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I've never not had a great time in Dublin. Pardon the double negative, but it's absolutely true. I worry sometimes that it may get tiresome for you the reader, to continually be told what a belting crowd it's been, but it's been a tour so absolutely rammed with highlights that it has become unavoidable.

I travel alone from Manchester to Dublin and arrive at the show site quite late in the day. Wandering into the backstage compound, I pass the buses and note that one appears to be entirely dedicated to "Stage Truck". Many of the drives on this leg have been so long that they have required "double drivers" that tag team through the hours. It appears we have an entire tourbus for the "extra" truck drivers. Yet another small indicator that things have grown to a rather huge scale.

It's an open field site and a little overcast and dull, which doesn't inspire any great excitement. The realisation that it's going to be a great night only hits me when White Lies go on stage. Despite the fact that I'm in the management office about a quarter mile from the front row of the audience, the roar is huge and overwhelming.

At this moment it all comes flooding back to me. I've been coming to Dublin with bands now for 15 years. I remember having my photo taken on the stage at the Olympia Theatre, looking out into the empty stalls. It seemed so cavernously huge back then. More than that though, every show blew me right away because the audience response was so intense.

It was the first experience I had with crowds that have absolutely no inhibitions when it comes to enjoying themselves. Obviously, it's evident in other parts of the world that I've visited since. South America springs to mind, as do Italy and Glasgow for that matter. I could go on naming nations and cities all night - and doubtless I'd upset plenty of folks by inevitably missing out some of the most passionate.

The point is that I'd forgotten the Dublin vibe. As Chris introduces the final encore with "We have two more songs for you. We're going to do Where The Streets Have No Name and With Or Without You," Phil Harvey turns to me and says, "This might just be the best crowd we've ever played to.

As I say, that's a phrase that has been heard on more than one occasion this tour, but only because the reactions have been so astonishing. Not only is Phil not particularly given to grand declarations like this, but he's also seen a massive number of Coldplay shows. This means he has every chance of being right.

The encores end and I poke my head up from under the stage. I look out over the crowd for one quick moment before we do the runner. They're bathed in yellow floodlight and from the lip of the stage right to the horizon, there's folks on each other's shoulders, arms in the air. Front to back, side to side, every single person in this huge mass of humanity looks like it's a cup final and a lottery win all rolled into one. It's an image I expect I'll carry with me to my grave.

Another image entirely is one from the police escort out of the show. The four bikes that whisk us through the city are pretty much the most keen we've ever had. Upon arrival at the airport, the route to the plane is somewhat convoluted and for some reason requires us to double back through the forecourt of a petrol station.

There's a fella round the back of the petrol station diving behind a skip as the flashing blue lights and blacked out vans roar past him. The fact that he's in a great hurry to hide himself away looks very suspicious. As we round the corner, leaving him in the rear view mirror, he stands up adjusting his fly and all becomes clear.

The poor fella had nipped round the back for a leak only to be disturbed by a screaming fleet of police bikes and blacked out vans. I expect he'll be returning home a bit of a mess with a story that the missus won't ever believe...

R#42

It is now. For Manchester at least. The VIVA tour is not quite done yet.. 4 shows to go. 3 Countries. 2 national stadiums. 1 week. The bands have left. The crowds have dispersed from the pitch. The trucks have started their engines, and the Oxfam road case, has been loaded on it’s way to Dublin.

Coldplay. Jay-Z. White Lies. Blackmanalishi. Tone-Acity. ortoPilot. That was the line-up for today’s concert in Manchester. The last three of those played on a slightly smaller stage to the one graced by the ‘best rapper alive’.

All of our OXJAM buskers did a great job today. They were out in front of the grand pavillion of this famous cricket ground, lightening the mood of hundreds of fans waiting for food, drink and toilets. The crowds steadily grew, and more people enjoyed the early entertainment, before heading onto the turf, for the headline set.

Oxfam GB is here, promoting OXJAM. It’s a month-long music festival. It starts in October this year, and will begin with 4 thrilling nights of music at the OXJAM launch events in an Oxfam shop. Oxfam supporters Editors, Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx, VV Brown and other’s will be there. Oxjam’s North West team was here tonight promoting their own flagship event in Manchester, the ‘Oxjam Take Over’. Concerts will take place across the city, all in aid of Oxjam. I’m sure there will be something for anyone’s taste, so get yourself down there.

Your Music. Changing the world. Oxjam is for you, music lovers, everywhere. It’s a huge music festival, with literally thousands of events, bringing people together, through their shared love of music, raising money towards ending poverty. Don’t just care about the world. Change it. Oxjam gives you the chance to put on your own event, with your friends, raising money, to enable more people the have safe water, and for children to learn, and for farmers to adapt to climate change. You can help thousands of people, all over the world, to have a better, more secure future. Sign up now at.. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam

Today, Oxjam got off the mark, took the first wicket, made the first noise, of this years festival. It was a huge venue this time, and a modest setting under Oxfam’s little tent. Blackmanalishi, huge supporters of Oxjam, strummed and sang their tunes, as Oxjam got moving. Later, UK champion barbershop quartet Tone-Acity brought some beautiful harmony, and later ortoPilot got the waiting crowd singing and dancing with some classic covers including Coldplay, Oasis, Amy Winehouse, Gnarls Barkley and Ocean Colour Scene. It was a great variety, showcasing what Oxjam is all about. It can be the smallest, or the biggest venue. The rarest tunes, or the classic sing-along’s, a busk or a big band. From folk, to funk, to punk.. Absolutely anything goes. It’s up to you.

All our buskers kindly gave their time, and all money raised will go towards Oxfam’s work. Our volunteers also gave their time, and signed up fans to be event organisers themselves, and to help out at shows, or just to find out more, and go along to a concert. What will you do?

I was there when Coldplay rushed off the stage and back onto the road. Jay-Z was clearly happy to be a part of the show tonight, delivering a fantastic set. He’s one of those performers who can whip up a crowd and have them in the palm of his hand. I’ve been excited about his show all along, and from what I saw, I wasn’t disappointed. I look forward to seeing some more in Glasgow and London. White Lies are well in the groove now. One of the fastest growing reputations around will have been boosted again playing to another huge audience. 50’000 were here tonight. I looked out from the pavillion balcony at one point.. A sea of people swaying in time. Amazing.

The show can only get better with the addition of Elbow in Dublin. I really can’t wait for that. Two nights ago, the Oxfam Novib caravan made it’s last stop on this tour, with a beautiful evening in Nijmegen. Volunteers dressed as teachers, to highlight the campaign for health and education for all, were busy across the site. They asked fans to make a promise and lend a hand. Fans promised and stuck to their word, and held up hundreds of green hands during Yellow to show their support. It was quite a sight, and another great night for Oxfam. Over 2400 people signed up in Holland.

These fields are jam packed with people who can be involved with Oxfam’s work. Put on music events. Raise money. Join campaigns. Take actions. Why not have a go at an Oxjam gig yourself? Make Music - Raise Money - End Poverty. I’m off to my bunk, see you in Dublin.. Pete

Read more blogs online here at the Oxfam Blog website now.

Vote for Jenny and win £500 prize pot for the Coldplaying Awards 2009!

The forthcoming Coldplaying Awards 2009 just got a little tastier! Our admin person Jenjie has just submitted a personal entry into the Absolute Radio Live Stories mini-competition that closes on Friday 25th September at 5pm. Here's the interesting part - if Jenjie (Jenny) comes FIRST in the online voting competition, all winners of the Coldplaying Awards 2009 categories will go into a prize draw to win a share of £500! Five lucky category winners drawn out at random will each win £100 - but once again... ONLY if Jenjie wins the Absolute competition!

VOTE FOR "JENNY: COLDPLAY" - http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/music/live/stories/voting_new.html

Photos of Coldplay at LCCC, Old Trafford, Manchester (12 September 2009):

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So here we are in Manchester. I live here (well, it's where the suitcase gets unpacked, anyway). It's famous for many things, not least some of the finest bands of all time. It's also well known in the UK for often being somewhat damp. Today though, there literally is not a cloud in the sky. The white covering they've used on the cricket pitch is also bouncing the sunlight back up into people's faces to such a degree that everyone is positively squinting as they work today - which makes a nice change from moaning about the rain...

The tour offices here are located in the structure that houses the VIP boxes when the venue is carrying out its day job as Lancashire County Cricket Ground (and not galavanting with pop groups on the weekend). This means that a quick slide of the glass doors means we can spend the afternoon on the balcony with the laptop watching the day unfold.

I've mentioned before that the touring crew now has a pretty high proportion of Americans and Canadians, which means that whilst for many of us we're finally on home turf, there are a lot of folks still a very long way away from home.

