invisibleman18

Think it's the only concert I've been to where I can't think of a single song that was left out but should have been included. Everything essential was played. Even a week or so later now I still can't really come up with anything major that was left out. Maybe it would have been nice to get Trouble or another early song as we only got Yellow from Parachutes but the setlist was absolutely perfect.

My personal review: I haven't been on this forum for a little while although did join back in 2005. Anyway, I made the trip up to Auckland from Wellington with my partner on Thursday night and we stayed with her parents. I went to the last Coldplay concert here in 2009 (unfortunately they didn't make it to NZ on the X&Y tour before that for some reason) and for my partner it was her first Coldplay concert. Saturday was a glorious day. Absolutely perfect weather for an outdoor concert. Unfortunately Mt Smart Stadium is in a very inconvenient part of Auckland. You cannot really park anywhere near the area but luckily there were free event trains and buses so we borrowed a car from her parents and drove into town, parked and then head down to the free train. Arrived at the stadium about 6.40ish. I bought a programme and then we were handed our wristbands - I got a yellow one which I felt was quite appropriate while she got blue. The Pierces began at 6.45 while we were checking out merchandise (resulting in me forking ou a ridiculous sum for t-shirt each) and then purchasing something for dinner as we figured this was the best time rather than joing the mad rush between Temper Trap and Coldplay. Made it to our seats (Lower East stand) just after 7. The Pierces were ok but the sound was awful. They seemed to have the instruments turned up much too loud so you couldn't hear the voices at all. They finished about 7.25 and the Temper Trap came on 10 minutes later. They had the sound much better although I still felt the instruments were a bit loud. I hadn't heard of them before and they were pretty good although I found the singer's voice a bit weird. About 8.25 we decided to nip out for a last toilet visit and 1 more drink just before what we guessed would be the last song. Turned out to be a good decision as they finished while we were heading back to our seats and queues were already massive. Onto the main event. About 9 Jay-Z's 99 Problems burst out of the speakers and we wondered whether we had turned up on the wrong night! Then the Back to the Future theme and then as Coldplay emerged onto the stage our wristbands suddenly began flashing. There was a quite audbile gasp around the stadium and a chorus of whoas. It was an incredible effect and Hurts Like Heaven was a great way to start. In My Place was next and this was a real highlight for me with Chris running down to the end of the catwalk in front of the stage and throwing himself up in the air during the chorus while confetti rained down around him. The sound was absolutely perfect with every instrument and word being heard clearly. Chris knew how to get the audience on side thanking us for "getting through the traffic and ticket prices and coming from other cities and the South Island" and then promising to "play the best fucking concert of our lives." The Scientist soon followed and this was probably my number 1 highlight of the night. My favourite song and with the whole audience singing along to the chorus it was incredible. Then came Yellow with Chris signgin the first verse in a slow piano version then getting up and dedicating it to 2 recent NZ disasters - "This is for Pike River and Christchurch. This is Yellow," and began from the start with the usual version. For those who don't know, Pike River being a mine disaster a couple of years ago killing 29 men and I assume the Christchurch earthquake which killed 185 made the news in most places. It was a nice moment. God Put a Smile Upon Your face was a great addition which they didn't play last time. They messed up the hardout guitar bit near the end which I don't think anyone notice but they stopped, Chris apologised for "fucking it up" and they started again. Princess of China has not been one of my favourites but was very well down with Rihanna on the big screen. The real highlight for everyone was of course Viva La Vida which brought everyone in the stands to their feet and noone sat down again for the rest of the night. At the end of the song Chris collapsed exhausted at the end of the catwalk while the crowd continued on with "oh oh oh oh ohhhhhhhhhhhhh" for a good couple more minutes. They finished off with Paradise which was another I was really looking forward to and it didn't disappoint with the wristbands giving great effect. And off they went for a few minutes before returning, this time on a platform in the middle of the general admission audience to which Chris said "we can't come all the way to New Zealand without going to the back of the crowd can we?" They played a nice acoustic version of Speed of Sound followed by the beautiful Us Against the World before running back through the crowd to the stage. My partner asked if I thought they were finished but I said "they haven't done Clocks yet so can't be" and sure enough that came next, followed by an incredible version of Fix You which everyone sung every word too. Finally they finished off with Every Tear Drop is a Waterfall which made for a great rocking finale. Chris thanked the audience for "giving us the best job in the world" and the 4 of them really did look the best of mates. And with that they were gone and we could catch our breath back. It was absolutelt incredible. No words can possible do it justice. The 2009 show was amazing but there's just something about being in an outdoor stadium that makes it extra special. It was without a doubt the best concert I've been too, even ahead of Oasis at Wembley Stadium in 2009 which was a lifelon dream of mine to attend and I described it as the best night of my life at the time. Truly unbelieveable. I feel sorry for every future concert I attend because now everything has to be compared to this. Only downside of the night was exiting the stadium as stadium management had decided to close all but one gate and force all 40,000+ people through the one exit. Was a little bit scary at times and it could easily have been a Hillsborough type situation. Once through the gate it was fine though. I'll get some photos up over the next couple of days. The setlist was as per the recent part of the tour: 1."Mylo Xyloto" (contains elements of "Back to the Future Overture") (Instrumental Introduction) 2."Hurts Like Heaven" 3."In My Place" 4."Major Minus" 5."Lovers in Japan" 6."The Scientist" 7."Yellow" 8."Violet Hill" 9."God Put a Smile upon Your Face" 10."Princess of China" 11."Up in Flames" 12."Warning Sign" 13."A Hopeful Transmission" (Instrumental Interlude) 14."Don't Let It Break Your Heart" 15."Viva la Vida" 16."Charlie Brown" 17."Paradise" Encore 18."Us Against the World" 19."Speed of Sound" 20."Clocks" 21."Fix You" 22."M.M.I.X." (Instrumental Interlude) 23."Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall

