Tonsu

Thank you so much for your updates Nancy, as always. I don't post on the forum anymore, as a rule, but I have to say something here. Huge quantities of money have been raised by charities. Equally huge sums of money were long ago pledged by foreign governments. Neither funds are properly getting through to the people on the ground. The last article I read said that people in Haiti have no no jobs, and so no way to earn money to feed or clothe their families. But the local government, the international community, and aid agencies, have had a lot of this money since the disaster struck. If they would only pay people to build things and to reconstruct there would be no problem. If the money runs out, we will get more. But what has already been raised is not even being used :cry: I would suggest that this is a crime against humanity... Nancy, please let us all know if there is anything we can do, here on this thread.

Evening all :) Cooky!! :o :dance: :kiss:

<edit> Done :)

Sorry guys, I am just too tired with all of this plumbing nightmare (looks like we might have to have the floor removed just in time for Christmas :cry:) to write my normal full review. I usually write my (probably inane) stuff as soon as I get in and that means it's full of the important detail (at least for me :P) but that wasn't possible this time. I've posted some thoughts already. Most importantly, once again I'd like to thank the incomparable Jayzo for providing me with a ticket, but even more incredibly (as if it was possible to give me more than one of my very best nights, in my life, ever) for using so much of his time and energy making sure I was able to pick up the tickets. He was stuck in the States and couldn't make the gig, but worked non-stop to make sure I did. Of all the many lovely people I've met through here, he is one of the very best, without question :sunny: Love you mate (in the most of platonic senses of course!!) And buddy I danced for both of us, promise! This gig was very very special for me for many reasons, I'll list them (in no particular order): - It was awesome to chat to the guys from Choir With No Name at various points. Real people, with such sad stories, but with new lives now and hope for the future. Incredible. We met a guy afterwards from the band who was born in Britain and abandoned at the age of five or six. He didn't know which country his parents were from. He didn't even know why he'd been given the name he has, or what it means. His life was in pieces until this charity gave him the chance. Incredible credit to the boys for this. Having them support was NO token effort (as Chris having dinner with them afterwards shows). They were an essential part of the evening for the band, and that was just so clear. The charity more than deserved the huge amount the gig raised for them, and thanks to the band, now thousands and thousands of people around the world know about this very worthy cause. - The venue was absolutely incredible, a dream, such a magical setting :) We had people dressed as characters from the Wizard of Oz (I guess from the pantomime). It was like a fairytale. Brixton was a mind-blowing place to see a band who pack stadiums - this was better :sunny: <edit> - it seems the theme came from The Wizard of Oz - 'there's no place like home' - with the yellow brick road on the posters for the gig. Doh - wish I'd made that connection at the time!! - The boys in their suits. They looked great, and it was so refreshing to see them confidently move out of the Viva era (much as I adored it). Viva gave this band its mojo back I think (whatever that means, I don't actually know :laugh3:) - I didn't know the setlist :dance: I'd avoided looking at the night before's deliberately, although I'd had hints, and insisted that I was told if they'd played Lovers in Japan (my favourite) because I would have waited for it all night, and been devastated if I'd hoped for it and they didn't play it. I also had to know about Shiver after the HUGE tease on Coldplay.com. People missed the drums (and I missed the first half) but what I did see was the most powerful version of Shiver I've ever seen live. I wonder why Guy hates it so? I'm not asking for speculation, that's rhetorical! It might be something personal, and we have to respect that, but just Jonny and Chris on guitar was mindblowing :shocked: - They played Lovers in Japan!!! Need I say more?! For me their best song since Warning Sign. Having lived in Osaka for so many years I know I may be a bit biased, but I honestly fell in love with this song the most from Viva from the very first listen. Just ecstasy. - And and Dec were awesome. I've never been fans, but they were brilliant in the flesh actually. Makes me want to go back and watch Byker Grove (almost) :laugh3: - God Put a Smile - proper version. One of my top five from them, I last heard it at Brixton 2008. The ending where Jonny goes wild on guitar is one of their finest moments for me. - As someone put it so well by text, no gimmicks. This is the band I saw on the ARoBttH tour for the first time. Just four guys and their instruments, mostly. Playing to the crowd from Chris of course, but that's one of the things that made the band make such an impression on me the first time I saw them, along with the power of them live. 