This is borne out by a conversation overheard in the dressing room corridor where someone remarks that they couldn't make head nor tail of the Manchester accent and had spent the day asking people to repeat themselves. Given that the next two shows are in Dublin and Glasgow, I don't much fancy their chances for things improving...

Chris makes mention during the show that there was a little trepidation about returning home to the UK after so long away. I remember coming back before Christmas last year and it was certainly a bit of a strange experience.

Tonight though, when In My Place kicks in and the stadium is flooded with light, the welcome is ecstatic. For a long time now, Chris has introduced the closing sing-a-long section of Yellow to the audience as "your X-Factor audition". It's a logical extension then, to find Simon Cowell aboard and in full effect. I'll not ruin the gag for the shows still to come. Hard but fair is all I'm saying...

Tonight, there's a camera for the video screens way out in the crowd, dead centre. I decide it's a good spot to clamp up a couple of cameras myself (spotted!) and let them run through the show. I go out during the C-stage section to check on them.

I've always enjoyed being in amongst the crowd as the band step off the stage after Lost. Some people think it's the end of the show and bail for the car park to miss the traffic (and the last EIGHT songs!), mostly though the response at this point is just confusion that's .

People aren't sure what's going on and then gradually, they pick out the spotlight that's following the fellas through the crowd and out to the tiny platform right in the midst of the cheap seats. Tonight, I hear my all-time favourite quote from someone next to me who clearly hasn't quite sussed that the band are behind them. They look at the video screens in front of them, as the band get their acoustics on and get started at the other end of the stadium.

"Where did the stage go?" they ask. Genius.

I make it to my cameras on the tiny little platform in the middle of the crowd just as everyone realises where the band actually are. I look over my shoulder and see the crowd sweep across the floor towards the C-stage. For a moment I'm utterly convinced that I'm not going to make it back to the main stage in time for the encores.

I'm too far from the C-stage to run back with the band and there's a crush of about three or four thousand folks trying to get a better view if I go the other way. Still, at least I'm on home turf, so I do have the advantage that they can all understand my bumbling-Englishman-apologising routine. A thousand "excuse me, terribly sorry"s later and I'm back onstage ready for the band to do the encores.

I glance over my shoulder and see that I've beaten them to it. The Viva remix is almost running out and they drag themselves onstage with just enough time to pull on a clean shirt and drag a towel over their faces before getting back up there.

Good to be back...

R#42

Sitting in Goffertpark, Nijmegen. Surrounded by autumnal tinged green trees. It’s a beautiful late summer’s day in The Netherlands. To my right, I can see the big stage star-light VIVA balloons being hoisted up onto lighting towers. Speaker stacks being raised by the riggers. Fork lift trucks keep rumbling past me carrying fencing, cases, portaloos and various other loads, as Goffertpark prepares to host two days of the Coldplay festival.

By my feet are the keys to the little green Oxfam Novib caravan, which is parked in it’s spot for the next few days of campaigning on the ‘Big Promise’ Millenium Development Goals actions. Two volunteers hitch-hiked it this morning to the site from 100km away. It may be small, but tomorrow, it will be a hive of activity as volunteers give Coldplay fans here, the chance to take their action on poverty, and make a promise, to support Health and Education FOR ALL. They will be carrying post-box backpacks, for people to post their promises, and big green hands so they can wave at each other. I hope that all 122’000 people who come to the show the next couple of days, will see us, and thousands of you will take an action.

The red dome-shaped Coldplay stage, being assembled by their tireless crew, now sits proudly in this field - in prime spot to entertain the masses, once the speakers are cranked up. Oxfam’s caravan is also in the prime spot further across the field, to get lots of people talking, speaking out, and raise the volume in the ears of our world leaders, that it’s about time, every child had the chance to go to school.

Last night, Coldplay almost deafened me by walking off stage at the end of their set. The noise people made to cheer them back on stage for an encore was stunning. The football stadiums they are playing on this tour really hold in the sound like a cauldron of noise. It’s quite something. Oxfam France agir-ici volunteers came away from the show beaming. The evening obviously having left it’s mark. Before the concert, they had been busy with the pens and helped hundreds of fans to make their mark on Health and Education For All. When I counted up at the venue, over 1600 people had signed up, but as the last few sheets which came back, that number kept rolling up. Once again, Coldplay fans showed a willingness to be involved and to speak up on Oxfam’s campaigns. This was one of the best shows by far. I left Paris having really enjoyed my stay. It is a beautiful city, with passionate crowds, who cheer for more music, and stand up for change to overcome poverty. Looking forward now to the Netherlands, and Oxfam Novib’s volunteers having similar success here at Goffertpark.

Read more blogs online here at the Oxfam Blog website now.

Coldplay at Parc des Princes, Paris (7th September 2009):

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*Here;s a note from Bern a couple of days ago.. originally scrawled on a scrap of paper*

I’ve just run out of the pouring rain. My hoodie is soaked and my trousers, rolled up, to avoid soaking up any more puddles. Out of the front lounge window, on the tour bus, I can see a constant flow of people hurrying home. Like a river of people flowing out of the exits of the Stade de Suisse, and splintering off into tributaries. The reverse of what I was taught about river systems in Geography.

A few minutes ago, just behind the stage trucks to my right, popping - fizzing - banging pyrotechnics lit up the sky to compete with the lightning, spotlights and camera flashes, and bring another triumphant Coldplay show to a close. 40′000 more people have seen the spectacular open-air show in an incredible summer for one of the world’s biggest bands. And here we are.. Oxfam is playing it’s part in this event too. *I think* .. this was the 150th show of the VIVA world tour. A lot of people have passed through the gates, sung along, clapped hands, campaigned with Oxfam, in that time.. and a few have got a bit wet too.

Read the full blog entry by Pete Lusby here at the Oxfam Blog website.

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I remember somewhere back last year I talked about the band's stadium show in Tokyo. It was an absolutely belting night and I wrote the following: "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."

Roadie sensibility sometimes approaches the superstitious - so much so that phrases such as "tempting fate" and "touch wood" are commonplace and spoken with completely straight faces. It should come as no surprise then, that the chance to test out the bold claim above, comes on a night with 64,000 punters and a bunch of cameras filming for an as yet unspecified project.

The band take to the stage to absolutely deafening cheers. If any crowds on this tour have actually sung the opening melody from Life In Technicolor, they haven't done it as loudly as this lot. I'm underneath the stage and I can hear them. Great night, guaranteed.

There I go again....

Suddenly, as the band hit the huge thumping chords before the verse of Violet Hill, something is plainly up. Intermittently, I stop feeling the thud of the bass through my feet. From where I am, I can't place what's going on exactly, but the scrambling of audio crew makes it plain that the problem-solving hot potato appears to be theirs.

Much happens very quickly to get the stage left PA stable. From Clocks forwards, my feet remain shaken throughout, which means that we're back on track. It also means that the problem has been nipped in the bud by the third song. This could easily have turned into a gig-spoiling nightmare, but there are many very experienced and skilled people here who weren't about to let that happen.

Lets not forget though, that there's also four very stubborn and determined fellas on stage not about to let that happen either. I remember Jonny telling me about the band's first Glastonbury show, way back when. They were dropped off at the wrong gate, miles from their stage with only minutes before they were due on.

Many fledgling bands would have accepted defeat, perhaps been a bit gutted, perhaps just taken it away as a story to tell in the pub. Coldplay however, ran the width of the festival site with their guitars, borrowed as much as they could lay hands on from other bands present and did the gig whilst still trying to catch their breath.

There are many stories throughout their history that illustrate this shared personality trait. Problems, setbacks and obstacles seem to fuel them on to succeed out of sheer defiance. If anything, this has got stronger with age. They don't let up one bit tonight and turn in an astonishingly impassioned performance.

And then finally, we have the sixty thousand Spaniards. They're jet engine loud throughout, willing the band onwards and chasing away the demons. The decision to film here was down to one thing only - that is, the fact that the crowd are utterly astounding.

FC Barcelona, the world-beating football team that play in this city, have apparently adopted Viva La Vida as their unofficial anthem. This means that many of the crowd here tonight are already well-used to belting out the "woah-oh-woah-oh-oh" from the chorus during matches.

Today, they've been singing it outside whilst queuing, they've been singing it between the opening acts and they're singing it between songs tonight. When the song itself kicks in, it's the proof that what I said way back in Tokyo is indeed true. The event and the emotion are bigger than any technical concerns.

What's important here is the band and the audience and more even than that, the songs. It's the shared experience, the communal celebration of this thing that so many people feel the same way about.

It's been an emotional night, for sure.

Never a dull moment....

R#42

Back in Barcelona. About a year ago, we were next door, in the Palau St Jordi arena, for one of the best Coldplay shows so far (in my opinion). It was an incredible night. Next door, England fans piled into the stadium where the Coldplay stage now sits, preparing for an international with Andorra. Somehow it feels like it could have been yesterday.. familiar weather, faces, scenery. Fans are already outside waiting to come in. In fact there was a handful of them out there in tents last night..! Fair play to them.