Auckland attendee here! Haven't been on this forum for a little while but I will put together a review this afternoon. To those attending tonight, you are in for a massive treat. For those wondering about the timing: The Pierces came on about 6.45 until about 7.25ish. Temper Trap came on about 10 minutes later until about 8.30 and then Coldplay just after 9 until about 10.50.

When I was in the US earlier this year I got 44 cents for my $1NZ. Now it's over 70 cents!

My video of Yellow: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=859ahL_2Xts]YouTube - Coldplay - Yellow - Auckland 18/03/09[/ame] It's almost all of the song. A steward told me to stop filming near the end.

Would love to have heard 'What if' and 'White Shadows.'

Life in Technicolor: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT6WzzRe_xc]YouTube - Coldplay - Life in Technicolor - Auckland 18/03/09[/ame] Have to go out now so I'll upload Yellow when I get a chance over the weekend.

My videos of Life in Technicolor and Yellow are to come. Filmed the whole entrance/Life in Technicolor and almost all of Yellow before a steward came and told me to stop.

Nah I missed it as I had to go out but I'll watch it online now.

Here are the best of my photos: I'll try and upload my videos if I get time tomorrow.

Finally got a chance to sit down and relive the concert. Easily the best concert I have been to even if it is only my 4th (the previous being Snow Patrol x 2 and Matchbox 20). It was also my 4th time at Vector Arena (Snow Patrol, Matchbox 20 and Billy Connolly previously) and the first time I have seen it sold out and packed from wall to wall. Previously it's only been half full with the stage pushed forward and half the place curtained off. It's hard to put into words but I think 'epic' is the best way to sum it up in 1 word. It had everything - spectacular globes hanging from the ceiling with special effects, lasers, balloons bouncing throughout the crowd, the band going up into the audience for a short acoustic set and tonnes of multi coloured confetti flying all over the place. Finally the lights went out, Life in Technicolor began playing and the band emerged onto the stage at about 9.15pm. Anticipation was high after sitting through a couple of pretty mediocre support acts (in my opinion anyway - at least, they did nothing to make me want to seek them out on youtube or listen to their albums which support acts from previous concerts have done for me). Great opening from Coldplay went straight into Violet Hill then Clocks which was accompanied by an amazing laser light show then In My Place. Brilliant opening to the concert. Chris Martin then asked the crowd to make a lot of noise if we wanted some older hits like Yellow. Yellow then began after much screaming and yellow balloons filled with confetti appeared from nowhere and bounced throughout the crowd before eventually burtsing. I filmed almost all the song until one of the stewards asked me to stop so I stuck to photos after that. The show continued with the same setlist and Fix You and Viva La Vida were highlights with the entire crowd singing every word. The band then went up into the the stand at the back to play a few acoustic tracks amongst the crowd. Green Eyes was followed by an old Will sung track (Death Will Never Conquer). A cover of I'm a Believer then followed which was very well received by the crowd. There was then a short break while the band returned to the stage and they went into Politik which was followed by Lovers in Japan during which tonnes of multi coloured confetti appeared from nowhere. They said their thanks and left the stage after Death and All His Friends. A few people on the ground started leaving but I said to my mate that they