Beximus

The current Canon entry level - 1100D - is a pretty decent camera, I'd recommend it. It's about £320-£350 at the moment new. Yeah, the bridge and superzoom cameras look too much like DSLRs sometimes to be allowed in. I have friends who always seem to manage it though. There are some great compacts though with good optical zooms - the Lumix series is good, and also the Canon Powershot IX range. They're nice and small so you'd have no issues getting it in, and they have 12x optical zoom minimun, so you've got a good range. I'm told the Powershots work better in low light, but I haven't had a chance to check yet.

Yeah, I would. I saw a few DSLRs at London, but I would never risk taking mine - I don't really know how they got then in either. You could get lucky and get a steward who doesn't check your bag, but I love my camera so I wouldn't risk it. Someone I know had their camera confiscated at Wembley a couple of years ago for a Foos gig and never got it back. Also, to be fair, unless you're right at the stage, the kit lens for the DSLR wouldn't get you any close pictures.

Floor seating at Coldplay is a really strange concept to me. They did it for their tour a few years ago and it was weird - I thought it killed the mood a bit. If I'd thought about it, I'd have gone for elevated seating rather than floor seating. I couldn't see the stage and had tall people repeatedly standing on their chairs all night in front of me. I like elevated seating sometimes - I can get a good overview of what everyone's doing, and I can always see the stage.

My only setlist gripe from that time was that they called the tour the 'Twisted Logic Tour' and then never played Twisted Logic. And I love that song. That's fair enough, but we all like different songs. Personally, I don't think it is one of the best live songs they play, but that's just me.

Don't see why not. R.E.M. hated Shiny Happy People and refused to play it at all, even though it's probably one of their most played, popular songs and ended up on probably their most critically acclaimed album. You don't know what went on behind the scenes with Shiver, how it was written or presented to the band in the first place. I always wonder with bands, how harmonious it is in the songwriting and recording process. Law of averages says that all members can't like all of their songs all of the time.

Mine did that last week. Sat on all day and I watched it just get darker and darker. It was quite sad.

I was really impressed by how clean it all was. It was the first time I'd seen people actively cleaning the floor and picking up all the bottles as the night went on. Nice not to be dancing and kicking empties at the same time.

Fair nuff. I went through a period where I didn't listen to IMP at all because it had been overplayed on the radio/tv. When I came back to it, I remembered why I really liked it in the first place. I have a soft spot for Politik and IMP. The first time I heard them was the week after IMP had got it's first play on the radio. We were standing right in front of the speaker stack on Guy's side of the stage and when they opened with Politik I could feel the bass resonating in my chest from the speakers which was highly odd at the time. Plus when they played IMP, I'd only heard it once yet seemed to know all the words too.

Oh yeah, I still like it live. Normally because I'm so caught up having an awesome time at the gig I don't care. When In My Place started this time round I think I bounced and squealed. I love it :D Yeah. In fairness, it could be any song which had been picked up wholesale and played everywhere by everyone, and we'd probably be bored of that one and wishing they'd play Clocks more.

I only actually like Fix You live now, and that's probably only because of the fireworks. I always skip it when it comes on my walkman. But I can't see how they could leave it out really, not while they're playing massive shows like this. The casuals, and the people who haven't seen them before would have a fit if it wasn't played. I suppose it's the same with Clocks. The songs that get all the airplay, the ones we're generally sick of because they get played and played, are the ones that will probably never leave the setlist until they do the small-club-back-to-our-roots-gig (which one day may happen, you'll never know...). In My Place has to stay though. I love it. Good memories of that.

You're not alone. Don't get me wrong, I do like it, but AROBTTH would have been much preferred.

To be honest, as much as I love it live, I don't think it would have fitted with the feel of the rest of the show if it had been in there. Difficult to explain exactly, but the vibe of the show and the way they put together, it would have been a bit of a dischord to put it in. I think that makes sense :p

I've never had a problem at a gig, although I've heard some horror stories. At Birmingham Coldplay a couple of years ago, I saw Stewards stopping people filming, but not taking pictures. Although it was all seated and easier to get to people. I remember a Scissor Sister's gig where Ana shouted at everyone using their cameras all the time and just wanted them to watch and enjoy!

Yeah, cameras are fine. There were people at the Emirates with DSLRs, so I wouldn't worry about it. I took my point and click, very glad I did.

Mine lit up and then the battery went. It was a sad time.

He sounds quite happy, so I'm guessing yes :p

Ha thanks :) We hadn't planned it, but we couldn't believe no one was there. We were going to go for seats on the side and get a bit of an overview of the pitch but couldn't pass up the opportunity to be right in front of them, especially as we'd been behind them at Coventry and I just had pictures of the back of everyone's heads. And I think you're closer there than you would be at the front. I agree - I do miss being at the front, but I don't think my knees would cope with it anymore.

Had a really good time at this one, stuff the rain :p When we got in and noticed that there was no one standing by the second stage, well of course we had to oblige, and got ourselves on that barrier right in front of them. Closest we've been to them in a gig for years! Got a few pictures here if anyone wants to have a look.

It was a fantastic gig, well up there in my list. I was back by the second stage there so had a cracking view for those couple of songs. I've got some pictures up here if you want to have a look. Also, has anyone else's Xylobands just turned back on? Our Coventry bands have, but not our Emirates ones.

Ha, no worries. I don't know how widespread the problem was, but think it was only Ticket Factory. Don't know on that one, sorry. In all fairness, they seem to have noticed and rectified the problem with a fair bit of time to spare. So if they've sent the tickets out now, they should still have about two weeks to be passed on to new owners I would have thought. I got the email from them very quickly after it had gone out to the delivery company, but it could easily differ from one person to the next.

Is there any news on Marina and the Diamonds making her support slots in the UK? I read she'd been put on medical rest until the end of May, which cuts into her time. Haven't seen anything since to confirm or deny.

I had an email today saying that they'd been sent mine out today by Royal Mail special delivery. So check your email now and see. Ticket Factory had a problem with the tickets they sent out for the 1st June show, so they've got them all back and are now sending out the right tickets. I remember the good old days where you could turn up at doors, wander for a t-shirt and still end up front row :D Feeling a bit old now...

It's an odd one. I'm lucky in that my postie's a good 'un and makes sure we get our stuff. I've had nothing but trouble from courier comapnys though. It comes to something when they're bad enough to make you feel more secure from the normal post.

We chased around the whole of Wembley Stadium concourse looking for someone handing those out - no way I was leaving without one :p I'll be keeping an eye out for the bands. They look awesome so I definitely want to make sure I've got one.

Thanks for the reply :) I've just rung the number - your advisor was very helpful. I've acknowledged that the tickets are refused (we're both at work so no-one in to sign for them!) so hopefully it'll all carry on from there. I'd guess someone found a pile of tickets that should have already been sent out :p