When I came in yesterday, I looked up in catering and noticed the Olympic rings across the wall. This is a great stadium, perched on the top of the hill, overlooking the beautiful city of Barcelona. I’m sure tonight will be a show to remember. 64′000 people will rush through the doors, (some who waited longer than others), and greet Coldplay with a huge roar. From then on, it will be a dual between speakers stacks, and vocal chords, for who can make the most noise.

Read the full blog entry by Pete Lusby here at the Oxfam Blog website.

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New pictures of Coldplay at Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland (2nd September 2009):

Pictures by kusito @ Flickr

Leapfrogging through the country’s again. It’s an odd feeling. Waking up in a different landscape, country, culture, currency every other morning, but in the same bunk. I open my curtains, soon after the bus rolls to a halt, and look out of the front lounge at the view. First, I usually see a dusty carpark and a lost looking roadie taking directions from an in-the-know bus or truck driver.

Those guys seem to have a permanent compass and map in their heads - knowing where everything is and never failing to get us to the next city. Because of course.. the show must go on. It’s great to have them around, to help a lost roadie find their bearings .. ‘toilets over there, catering through there, and the gig in that huge building behind you’..

These stadiums are big. I have said that already, in my previous blog. But last night I was struck again by the volume of people standing on the pitch usually occupied by 22 footballers and a referee at Udinese’s home ground.. and then at the thousands more filling the stands singing every word, like a goal has just been scored when plectrums meet guitars.

Read the full blog entry by Pete Lusby here at the Oxfam Blog website.

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Italy can occasionally be challenging for the roadie community. Things are never quite as you expect them and you get the distinct impression sometimes that people would rather be wearing sunglasses and smoking cigarettes than helping you get the job done. Quite frankly, I don't blame them. There's something about the gorgeous weather that makes all this effort seem just a little silly.

The pay-off of course, is that the Italians are some of the best crowds you'll ever witness. Wonderfully warm and passionate people, they turn any gig into an emotional event. They're inventive folks too. The DIY ethic is strongly present in the bootleg merchandise. It's present at every show, but normally, it's some folks stood over the road from the venue with a few T-shirts over their arms, looking shiftily round for the law.

Here though, they have a whole street bazaar outside the venue with stall upon stall of dodgy merch. Over the years, we've picked up some great dodgy merch. From Dublin, T-shirts with the D missing from the band's name. From Singapore, a T-shirt bearing the correct band name, spelt correctly, but with a picture of the lads from Travis on it. I seem to remember a Mexican bottle opener with a Coldplay decal on it, which lasted all of five minutes before peeling off to reveal the AC/DC logo beneath.

Whilst the White Lies are on, I grab 50 Euros from petty cash and ride out there on a golf buggy with Eric Wagner, Coldplay's official Merchandiser. We bump into Bash, Will's drumtech on the way and set off in search of the tackiest offerings available today.

It's actually a wee bit disappointing, as much of it looks quite passable. It's worth it though, for the sight of Eric (who has spent the entire day trying to get these folks shut down) haggling with one guy over a hat that was more expensive than the (much higher quality) official gear - and being told it was full price or nothing.

Marta from lights was kind enough to model the stripey top for us, but found that as soon as she put her hands in the pockets, the stitching came undone. Just remember folks - it may look like a bargain, but you get what you pay for... ;-)

Altogether more impressive, is the co-ordinated fan display at the top of the show. They've brought their own balloons and some even have paper crowns. Before the band even set foot on the stage, the atmosphere is fully charged and the show only goes on to be an undoubted highlight.

VIDEO >> http://vimeo.com/6429659

We get to Bern Stade De Suisse and it's been wet. Very wet. All day. We arrive though and it's starting to look up. I'm all set for writing about how the clouds parted and the sun came out for the show, but mother nature has other ideas. By the C-stage, it's quite simply chucking it down. As ever, the crowd don't disappoint and they give it their all regardless.

They also do this amazing thing here where instead of clapping and stamping their feet for an encore, they waggle their fingertips. Most odd the first time you see it, but very impressive. Chris comes back on and starts The Scientist, but by now, mother nature has had enough of being ignored. In one of the quietest sections of the show, comes thunder and lightning that appears to be mocking our meagre attempts at sub bass and flashing lights.

Chris ad-libs into the "thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightening" bit from Bohemian Rhapsody and the place erupts. It's a real shame that this stadium run is so short, as it seems to suit them very well. Still - at least we know what they're capable of now...

R#42

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: In which #42 reaches his century

Discuss this blog entry in the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks SueDeNimes]

So then, the hundredth blog. I suppose I should be doing something special for the end of the first century. Let's face it though folks, every single one of them is special.... (This is another way of saying that if I wait until I've had time to do something uber-cool, we'll be stuck on 99 forever, so we'd better move swiftly along).

The Dusseldorf show was covered admirably by Mr Anchorman, so there's not too much to add there. In all honesty, all I remember about that particular day is the insane distances involved in getting anywhere. The vehicles drop us in an underground carpark. If the stadium viewed from above is a clock-face, the vans are at three o'clock. The dressing rooms appear to be at around eleven and several floors up. Getting to the stage involves a clockwise walk underground to six which feels a lot like walking halfway home to England.

From the stage (six), I often walk out to the mix tent to set up cameras and so on. For reasons best known to themselves, the stadium security require me to walk all the way up to the back of the stadium (twelve) and then back down to where the tent is set up off centre (nine). Oh well, it's not like I couldn't use the exercise...

We get in to Munich pretty late and it's an early show. This means we're on site for under four hours - including the show. There's just enough time to grab some food, work out where the dressing rooms are and get on with it. Sometimes it's all you can do just to hang on and not get left behind...

A stage time of 8pm, means that the fellas go onstage in the tail end of daylight. It's quite encouraging to see that the show still works very well indeed without the need for total blackout. By In My Place, we're well into dusk and the sight of the band out on the ramps amongst the arms-aloft crowd, set against a backdrop of fading sunset and silhouetted trees is about as idyllic as one could hope for a summer show.

The C-Stage is starting to work rather nicely again. It's required a few tweaks to get it as effective as it has been in the arenas and sheds. We're back to that glorious feeling that the band are just a little island of light in amongst the crowd. Tonight, Chris decides for some reason that Mr Champion should sing the falsetto parts during Billie Jean. At first Will is having none of it, but with some coaxing from the crowd, he pulls off an extremely impressive high voiced chorus. Never knew he had it in him!

Munich marks the birthday of Mr Phil Harvey, elusive fifth member, creative director and all round helmsman of the good ship Coldplay. Along with Dave Holmes, he's steered the band through plenty of stormy water. He's seen the band go from pedaloes on the Serpentine to the huge supertanker it's become now. Here he is keeping watch from the mix tower. Happy Birthday Cap'n!

Another anniversary comes as Chris announces from the stage that guitar tech Craig "Hoppy" Hope today celebrates ten years of looking after the band. Back in England, it's the weekend of Reading Festival. Hoppy first met the band when they played at Reading Festival in 1999. I'm led to believe by stories recounted by those who were there, that he made quite a striking impression that weekend.

Apparently, he'd been somewhat in the wars and greeted them cheerfully with a scarred and bruised face, sporting several stitches above the eye. Together with a ginger rock-a-billy quiff and 3 inch turn-ups at the ends of his Levis, he couldn't help but make an impression. I'm told that the band, for some reason, were forced to play before the festival had opened its gates, meaning an audience of three people.

Times have changed, the crowds have grown, Hoppy's ditched the quiff and had the stitches out. He's still just about the loveliest fella you could hope to meet though and he'll still have no trouble whatsoever drinking you under the table.

So, here's to many happy returns for Mr Harvey, another ten years for Hoppy and ton up for the Blog.

Feels like there ought to be cake....

R#42

Hello. It’s me. ‘Oxfam’. Oxfam America’s wonderful tour rep has stepped off the bus. The North American ’shed’ tour has come to an end. Volunteers across the continent have come together two years in a row, having countless conversations, signing up tens of thousands of people, and giving Coldplay fans the chance to take an action to help alleviate poverty. They’ve had a laugh. Smiled until their cheeks hurt. Sung until their throats were sore. Let’s hear it for our volunteers, and their intrepid leader, campaigner, roadie.. Let’s hear it for Soha Yassine! But there is one group of people missing.. you lot! Thank you for smiling back. Signing up. Taking an action. Talking about it to your friends. Saying hello.

But Oxfam’s touring wings are not done flapping just yet.. We’re not quite ready to tuck our wings away and go to roost. Coldplay have again said “do you want to come along?” .. and of course, we have been happy to accept. They want as many of their fans as possible, to hear about Oxfam, and to get involved and be active.

