, so he has got 24 hours to find his way to the hotel....

Discuss this blog entry here [thanks Suzana Fong]

Those are the lyrics I just heard Chris Martin sing from the United Center stage on the second night of their stop in Chicago. They are on stage right now.

Just before I came in to write, they played ‘Yellow’ to a rapturous reception, literally lighting up the arena with that song, both in colour and voice. Oxfam had a massive 1143 great Chicagoans signed up last night, and it looks like a similar amount again tonight. The audiences seem really keen to find out more. The energy of the volunteers has been great! They are all in there enjoying the show right now. Gives me a chance to scribble a bit on these keys.

As soon as the show is done, it’s off to Philadelphia (download your batch of Philly signs here!). 12 hours on the tour bus…! It will be a good chance for a nice long snooze. Oh, there go the band, running down the corridor for the encore. Right, i’m off to check on the tables and try to catch the last song...

Source: oxfamblogs.org/coldplay