were leaving a bit early. There hadn't really been a proper encore and there were still 2 or 3 quite big songs that hadn't been played yet so I was sure they'd be back. And they were with The Scientist which is one of my favourites. Life in Technicolor ii completed the show which made a great ending. Turned into an expensive night with the $180NZ ticket, the $50 tour t-shirt with show locations on the back and the $25 program I bought, added to parking and dinner costs but it was well worth it. Pretty good program actually. Usually they cost about the same but are much thinner and not worth looking at. Now I'll start sorting through photos and post the ones that came out OK, along with my videos.

Wish I could go again too!

No, they opened with Life in Technicolor from the album, and played Life in Technicolor ii from Prospekt's March in the encore. Not exactly the same track twice. :)

Setlist: Life in Technicolor Violet Hill Clocks In My Place Yellow Cemeteries of London Glass of Water 42 Fix You Strawberry Swing God Put a Smile Upon Your Face (Techno Version) Talk (Techno Version) The Hardest Part (Chris and Will) Viva La Vida Lost! Green Eyes (Acoustic) Short Acoustic song with Will vocals (anyone know the title?) I'm a Believer (Acoustic) Viva La Vida (remix interlude) Encore 1: Politik Lovers in Japan Death and All His Friends Encore 2: The Scientist Life in Technicolor ii The Escapist (outro) So 'Speed of Sound' was missing from the Australia setlists I've seen on here but no complaints. You can't get everything. Will post more of a review and photos later. :)

Oh man words cannot describe that! Best concert I've been to easily. Loads of photos so I'll sort through them tomorrow and post the good ones. Couple of videos although not too many as one of the stewards came and told me off so I stuck to photos after that. Didn't want to film too much anyway as it stops you enjoying it properly.

24 hours. :D

I wouldn't worry about going alone though. I went to Snow Patrol by myself. Just because none of my friends wanted to didn't mean I had to miss out did it? Maybe more fun going with others but it's not like you're going to talk to each other during the show are you?

Can you give me a link to Ballad of J. Smith please? :D

I'll be there on the 13th! Can't wait. Been waiting a decade or so for this opportunity!

I guess it will probably be Opshop or someone similar. Usually it's a local or Aussie band isn't it?

They have just arrived. :)

Has anyone who bought tickets online from ticketmaster received them yet? Got mine in the 1st pre-sale and they still haven't come which is odd for ticketmaster. Usually they come within a few days. Has been the holiday period though to be fair. Guess I should give them a ring in a couple of days if they still haven't arrived.

Hurry up before they both sell out! I just had a look for the best available seat for the first show out of interest and it couldn't find anything which suggests all seats are gone for that one. Did you manage to get a ticket Rick?

All I can say is they must have sold a shit load of tickets in today's pre-sale because already a 2nd show the next day has been announced! Wouldn't have expected that until the first had at least been on general sale on Monday. Lower bowl is best. Upper bowl is too high to see anything that well, especially if you are far back. Have a look at the venue map on ticketmaster and you can sort of work out where you are. If you see the numbers in the corner of each section, I believe they are the number of the seat at that end of the section. But the front row is actually K, not A so you are not too far back in row P.

Who? Top Gear? Same reason anyone does a tour. To take their show to fans around the world.