Read the full blog entry by Pete Lusby returning for the European stadium leg here at the Oxfam Blog website.

New pictures of Coldplay at Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany (27th August 2009):

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 and the new song soundchecks...

Discuss this blog entry in the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks Zeya]

You get the distinct impression that the Stockholm crowd are going to be a belter when the soundcheck finishes and from outside the stadium walls you can hear the thousands of early arrivers chanting the "woah-oh-woah-oh-oh...." from the Viva chorus.

In fact, there's so many folks outside that word comes around that they're going to open doors early. Within minutes, the floor is filled way back past the mix tower. It's the first "stadium proper" and we couldn't really have asked for a better start.You get the distinct impression that the Stockholm crowd are going to be a belter when the soundcheck finishes and from outside the stadium walls you can hear the thousands of early arrivers chanting the "woah-oh-woah-oh-oh...." from the Viva chorus.

In fact, there's so many folks outside that word comes around that they're going to open doors early. Within minutes, the floor is filled way back past the mix tower. It's the first "stadium proper" and we couldn't really have asked for a better start.

So yes, a soundcheck today. There's a few visual elements of the show to refine, which means the irrepressibly cheerful Ben Miles who runs all the video content is rushing around at a rate. Musically, the band are dusting down a few older tracks and also give a new tune a crack.

I can never tell when they're doing new stuff whether they're playing something that they've been working on in the studio at length, or whether they're actually playing it for the first time and they're just so in tune with each other that it sounds like a complete work right away.

Today's new song is achingly beautiful - truly widescreen and slo-mo. The fellas weave around each other, instinctively leaving spaces for one another and stepping forth when the music calls for their contribution. Hearing things in their rawest form like this is a real treat.

It's a funny day for me, really. Initially, I think to myself that coming in early to soundcheck means longer in the venue and a chance to get a whole bunch of loose ends tied up. Inevitably, a million little fires spring up that require immediate attention. Before long we're heading into showtime and the priority of making the show happen makes a nice, clear way to fold up the to-do list for later.

The band are beginning to feel very solidly footed in the big setting - and the crowd are superb. Arlene (from Coldplay's management team) tells me that this was one of the fastest of the stadiums to sell out and it shows. They light a fire under the band early on which fuels the whole night.

The noise as the crowd sings the end of Yellow is so intense that Chris sits on the stage edge and leans back taking in the scene. Audience entertaining artist, it's hard to know who's having the better time.

The ending to Strawberry Swing gets a little ad-libbed vocal from Amsterdam. I learn later that there were folks in the crowd holding up banners asking to hear it. Not content with the fact that when it's been requested at previous shows Chris has claimed to have forgotten the words, they had apparently also made banners with the lyrics on them. Beats an autocue any day of the week...

The Hannover Stadium is vast and impressive. It's another soundcheck day today, so we're in early and the fellas continue with some work on some things old and some things new.

Today's new tune, I'm pretty sure, appeared quite spontaneously. Soundman Dan Green has requested the first song of the setlist, which usually signals that the soundcheck is done. Will is still playing out the end of the X&Y track the guys have been working on, but suddenly he mutates the beat into a strange cartwheeling funk.

The rest of the fellas join in and there's an idea evolving before our very ears. Chris checks that it has been recorded for future reference and the intro to Life In Technicolor begins.

The afternoon passes in the usual blur for me before we're into showtime. The crowd are loud and the stadium acoustics swell the sound to massive proportions. Dan Green informs me in the van that it's a fabulous sounding stadium and he's enjoyed himself very much.

You should bear in mind that Dan has mixed hundreds upon hundreds of Coldplay shows from as far back as their Camden club days and for almost every one of them his response has simply been "yeah, it was good". This comment then, is likely to mean that tonight was something pretty special. Certainly, in terms of the band's playing, the audience response and the way the whole production is gelling, it's probably the best show of the stadiums so far.

We're still in the early stages of shows this big of course, so it's not without its growing pains - but my, how they've grown!

R#42

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 and the awkward delivery

Discuss this blog entry in the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks SueDeNimes]

I spent the days off before the Stockholm show putting together some video from the first two big outdoor shows - here it is. For the majority of the European stadium shows, the band are spending the days off at home with their families. Being as I live outside of London, I'm booked into the same London hotel room for the whole month. It's a very spiffy hotel and an excellent room, but all is not well. As any regular traveller will know, failing to observe the Do Not Disturb sign is one of the most basic but heinous crimes a hotel can commit.

Now, getting in at 2am and then winding down for an hour or so, means rising late by normal standards if you want a good night's sleep. Therefore, after several knocks on my (Do Not Disturb adorned) door, followed by a 9am phone call from housekeeping to say "When can we clean your room? Your DND is on." I finally get up with the Mr. Grumpy head on.

I politely inform the gent on the reception desk that unless the hotel is on fire, I really do not wish to be - erm, well - disturbed. No towels, no turndown service, no nothing. I'm very easy to look after indeed. Just give me a bed, a kettle and some wi-fi and I'm happy.

I can't help thinking as I make my way back to the lift, that I've maybe got off on the wrong foot with them. After all, I'm going to be here for another five weeks. The benefit of hotel living though, is anonymity. I'm sure once the lift doors close, I'll just be another nameless body that's staying in the building.

I get back to my room and text Andy Rugg, the band's studio assistant at The Bakery. I need to get some files sent over in order to make some changes to the show at the next gig. He asks how the tour is going and an SMS conversation ensues:

"Any TVs out the window?"

"No, all the transvestites go straight to Franksy's room"

We continue on in this vein until we have created an entire imaginary scenario with a boy band called "Franksy and the Transvestites" who will have this years Christmas number one with a single whose name I probably shouldn't repeat in polite company such as this.

We also manage to organise the job that needs doing and he promises to burn the files to DVD and have them biked across town.

Some hours later, I'm sat at my desk and hear a rustling under the door. Having instructed the front desk not to phone, knock or otherwise disturb me, their only option for contact is pushing a note under the door.

On rather posh headed note-paper, I read the following:

"Dear Sir, A courier has arrived and has delivered two DVDs marked "Franksy and The Transvestites XXX Xmas Special". Please collect them from Concierge when you are able".

Plainly, Ruggsy has handed the disks straight to the courier and they are sitting downstairs with the comedy label clearly readable. I emerge from the lift into reception and am greeted by smirking faces all round. The concierge hands me my disks and wishes me happy viewing.

I head back for the lift feeling somewhat less annonymous...

R#42

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 and the fearsome fireworks

Discuss this blog entry in the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks mimixxx]

This quick little six week run around Europe to close the tour has collectively been referred to amongst the camp as "The Stadiums". Today in Norway, we're in quite a small outdoor space which is essentially a green field at the foot of great mountains and an old military fort. Quite frankly, I'd take this over a big concrete and steel shell any day of the week...

The one thing that I do like about proper stadiums is the way they resonate with crowd noise. The reverberation can turn cheering into a jet-engine roar and a great singalong into something quite astonishing. I don't think the completely open-air vibe is going to present a problem tonight, though.

When the crew get a cheer every time one of them ventures down the ramps in the half hour before the show, you know the crowd are up for it. On the subject of the crowd, I have to say that Norway is by far the blondest sea of heads I've ever seen as I walk across the field ten minutes to showtime. They also, it would appear, quite like a drink here. Should be a good 'un.

I'm told that in the world of theatre, the second night of a run is referred to as "sacking night" (I believe that would be "firing night" for the more American of you). This is because opening night wobbles can be forgiven, but really, by the second night, you really should have your act together.

There's a moment as the drape falls at the start of Violet Hill, taking out Chris's mic stand as it goes, when it looks like tonight could be a comedy of errors. Thankfully, though, it's a very strong show tonight and everything starts to feel like it's falling into place. The band are already finding their groove in the new larger than life environment. The swagger will surely follow.

The other thing that will surely follow is I'll start to remember that we've got fireworks now. Both nights so far, they've started to go off and I've physically ducked and sworn. Tonight, as I leg it across the rear of the stage to do the runner, I push my way through the back drape and am blinded. Minh, one of the show's carpenters has hold of my elbow preventing me from walking any further.

Probably just as well, being as about ten feet further all that exists is a wall of sparks, explosions and smoke as the pyro fellas give it plenty. Just in case you were wondering, industrial strength fireworks smell strongly of eggs.

Fear smells of something different entirely.

R#42

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 and the stadium show excitement

Discuss this blog entry in the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks marie/pims]

It would be too easy a gag to start off by saying that it's only 16 months into the tour and we've finally made it to production rehearsals. In reality, we're knocking it up a gear for this final run of shows. Yes folks, it's stadium time.

I talked a little about scale when the band played in Toronto in what was in essence an indoor stadium. Basically, this many punters means that things get very, very large. The infrastructure to support all of this largeness though, brings with it an additional helping of largeness all of its own.