'Sitting' so close, I could see what incredibly consummate musicians they are, how close they are, so tight as a unit. I've never been so near before, except front row at Manchester. But that was part of the highly-orchestrated Viva tour. Chris was sick or not comfortable that night (sorry Debs, I will always disagree with you there!! :P) What was incredible was that a lot of the stage performance from Chris was gone (lying on the ground at the end of In My Place and VLV etc). I love that stuff once or twice on a tour, but after a few gigs it doesn't mean much. Please don't get me wrong, I completely understand why they do it - they have to, and Chris does it so well!! But all that stuff was missing at this gig, and it was all the better for it for me :) - Our seats. Did I mention we were seven or so feet from centre stage, with me in the aisle and all the space I needed and could ever have dreamed of having at a Coldplay gig to dance? (Sure I have somewhere!! :P) Dancing and singing along is the most important thing for me, so for me this was an unbelievable opportunity. I rocked out so hard (and was so tired from the travel, and also my anaemia) that I had to hold on to the seat in front to keep standing up at times (sure the Guinness helped though of course :P). Words cannot describe... - Till Kingdom Come with a different arrangement was brilliant. I thought it was a bit flat on the x&y tour, and got sick of it after five or so gigs, but they've remade it. I really hope to hear it again someday now. I may not ever, but hearing that version has made me love the song again as I always used to from the cd :) - The guy getting up on stage to propose was so sweet. I still can't believe the hecklers, but they shut up soon enough (thank goodness). They looked like a lovely couple, and it doesn't get much better than that does it as a fan?!! - Jonny's guitar solo for In My Place was one of the most breathtaking moments of my life. It always makes me shiver (no pun intended) but this was the best ever for me. So close; so much room to dance; so perfect. - Hearing Christmas Lights live - unforgettable :sunny: They're already playing it as background music to stuff like the Nigella Lawson Pretends to Cook Stuff But Actually It's All done By Her Assistants and Film Crew show (heard tonight) so I guess it may not happen again, or at least very, very rarely. Magical (I'm running out of superlatives here!) - Ok, I'm almost done! (the forum breathes a sigh of relief no doubt after my self-indulgent mutterings :P) Just a final thank you to the dapper gentleman Darren who took the spare ticket, and was both a perfect host in Newcastle and a great person to see such a gig with. He was stunned both with our seats and the performance. I hope he posts his vids and pics (in fact I'll make sure of it!) but will tell him to leave out the ones where I ruin them by singing like crazy and very badly (but then again, if I do that, he can't post any of them I guess :laugh3:) Expect to see something here soon, hopefully. I'm a professional critic, so let's critique!! But please understand that this was a perfect night, and whatever minor quibbles I have are nothing more than nothing, I'm just including them for completeness :) - I don't know if VLV has a place anymore. It absolutely defined their last phase. I love the song to death, but I don't know how they will move forward into a new era with it, it's (for me) almost like it might hold them back. They can't not play it of course, and that may be the problem. The singing from the crowd carried on of course once the song had finished, but unlike on the tour where they rightfully milked that, they seemed to want to move on swiftly here. I guess that's the answer in future. The next question is, though, will they have to produce a bigger anthem in future, or feel they have to? For me the answer to both is 'no' but I worry that they will feel that pressure. Oh well, let's wait and see! - Clocks hasn't been good for me since 2006 (when they had that great sped-up ending) but then it's never been my favourite. Time to drop it I'd say. There's too much from this band to depend on past glories like that. - Glass of Water and Cemeteries were odd choices. Cemeteries fills a stadium but not a small venue when the crowd aren't singing along particularly (they got louder as the night went on), or clapping when it's needed. Glass of Water to me is a strange one - nice song, not that well known by more casual fans, not a classic. It's like Politik without the edge; the heart and soul (wordplay intended this time!) that transforms a great Coldplay song (as they all are) into one of the best songs ever. 42 and Violet Hill (perfect opener) were much missed by me and let's hope they return!! Life in Technicolor would have mindblowing in such a small setting and is surely far more widely loved, Strawberry Swing too. Of all the Viva-era songs to be dropped, let's hope these are ones that stick around! To think that Wembley '09 might have been my last time to hear any of them, but especially 42 and Violet Hill :cry: - Yellow's not a great very early song imho (first two tracks), and certainly not a starter, but full credit to the band for trying it out!! Experimentation was the name of the game, and that was what made this gig so very very special, so again this is absolutely no complaint, just an observation - or my own humble opinion, rather :) I would MUCH rather see this type of gig than the polished-to-perfection shows of the main tour. So, that's it really - not as long or as self-indulgent as one of my usual reviews :laugh3: I was absolutely blessed to see this show, and it feels like an end of a journey for me. I first listened to A Rush in my little apartment in Japan when my then-girlfriend brought a stack of CDs over and thought to myself 'hmmm, both the Richard Ashcroft one and this are really special'. On first seeing them at Fuji Rock 2003 - having seen probably more than a thousand live sets - my jaw absolutely hit the floor when Politik started, and I fell in love. Crystal Palace at the start of the x&y tour was something special, but I didn't realise it at the time - an incredible mix of old and new, and full of golden nuggets like the incredible Everything's Not Lost. Great on CD but probably an even better crowd singalong than Viva for me. After that it was multiple nights at arena tours, apart from the brilliant Brixton and the very special indeed BBC mini gig. But, this was the gig I've always dreamed of. Pretty much a full set; feet from the stage but with limitless room to dance; impromptu; daring; a band at the very top of their game (as they have been for years) without ever really seeming to believe it themselves; Christmas Lights.... I could go on forever but I have to stop somewhere, and so it is here. :heart:

Right well some of the details are beginning to fade, and no time for a full review yet. I'll just add, while I remember, that the coach back to London took us along, of all places, Oxford Street, the first time I'd seen the Christmas lights there for four or five years :wacky: That's the one!! :laugh3: I hope to go to a gig with both you guys sometime - your husband sounds like someone I should meet! :)

No rest for the wicked :( We have a plumbing emergency here today, which makes it unlikely I'll be able to post my full review :\ It was an uncomfortable journey, but I was just glad to get back at all!! :) I hope I didn't give the wrong impression - I don't think Chris recognises me! It's just that I stand out as I'm quite tall and dance A LOT, so most likely Chris just picks the craziest person to give his craziest look to or it's just strange coincidence :laugh3: Ah, now I know who you guys were, loved the hats! What were you doing under the stage?!! Yes I've seen that stare my friend, that's a nice one! The one I'm talking about is when he opens his eyes right up wide, like he's trying to be as scary as possible (and it worked on me the first time - I thought he was going to have me chucked out!!) But you're absolutely right, and for the first time I was actually able to enjoy it :laugh3:

No problem, we all understand I'm sure, and thanks so much for posting :)

Ok, so so far no vids of me - wonderful!! So glad you made it ok and safe and sound to both the gigs and had an amazing time, it would have been great to meet you, maybe next time! :) If I've quoted the right video that moment between Chris and Guy was one of the most touching parts of the gig for me :) I asked on Youtube where you were sitting, but having seen your pic I know - you were in the seats in front of us I think! You looked like such a big fan I wanted to say 'hi' and wish I had now. You were both sat near (or next to) our friend (also!) Laura. I was the guy in the aisle seat - apologies for the bad singing, but I just can't help myself, even when I get a lot of the lyrics mixed up :laugh3: :sunny: <edit> Youtube won't let me post my revised version as I've deleted two comments so far. Here's what I wrote, I'll try to copy it back in tomorrow: 'Unbelievable, thanks so much :) Where were you sitting? We were second row, right section, I was in the aisle seat (very handy!) <edit> Just wrote on the forum after seeing your pic that you guys were, I think, right in front of us, and near to or next to our friend :) I'm Tonsu on the forum by the way, shame we didn't meet! Five stars twice over from me!'

It was an amazing moment, and really touching. I was sad about the hecklers, but luckily it all became good in the end :) Chris' face was an absolute picture at certain points! I won't post what happened because I doubt many people saw it up close, and it's not in the video that's been uploaded. I absolutely love that song, and it was only the second time to hear it (I think) despite going to six Viva gigs, but it was the (very, very slight!!) weak link in the set for me. Simply because an astonishingly large proportion of the audience didn't seem to know it that well (not the band's fault of course!) and so there wasn't a great reaction, and the awesome singalong and hand clapping* that song deserves was missing :( * That was missing at a few points in general I thought, so I did my best to get things going when I could :)

Thanks Natascha! It seems a lot of the reviews have covered most of what was what (and I've only read a few!) but I'll see if I have a little something I can add :) <edit> I was going to take my Japanese fan that beans (Rie) gave me at Manchester, and a sack full of confetti if LiJ was going to be played, but I didn't think it would be so I didn't...oh well, at least we heard it :dance:

Got in just an hour or so ago from Newcastle - thanks to all the Intercity towards King's Cross being cancelled today we really didn't think we'd make it back, but we got lucky on a National Express coach (surprisingly few people were on it considering many hundreds of people weren't able to use the train). ANYWAY, what an amazing gig, perhaps the very best ever for me (stretching back to 2003 in Japan). Absolutely awesome, although my best buddy from here couldn't make it, which took the icing off the cake, so to speak :cry: Lovers in Japan...wow :dance: I know every song before it starts from the 'warm up' chords or tuning they do, and when I heard that LiJ was coming, after not being played the previous night, just...:shocked2: Completely exhausted tonight but full review to follow. Before I forget, very little eye contact from any of the band for me (not that I mind) - although the ladies near the front tell a completely different story :P I got my now traditional stare from Chris (the stare - one where it feels like he's daring you to blink first). Maybe he just doesn't like my dancing - I'm sure he's not the only one :laugh3: It all started at Brixton where we were the biggest dancers and singers even though the album had only been out for a few days...officially, that is, because thanks to the leak from Cyril we knew every single word to every song, unlike almost everyone there (including Chris at times :laugh3:). And now that's the only recognition I ever get from Chris if he spots me :P For the first time ever though I just held his gaze with the craziest big grin on my face until he looked away - Mr Martin, I have you sussed now!! :lol: An absolutely magical night. Far too much to take in. Absolutely overwhelming. Shared a nice moment with Dec (is it him? The one who always stands on the audience's right) who was loving it with Ant on the balcony. I've never liked them that much on telly - they're very professional, but their double act has always come across as a bit plastic to me. How wrong I was! Very funny in the flesh, and the perfect MCs, Ant (? The bushy-eyebrowed one) did a great VLV too :) Um, yes...those are just my 'short' thoughts on the night :P (I dearly hope I'm not in too many videos. Unfortunately it's inevitable I'll be in some as I was the loon in absolute ecstasy at the front in the aisle, dancing just six feet from the band as if no-one was watching (as if!!) just as I've always dreamed. I also kept turning round to take in the theatre and look for friends.)

Three posts above me - reported for ticket scalping/touting - NOT ALLOWED HERE. Off soon, hope the trains are ok!

Exactly - no jumper, you'd freeze to death :( Pfft, England would be better without London full stop...:P (only half joking!!) It may very well be for some people. If it is for you, imagine that just as the cannons would normally go off Chris announced 'well you love this song because the confetti fires now, right? Well, tonight, here's the song but you're not getting any confetti, bwahahaha. Phil, don't fire the confetti, make them suffer!' That's how I feel without the song played, confetti or not :cry:

My good gods....gadzooks...that is pretty scary...buttering marmalade onto pure nothingness, and then the knife disappears too :o :cry:

Yes it's like that :cry: It's like going to the beach with your dearest loved one, under a bright tropical sky...and then the sea disappears...and the fish all die because they're out of water...then the palm trees go *poof* and you turn around and your dearest has gone too, like a dream that never was...and then the beach itself turns into boiling hot coals under your feet...:cry:

Christmas without family...without friends...without presents... It's like the kid at the fairground who *so* wants a balloon, more than anything else in the World, but the helium runs out just before he gets to the front of the queue... It's like Thanksgiving without the Turkey, like Easter without the eggs... How long will it take the band to realise this? :cry: It's NOT about butterfly confetti! It's about the purest, simplest, and most beautiful song the band have ever written being played, as it should always be. Post your 'it's like...' here please, in empathy and solidarity. :( <edit> some people missed it due to my very dry sense of humour, but this thread is meant to be somewhat ironic and playful. So, go to town! :P By the way, the band played it the very next night, and I was there, so I like to think the thread 'worked' haha :dance: :P :laugh3: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPFLqx2bEhM&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Coldplay live Newcastle Crisis gig 20.12.10 In My Place Love[/ame]

Yes of course, we'll stay in good touch about everything tomorrow :nice: I've been chatting to Darren and he may be new on the forum but he seems like a top guy and fully deserving a ticket if there's one going :)

Thanks guys!! I have the official email with the Metro address and map now, but it seems so strange that the actual venue box office was open today but not tomorrow (and it was opened after the email was sent out) :\ Oh well, hopefully see you all tomorrow :sunny:

I'm confused (easily done, ha!), where are we to pick up tickets from? The venue or Metro Radio Arena? Cheeky grasshopper!! :P I'm the guest on this one, and sadly my mate (and much-loved forum member) is struggling desperately against the odds right now to make it over from the States :cry: The boat...don't get me started...my guest couldn't come because of the piss-poor organisation from Coldplay HQ changing the boat time for (in the end quite clearly) no good reason :( To end on a positive note, better to have too many tickets and make someone's day than not have enough :sunny:

Oh I hope the snow's not too bad... It looks like there's a strong possibility I may have a spare for tomorrow night. I should know by around midnight tonight, but may already be in bed, in which case I'll post here first thing in the morning. <edit> Looks like I already have someone lined up.

Does anyone know if all seated tickets were allocated in advance? (Just trying to get an idea for Newcastle tomorrow.)

Cool, cheers!

Why's the thread title been changed to include the venue? I didn't think it had been definitely confirmed? Thanks, bringing wellies sounds like a definite plan!!

Thanks Kat! Wellies it is!

Yes, congrats all :) Can anyone tell me if there's snow on the ground in Newcastle?