When I did my first shows with Coldplay, the whole show fit in one truck (driven by a lovely man named Johnny Burgess). We're now up to 36. There is one whole truck dedicated to carrying just the CDs the band are giving away at the shows. I'd never have predicted THAT way back when...

In smaller shows, there is a stage in the venue when you arrive and, hopefully, a handy roof for hanging things from. There's power, dressing rooms, offices, phone lines - you get the idea. Stadium touring means that we carry everything.

We're even carrying our own stage; or rather, we are carrying three of them. Essentially, there's one for the gig we're doing now, one for the gig we've just done and one for the gig that happens next. The stages are constructed by three independent "steel crews" who will leapfrog around Europe - only seeing one show in three and quite feasibly never meeting each other - or indeed ever being in the same country!

We have everything we need to turn up in a field and put on a show. Just as well really, because the Denmark venue is essentially a field. In reality, it just feels like any one of the festivals we've done on this run. There's a big stage, there's mud and so it goes on. There's also a rather large building site next door. But when night falls and lights and video get into programming mode, it becomes very clear that these gigs aren't simply going to be more of the same. The show only unfolds as the stage comes to life in the darkness.

The final night before stadium show number one marks the first time I ever watch a Coldplay show. Admittedly, none of Coldplay are actually present. Chris was on site for most of the day, going over details. The plan though, is to play one of the recent US shows through the sound system at gig volume whilst everyone stands around watching the lights and video, stroking their chins and saying "maybe this bit should be more like this....".

I've seen Chris bolt from radio studios when Coldplay music is played in preference to listening to his own voice, so I imagine an hour and a half of it at 110dB is out of the question. Instead of the band, then, we have four stand-ins made up from some very brave members of the crew, who mime to the recording of the last gig.

Tiff, the band's wardrobe girl is Guy tonight, Julie our promoter's rep is Jonny. I'm not entirely sure who's sitting behind the drumkit - doubtless one of the newcomers I'll eventually learn the name of as the run progresses. And out front, giving it all of Chris's best moves is Marguerite from production. The sight of themselves in closeup on a video screen the size of Sydney Harbour Bridge ensures a good proportion of the "show" is spent in fits of giggles.

The screen is monstrous and very impressive. The "wave trusses" also look utterly wonderful on this scale, morphing and undulating through the show, giving the lights a wonderfully organic and graceful feel. The video-spheres too, are delightfully unique. Very pleasingly it's difficult to pick out a straight line or a right angle anywhere in the design. It's a beautiful sight and I only wish I could spend every night out front like this.

So the band aren't here for the final run-through. That folks, is an unprecedented level of confidence. I remark to Show Designer Paul Normandale that they are in a totally different space to where they were in production rehearsals at the start of the tour back in Wembley Arena. Back then, they had no idea if the album would be well received or whether the tour would be a success. Now, we're 150 shows down the line on a tour that must have already seen a couple of million punters through the gate and god only knows how many albums sold. I'm not talking about the confidence that hangs around with arrogance or complacency. I'm talking about the confidence of knowing that they can deliver the goods in terms of performance. I'm also talking about the confidence that the people working on the show know what they want and how to produce it.

Plus, as ever, we have Mr Phil Harvey at the helm of all matters creative. Phil has the unique ability of being able to see things through both the eyes of the band and of their audience. This is equally a skill and a unique perspective. The ultimate confidence of the band is here in their fifth member.

There's a faint whiff in the air that another few more days of fiddling with things would have been nice, but there's nothing like a crowd of 40,000 through the gates to focus the mind!

I've wandered around out in the crowd less than a dozen times on this whole tour. Every time I do it, it changes my whole day. So much so, that I may have to do it a lot more often before this all goes away. Hanging around behind the stage is a mixture of tension and exhaustion. Out here, the vibe is celebration and anticipation. It's very intoxicating; like a double espresso for the soul.

I turn around from the back of the field ready to walk back and the light misting of rain has given us a rainbow. It mirrors the arch of the stage roof and, somewhat tellingly, appears to end at the catering tent where the coffee machine is located. Who am I to argue with mother nature? For the first time in a very long time, I'm actually slightly excited as we head for showtime. It's the hugest of roadie no-no's to be anything other than slightly surly and completely focused before the show. Being a little giddy and impressed by the scale of things just opens the door for the fuck-up-fairy.

I keep my head down for the show and focus so much on getting things right that I eventually recover my gig-stress. Inevitably, things pass in a blur. For a first show, I reckon it went pretty damn well. Inevitably, there's a million minor changes to make and the show will grow and evolve as the band find their feet in the new setting. Overall though, it's easily the strongest stadium outing Coldplay has ever had - by a very long way.

The combination of doing our first runner for a week or so and the relief of the first show being under our belts means that I leave Denmark with my memory card full of show-and-tell from the past few days in the camera that rides from gig to gig on the truck. Oh well. There's always the next six weeks to show you...

In a superbly bizarre twist, the band have flown into their first stadium show of this tour on U2's plane. Apparently, our regular ride is misfiring. I believe that the big end's gone, or something like that. The easiest way to deal with this it seems, was to take U2's "360 Air" jet for a spin. They're doing UK shows right now, so it's just sat about doing nothing otherwise.

I can confirm that, as one would imagine, those fellas truly travel in comfort and style. I'm writing this now on the flight out to Norway for today's show. Again, we're aboard 360 Air. As we walked across the tarmac to the plane there was a Ryanair flight boarding over the way. A few folks stopped on the steps to take photos of the U2 plane. Quite what they thought watching a bunch of scruffy roadies climb aboard I have no idea. I expect though, they were even more confused watching a complete lack of U2, but instead Coldplay cheerfully climbing the steps. Again, not something I'd have pictured all those years ago when I first walked into the Forum in Kentish Town, London for my first day's work with the band. It's been a long, strange trip indeed and one does wonder where it'll all end.

R#42

Hello lovers and friends of the world! Soha here, coming at you from the departure terminal of Boston’s Logan International airport. The last time I wrote to you all from an airport terminal was in Vancouver at the end of the first leg of the summer tour. I was headed home for a two-week break before resuming the rest of the tour.

It feels like a million years ago recalling that moment where I sat with a signed Coldplay banner at my side, the knowledge that Oxfam now had over 100 thousand actions under its belt since the start of the Viva tour, and the rest of the summer ahead of me. Since then, I’ve worked with an additional 300+ volunteers who helped Oxfam America nearly reach our goal of getting 30 thousand people to sign our Climate Change Petition this summer.

In that time Team Saratoga Springs was dethroned by Team Raleigh as the highest performing team, achieving 1387 petition sign-ups! Not to forget, since I last talked to you, the North American part of the Viva Tour 2009 wrapped up and Coldplay started the European stadium leg. Well, the N. American bit didn’t so much wrap up as it did come to a screeching halt because of the postponement of the Tampa show, which was supposed to be my last show. This means that I had to clear out the Oxfam road case, and pack and ship the remaining Oxfam America materials in addition to clearing my bunk, packing, and saying too many goodbyes to what had become a crew of dear friends in less than a day’s notice.

Read the full blog entry with pictures here at the Oxfam Blog website. Thanks Soha for all your blogs, from everyone at Coldplaying!

New pictures of Coldplay at MCH Arena, Herning, Denmark (16th August 2009):

Pictures by aoh.dk

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 and the creeping exhaustion

Discuss this blog entry in the Coldplay forum here onwards and spot the teeny mistake by an eagle-eyed Coldplayer [thanks lfdianne & Pris]

Big. A word whose purpose is to describe vastness, enormity and sheer-all-round-bloody-hugeness. You'd have thought they could have shelled out a few more than three letters on it. It certainly doesn't really do justice to the experience of walking into the back of the arena here in Toronto.

Another thing that doesn't do justice to the size of the venue is climbing way, way up to the highest furthest seat from the stage with a heavy bag full of camera equipment and discovering upon setting up, that your memory card is downstairs connected to your computer. Still, that's why God invented iPhones....

Now, if that shot doesn't give you vertigo, then spare a thought for lampy Wayne Kwiat (known to many as "the dancing roadie"). The gauze that drops in front of the stage to get the show get off to its shadowy start got somewhat tangled tonight. The only solution was to lower in the wave truss and have Wayne hop on and be lifted up there to set it free. Imagine what the place looked like to him from up there, stood on a three inch metal tube...

This place is essentially an indoor stadium, with a capacity of around 44,000 tonight. Apparently, it used to be called the Skydome. This had to be what they had in mind when they were talking about "The Enormodome" in Spinal Tap. Thinking about it, they kept using the word "big" as well...

The Scientist sees a stage invader make it all the way up the back of the stage and round the front of the drumkit. The stage invader though, is none other than "fifth member" Phil Harvey and he comes bearing cake and balloons to mark Mr. Champion's birthday. There's the obligatory sing-along from the assembled mass choir before Life In Technicolor ii brings things to their conclusion.

As we head back to the hotel, I ponder the fact that Will has had two birthdays on this tour, which obviously means we've been at it for a while now. As we get closer to the hotel, I begin to recognise the surroundings and it dawns on me that this is actually the very same city where we spent Will's last birthday. It's no great surprise then to find that we're staying in the same hotel.

Things start to weird me out a little though, when I emerge from the elevator and realise that I'm actually in exactly the same ROOM that I was in a year ago to the day. I fall down a mental rabbit-hole of Groundhog Day emotions. What if I'm in this same hotel room this time next year? Will the tour ever end? Will I ever get to see my cat again? What did I used to do before all of this?

I deal with this as any sane human would. I head for the bar. There's a soiree on the patio tonight in honour of Mr. C's birthday, so it seems churlish not to attend. There's food, music and drinks. A little later comes a rather splendid cake. Not shown is the smaller tom-tom, eaten by Mr. Champion moments earlier...

Also present at (or rather, slightly outside) the party was a rather keen fella trying to get a pile of magazines signed. It's hard to tell whether he's an eBayer or a fan. The fact that he can actually pick out bandmembers (as opposed to asking Trainer Dan or Dan Green for autographs) works in his favour. The fact that he spends a lot of the time hiding behind a hedge and peeping out in a somewhat creepy and alarming manner does count against him though.

We're still in Canada the following day for a festival near Montreal. I have little recollection of the day to be honest, except that there were a gazillion mosquitoes and I fell out the back of a truck.

We're back in New York the next morning when we receive an email from band assistant EJ to inform us that the festival site at All Points West is extremely muddy and wet. She has organised wellington boots for the band and suggest we do the same for ourselves. Festivals are funny things really. You can argue about the unique vibe that certain festivals have and how certain ones are truly outstanding in their field (sorry...). Really though, if it's sunny it's a great day out. If it's wet, it's misery.

I go for a tentative look when we arrive. Many folks are doing what they can to keep their feet as much out of the mud as possible.

Others though, have embraced the filth.

The unique aspect of this festival (that no doubt I would be enthusing about had the weather have been gorgeous), is the setting. For the crowd, the view of the stage comes with an additional side attraction in the form of Lady Liberty. (On a side note, I think I've worked out where Guy Garvey has copped his stage moves now...)

For the bands, the view from the stage is a rather amazing vista of the Manhattan skyline.

As I say, these views would be the standout feature of the festival had the weather been wonderful. As it isn't, however, the thing I'll take away with me, is the smell. Apparently, the land we are on was once a tip. No, really, I mean a proper dump - a landfill. Now that the ground has been stomped and churned and the rain has permeated deeply, we're left with a stench that is a little beyond unpleasant.

Hats off to the crowd though, they're well up for it and they play a blinder. They're in no way subdued or defeated. The trench out to the C-stage is pretty well trampled and is essentially one long puddle by the mid point in the set. There are four folding chairs set up stage left with four pairs of boots ready for the band, but in solidarity with the punters, they wade out there without.

It's testament to both the band's audience and the fact that the tour now has pretty much unstoppable momentum, that the show was the success that it was. It had all the makings of a washout and yet it was still a celebration.

We leave for Manhattan by boat - not so much a runner as a rudder (I know, I know, I'm sorry...) The boat is pretty fancy, but has some pretty horrific vibraphone jazz on the entertainment system. Mr. Berryman steams in with the iPod and the universe's rightful groove balance is restored.

Chris remarks from the B-stage at the Comcast Center the following night that you can always tell when it's time for a Coldplay tour to be over, because his haircut has reached a stage where he really shouldn't be seen in public any more. Now, I'm not going to comment on the boss's haircut, but I will take his quote as a link into the fact that, for me at least, it really is starting to feel like time for a break.

The shows, as I say, are unstoppably potent and the audiences remarkable. The time away from the gig though, is time when your body and mind begin to remind you that it's maybe time you were doing something else for a while. Something like sleeping in, like spending time with loved ones (that's if they let you back in the house).

We're at the tail end of a very long and very intense touring cycle. It's been the most enjoyable tour of my life, don't get me wrong, but exhaustion is exhaustion. To be honest, I've no idea how the band do it. Myself, I'm all thousand yard stares and a disconnected lack of anything to say. They, on the other hand, are still buoyant and cheery and delivering a knockout punch every night.

Still, we leave Massachusetts heading into two very precious days off in a row. I'm planning on one hell of a lot of sleeping. I realise too, that I'm one of the lucky ones. I've been swanning about in the band party, arriving after all the hard work is done. The crew have shown themselves to be built of truly the sternest stuff - pulling the miracle that is the show out of the bag day after day after day - a feat for which there is no magic wand, only a hell of a lot of effort. My hat, if I wore one, would be well and truly off to each and every one of them.

I'm sure that 48 hours of recuperation will give me the energy to make it to the end of the leg. Doubtless the change of scenery and production that the European stadiums will provide, along with the thrill that those shows will no doubt be, shall bring renewed enthusiasm.

So too will the sight of the finish line. Surely there will be much celebration at all that's been achieved when the last show is finally in the trucks and waved away. Some days the road is more uphill than others, I guess.

Anyway, bedtime. Do not disturb......

R#42

Hello world! I’m coming at you from the lovely lovely Toronto, Canada on the second of two much appreciated days off. This leg has been characterized by many long drives that end with our arriving to our hotel on a day off at 7pm with just enough time to take a good shower, grab dinner, and have a decent night’s sleep on a real bed before waking up the next day and doing it all over again.

This tour has given me the opportunity to become acquainted with many of our neighbor in the north’s major cities and the more time I spend here, the more I love it. I’ve mentioned before how Oxfam Canada’s teams never cease to amaze me, so I’m very much looking forward to working with Team Toronto tomorrow at Rogers Center. Even Team Vancouver, who managed to acquire 1600 Action Cards at their show last month, bragged about how impressed I’d be with them. I don’t doubt that.

Read the full blog entry with pictures at the Oxfam Blog website here onwards.

Here’s a picture of Team Saratoga featuring me on Craig’s board.

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 and the troublesome balcony

Discuss this blog entry in the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks Zeya]

We arrive into the Saratoga Springs venue a little late. Well OK, we're a couple months late. This is the show that had to be re-scheduled from our last US leg. The route in seems to lead us through a wood, which is all rather pleasant for a summer's afternoon. The venue itself is a little unusual. It's a shed, like most of the others we've done in the States recently - a stage and a covered area with a lawn at the back. Here though, there is a balcony too.

Jonny recently said that sheds were like "doing a festival and a theatre at the same time". The balcony here means that you almost can't see the lawn and it feels more like doing a theatre with no walls where you can see a lot of trees all about the place.

The management office is where I usually hang out before the show if there's space. Today, the management office is huge and located right next door to the dressing room. Elbow strike up their soundcheck. I consider going out to watch them, but decide I'd better get some work done. They finish a run through "One Day Like This" and there is a strange piano coda I've never heard before added on to the end.

Slowly, I locate the sound and realise that it's not coming from the stage at all. It's the dressing room piano. Someone has been playing along with their soundcheck, working out the chords. My money's on Mr. Champion...

The universal adoration of our new friends becomes clear when their set begins and the enclave of Coldplay roadies watching their set swells from just myself and Andy Bramley to at least half a dozen assorted Coldplay crew. Finally, come Grounds For Divorce, I look to my left and none other than Mr Phil Harvey is down here in the pit with us singing along at the top of his lungs.

The slightly unusual layout of the venue means that not only does it look a bit different to us from the stage, but clearly for the folks in the balcony, the B and C stages are going to look either a bit strange, if not invisible. They make it through God Put A Smile and Talk on the B, before Chris decides to pull the plug and do the Hardest Part and Postcards from back on the main stage.

Inevitably, this generates a ripple of confusion through the crew. What's going to happen with the C-stage? If they're going to nix that too, we'd better move fast. It's a tough choice: deprive the folks who've been sat right at the back the chance to get close to the band, or go out back and disappear from view leaving the folks in the balcony only the video screens?

They plough out there, deciding to get in amongst it at the back and it's the right choice. Chris apologises profusely to the balcony in the encores, but it's been the best way to deal with an odd layout, I think and a good solid show all around.

All that remains is to head back to NYC for a couple of days off in a row. Sheer luxury. It's stormy and wet again, but to be honest, I hadn't planned on venturing into the outside world a whole lot anyways.

Over the course of the two days though, I spend a lot of time listening to other people's record collections. iTunes has this feature where you can share your library with others on the same network, which means when you are on hotel wi-fi, plenty of other folks stuff turns up. I've always had this feature turned off just as a safeguard against forgetting that I have anything work-related in my iTunes library.

For the two days off though, I have a lovely time wandering through other folks' libraries. I was having a discussion the other day with Dan Green that the whole aspect of displaying your record collection as a representation of who you were and of course the reverse, when you used to go to someone's house and stand there surveying their collection and passing silent judgement.

I come across one library that is so painfully hip that I can almost pinpoint the magazines the owner must read and feel like I can picture their very haircut. To my surprise, as I scroll through, I spy Coldplay in the artists section. Ah, only Parachutes and a couple of B-sides. Music-snob cred still intact. You wanna check 'em out now mate. They've still got it...

R#42

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42, the Elbow shiver and the loud crowd

Discuss this blog entry in the Coldplay forum here onwards and meet the owner of the Viva-Car™ too [thanks Lore & kspillers2]

We start the Alpine Valley show with a rather novel quad-bike escort into the gig. The venue is called Alpine Valley Music Theatre, presumably in reference to the mountains and ski resort behind the stage. The quad bikes escort us past a lodge that's more than a little reminiscent of The Outlook Hotel from The Shining. We then wind our way through the parking lot and past a pretty cool motor that's been done up in full Coldplay livery.

When we commandeer a golf buggy a little later in order to get some photos of the car, its owners are gone - doubtless in the venue for the opening acts. One of the guys from the parking lot comes over to tell us that the lady whose car it is has been to see the band eight times in the last few months. The fan fervour stretches even to the license plate. Well done folks!

As we jump back onto the golf buggy, I can hear Elbow starting up inside. It's their first show with us today and I'm absolutely thrilled to see them again. Getting paid for watching one of my favourite bands in the world - tough old life, eh? I wander out into the crowd and park myself in an empty seat to take some photos. Almost immediately, I spot video director Andy Bramley stood in the "pit" with all the punters down the front.

He points at me and then the stage and then himself and the stage and grins widely. We're both like giddy kids that they're here - and we get to watch them play every night. I put the camera down and join him in the pit as the crush to get to the front carries on around us. For a short while, we're just a pair of punters excited to be down the front watching a band we love. Getting shivers down the spine over a pop group is way too cheesy for cynical old roadfilth like me. There must have been a draught or summat... ;-)

Once stagetime comes around, the crowd looks utterly stunning. All of these "shed" venues have a lawn section at the back, but here, the lawn is absolutely huge. Apparently there are 7,500 seated and the lawn tonight has an astonishing 27,000. Not only does that make a pretty hefty total, but the slope upwards is very very steep, meaning that the only thing you can see beyond the last row, is the sky. From the centre of the stage looking out, this effect, together with the huge width of the lawn means that all you can see in front of you, all the way to the horizon, is Coldplay fans. Utterly remarkable.

Not only do they look amazing, but when they all sing as one, it makes a pretty phenomenal voice. When Chris asks them to make the loudest noise they've ever heard at the end of Yellow, they do exactly that:

WATCH THE VIDEO

The B-stage is located differently each night, dependant on what space is available in each venue. Tonight, it is on the edge of the crowd's right side. Given that the crowd is spread very wide tonight, it creates the somewhat ridiculous situation where although this is supposed to be the bit of the show when the band get closer to the fans, for a good deal of people, they're actually further away. This also marks the part of the show when the heavens open and the rain pours in to visit.

Neither of these facts do anything to dampen the enthusiasm of either the band or the crowd and when Postcards fades and Viva comes crashing in, the eruption of noise is truly ferocious. The rain continues throughout and actually looks rather pretty as it slices through the projector beams over the lawn. I say that, of course, watching it from under a very sturdy stage roof. I have no doubt others found it less pleasing...

Mystic Nick, (audio guru and all round lovely bloke) comes over the comms headset suggesting cutting the power to the C-stage if it gets any wetter out there.

It shows no signs of letting up as Lost! roars across the hillside. Come the end of the song though, the fellas troop off the stage to brave it regardless. In the type of perfect timing that you'd only believed existed in Disney films, they emerge out onto the lawn and the rain kindly gives way.

Chris emerges for the final encore and lifts the clipboard that holds his setlist. He pretends to be surveying an important document. "Well, the results are in folks and it looks like the number one crowd of the Viva La Vida tour so far is....... East Troy, Wisconsin."

Predictably, they go bananas. Just in case you're wondering folks: no, he doesn't say that every night.

There's no quad-bikes on the runner tonight. We're just up the road from Milwaukee, the home of the Harley, so it's a full-on biker escort as we whisk smoothly through the night back to the hotel.

Well, I say smoothly. It kind of all grinds to a halt when we get into New York. As usual, Franksy has booked three SUVs and a van to transport the band and all of us hangers-on back to our temporary home. Chris is off on a secret writing mission, so has a helicopter booked.

First, we find there are only two SUVs, then there's no helicopter. This means cramming all of the band and as many others as possible into the two SUVs while we wait it out for the missing vehicles. I make comfy on the floor, leaning back against the corrugated metal of the aircraft hangar. I unfold the laptop and watch a curious transformation take place.

Franksy, like some pimp-hatted west-country incredible hulk transforms completely. Rather than going green and bursting through his clothes, he goes straight from tour manager to "tour-ettes manager". I'm assuming it's the limo company on the other end of the phone, fielding more F-words than a kitchen porter in a Gordon Ramsey Kitchen Nightmare.

The following day, I bump into Franksy and his fiance who are lunching. The drama and the anger are plainly long forgotten as he offers me a slice of pizza and enquires as to which timezone I'm in today. I let slip that I'm going for breakfast, which at 3pm reveals that I've quite comprehensively overslept.

I arrive back at the hotel to find a message that the front desk has a package for me from Mr. Franks.

I'm thinking of looking for a nice chunky gold chain so I can wear it around my neck in a Flavour Flav stylee. After all, We's In Nooo Yawwwk BOYYYYZZZZ....

R#42

Check out coldplay.com for a new blog entry: #42 is a Big Apple man

Discuss this blog entry in the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks Zeya]

It's another warm night in Maryland Heights, MO. I had figured that moving north from Texas would mean a bit of respite from the heat, but there is nothing of the sort. If anything, the stage here is even more humid than the past couple of shows. Things heat up on the B-Stage too, when Chris fluffs The Hardest Part and falls into laughter, admitting that he's been put off by the fact that he's just had "I love you" shouted at him by a very muscular six foot dude.

In other news, today was per-diem day, which means our lovely new tour accountant Bob brings around in the magic envelope full of cash. In a miraculous feat of synchronicity, Apple have released updates to two of the huge software suites that I use to mangle audio and video. A perfect illustration of the old truism: "What the PDs giveth, the Apple Store taketh away.""

It's a runner again tonight, so we dive into the vans just ahead of the band jumping offstage and peeling out of their sweaty stage clothes. As the convoy of vehicles speeds towards the airport, we meet this evening's driver. He's fantastically loony. He's cracking up laughing and hammering his palm on the steering wheel.

Apparently, the source of amusement is the tail-rider of the police escort. "Man, this is the first time I had flashing blues in my rear view mirror and I ain't had to pull over and put my hands in the air". To his glee, it's then time to pull into the wrong lane and run a red light with the full blessing of the attendant cops. "Comin' through motherfuckers - hhhaaaahhhahahaha". I have no idea where this guy came from, or what he's got up to in the past, but I wish we could take him with us...

So we fly out east tonight, heading for NYC. The band have their families out and basing ourselves here means that they can have some semblance of normality for the hours they're not onstage. When we get to the airfield and wander across the tarmac, it's like we've never been away. We were in NYC for three weeks a short while back and it feels as though the intervening weeks simply haven't occurred. It's a good thing that this is pretty much my favourite place on the planet to spend time - otherwise I'd be sick of the sight of it. As it is, I'm delighted to be back.

With tonight and tomorrow night's gigs both being located in the central timezone, I decide that it's not really worth re-setting my watch, phone and laptop to the east coast hour. With utter predictability, the following morning, the phone goes at what I believe is an hour before lobby call. "The vehicles are leaving. Care to join us?". It's security and transport co-ordinator Geoff Sands. I realise instantly what's going on. "I'm not late, I'm just in the wrong timezone." I reply.

It's a damn good thing that it's Saturday and my favourite NY camera store is closed, because otherwise, I could have been on a very expensive shopping trip indeed...

R#42

Hello world, I humbly throw myself at your feet in apology for not writing in a very long time. Major props to my boy Pete who is always so good about keeping in touch. Lately I have been plagued by the thought that my entries lack an underlying, unifying theme and for that they are no good. Such is the life of a perfectionist…

The rest of the crew and I have been longing for the days of torrential downpours and thunderstorms that seemed to plague us earlier this summer. The past few shows have been HOT. The crew has gone from having nice summer glows to constantly nursing sunburns. I’ve always liked having the red nose in the summer that suggests that I’d been in the sun, but my face is 4 shades darker than my neck now!

Read the full blog entry with pictures at the Oxfam Blog website here onwards.

The Gorge Amphitheater. The stage literally sits at the edge of a cliff. Isn’t it breathtaking? When the VIVA banner dropped during Death and All His Friends, it went flapping in the wind and my crew mates were left having to try to grab on to it and hold it down to no avail.

Hello world! …And we’re off! Leg 2 of the Viva La Vida summer tour! I’m coming at you from The Gorge in the beautiful state of Washington. Check out the view from behind the stage. Not too shabby right?

Oxfam America’s goal is to have 30,000 new people take action with us this summer and we are right at the half way point! Do come and visit the Oxfam table and learn about how you can fight hunger, poverty, and injustice in your community! You can also sign our petition urging the President to call for a fair climate treaty to be negotiated this December at the UN Climate Change conference. If you won’t be at a Coldplay concert this summer, join the over 100 thousand people who have taken action with Oxfam since the begining of the Viva tour and sign our petition here on our newly relaunched site!

Read the full blog entry with pictures at the Oxfam Blog website here onwards.

Check out coldplay.com for a new entry: Roadie #42 remembers Coldplay super-fan Jennifer John

More on this entry is at the Coldplay forum here onwards [thanks Sirhc]

I have just learned of the tragic death of a big personality and well-loved member of the Coldplay fan community. Jennifer John, known to most as "Nettie". Jen ran two fansites dedicated to Coldplay: mycoldplay and guyberryman.net. These sites were a strong and very active part of the fan community and Jen attended a huge number of Coldplay shows, meeting a great number of fans along the way.

Jennifer died in a tragic car accident on Saturday travelling to Cornwall to watch Kasabian at the Eden Sessions. That she died on her way to watch a band she loved, demonstrates how she lived. Her passion for music and her dedication to sharing both the live experience and the online community was truly inspirational.

I remember being staggered when she posted the MP3 of Bucket For A Crown, a song from the Viva writing sessions. She had been to a small charity show that Chris had appeared at and she bootlegged the whole thing. Not only had I not heard the song before, but I didn't even know that the gig was happening. Here I was getting the inside scoop from a fansite. It was only then that I realised how "on it" and organised she was.

I met her on several occasions at Coldplay shows. The first time being after one of the Earls Court shows on the X&Y tour. Tour Photographer Penny Howle was wandering around with a video camera chatting to fans as she often did and ran over and grabbed me. "You have to see these two, they are such lovely giddy kippers."

Jen was at all three of the Earls Court shows, on this night with her mate Steph. I remember Jen jokingly chastising me for not having updated the blog recently enough. We spoke only briefly, but her personality shone brightly as I am sure it did with everyone she met.

Our thoughts and great sympathies are with Jennifer's family and friends. She was a wonderful person who will undoubtedly be missed by many many people the world over.

R#42

We have a thread of condolences at the forums which you can read and post on here [thanks bello-lo]

The Coldplay blog from the Roskilde festival has started - there is expected to be updates also from the official Twitter account if the Danish wi-fi service becomes unreliable. Please join us now at the Coldplay forum here for all the discussions on the latest pictures, interviews, videos and updates from the live Coldplay Roskilde blogging! Here are the latest updates...

11.42pm: And with that, we'll bid you goodnight. Thanks for reading, wherever you are. The band are very aware that they're very lucky to have fans like you who read stuff like this. See you next time. Anchorman x

11.39pm: The band are playing their encore. We just saw them when they came off before going back on and they were buzzing. Coldplay have had a blast.

11.31pm: There's a good chance you won't need us to tell you which song this is...

It's been a really, really great show. Amazing atmosphere and a marvellous way to bring Roskilde 2009 to a close.

Oh, by the way, the band are doing "a runner" tonight (ie leaving immediately after the show), so don't be alarmed if this coverage abruptly stops as we slam down our laptop lid and make a run for the car...!

11.17pm: Here's the crowd sounding might at the end of Viva about 10 minutes ago...

11.15pm: The band are doing their acoustic cover of Billie Jean. Sounds great.

11.01pm: The B-stage section, during Hardest Part. Sounded lovely.

10.44pm: Pics from the side of the stage during Fix You, which would've taken the roof of Roskilde if it had one.

10.31pm: It's fair to say the crowd are enjoying it...

10.22pm: The crowd and the band. (It's a bit hard to get live shots, cos "the pit" is full of professional photographers with sharp elbows...)

10.18pm: An almighty roar and Coldplay are on stage. It's bonkers out there. Pics to follow...

9.56pm: "Sun goes down 21.53 but it takes approx. 20-30 minutes more before it is dark." says Helle Helle who a) has a great name and b) sounds like they know what they're talking about. We can't see the sun, but then we can't see much apart from dressing rooms. Ooh, but we can hear the crowd chanting "Coldplay! Coldplay!".

9.52pm: Will was just telling us how proud he is that his name is apparently now in a Trivial Pursuit question/answer. He's very chuffed indeed. Anyone seen it?

9.44pm: Just been in the dressing room with the band, who are getting into their stage outfits (Chris is still changing, hence no pic of him...). Fifteen minutes til stage time and you can feel the excitement building nicely (both in the crowd and in the dressing room...).

9.22pm: OK. Martin Emil reckons it'll be dark about 10pm. Ida Lundell's saying 11pm. Nicole's saying 10.30pm. David B's saying 9.54pm. Mayur Shikotra reckons 9.56pm. And Emil thinks the sun will set at 9.52pm. Only time, it seems, will tell. (But thanks to everyone for your speedy emails.)

9.17pm: Anyone out there know what time it'll get dark at Roskilde tonight? Feel free to email anchorman@coldplay.com if you do (it's still very much daylight now...). Thanks.

[its 21.59h local time Anchorman! :-) ]

9.13pm: This is what the backstage catering grill looks like. Twas very tasty (although we ate it far too quickly).

8.57pm: It's a dressing room acoustic rehearsal and it sounds very ace indeed.

8.42pm: Chris is now back in the dressing having had his dinner. Jonny is telling him about his quest to buy a fan (not a Coldplay fan, one of the ones which spins round, shooting cold air at you...)

8.31pm: Four little radio packs, ready and waiting...

8.21pm: OK, the good news is that Mr Christopher Martin has just arrived. The bad news, from a live blog perspective, is that he's gone straight to get some dinner. But rest assured. we will post a pic as soon as we can.

8.00pm: Two hours until stage time and Jonny is in the dressing room learning to play The Entertainer on his guitar. Odd, but true. Chris should be here any minute...

7.50pm: It's Guy with his pal Magne from a-ha!

7.42pm: Roskilde Festival looks a little bit like this (it's been going since Thursday night, so forgive anyone looking a little rough around the edges...)

7.35pm: Well done Mr Federer. You've made your biggest fan (Arlene, one of Coldplay's management team) very happy indeed. The band have gone to get some dinner. Pictures of the Roskilde site coming in a sec...

7.14pm: It's fair to say that the band and crew are all *very* excited about the Wimbledon final. What a titanic match!

7.03pm: Here's how it's looking on the stage (Madness are on next, then it's Coldplay)

6.49pm: Here's the wee video of the dressing room jam... (don't get too excited before you press "play" - it was only filmed on a digital camera...)

6.37pm: Guy, Will and Jonny are in the dressing room, playing guitars. Here's a pic. Video coming shortly! (Chris is not here yet, should be here soon)

6.27pm: Chess is the new rock 'n roll...

6.18pm: Eagles of Death Metal are currently rocking the main stage where Coldplay will be playing in a little under four hours. The band are in the dressing room, we're just outside on a picnic table-cum-office which now has four computers and a lot of cables on it...

6.09pm: OK, so here are a couple of pictures from the flight. The reclining chair was home to Jonny, who caught a few winks on the way...

6.07pm: We're at Roskilde. Pictures coming...

On the plane to Roskilde - we're meeting Chris in Denmark. See you when we're there... A

3.45pm: Right, we gotta board the plane. We'll post a pic of Chris once we're there...

3.40pm: Guy's here. Wimbledon's on the telly.

3.32pm: Here's Jonny...

3.22pm: Mr Champion in the house...

3.01pm: Crikey, The Oracle's reputation appears to growing... And all that for answering Coldplay fans' questions.

2.41pm: OK, we've made it to the airport. None of the band are here just yet. This, though, is evidence of how the other half live...

1.34pm (Roskilde time): Hello and welcome to our live Roskilde blog. We're not actually with the band yet, but we will be soon (we're on our way to the airport). As it's not totally clear what the situation with wi-fi will be in Denmark, we've embedded the Twitter feed above, in case we can only update using that. But the plan will be to update this page itself with pictures and videos and news and wotnot.