Stephie

My top 3 artists have been the same for the past 12 or 13 years. My music taste got mostly shaped when I was about 16/17 and I still like the things I discovered back then. (Number 1 is Coldplay, but you knew that, right?) No 2: U2 - epic legends with such a varied back catalogue No 3: Duke Special - a Northern Irish singer/songwriter that looks a little frightening with long dreadlocks, eyeliner and hobo chic outfits, but really makes wonderful piano-based music with a romantic style and his warm, distinctly accented voice. He's very much inspired by vaudeville and theatrical productions. His recent album has a more electronic influence, though. He's really not well known, but I can only recommend to check him out.

Gosh, I love this band. I'm still dazzled by the tour this year... I'll give it a go in no particular order (except that One is actually my number one :nod:): One Bad Where The Streets Have No Name Pride (In The Name Of Love) Running To Stand Still Walk On Zoo Station Stay (Far Away, So Close!) The Fly The Ground Beneath Her Feet Somebody mentioned that many people had Walk On on their lists. I agree that there are probably better songs, but it's the one that made me a fan (I was too young before ATYCLB) and that is very dear to me therefore. I wondered whether others had a similar story.

Good find! I'd say bump. :) Zoo battle: Zooropa vs. Zoo Station

This picture is too exquisite for your computer to handle. :wink3:

Yes, I have. Inside and on top of it. However, I prefer Top of the Rock, because you can actually see the ESB in all its glory. Have you ever celebrated NYE somewhere abroad?

:laugh4: Haha, yeah sometimes I can't believe it myself that I've already seen them so many times and that there are 6 tickets piling up for next year already. Lots of opportunities to make more happy Coldplay memories.

What gentleparachute said, basically! (Always so articulate.) Thanks so much for saving this site and invaluable piece of fandom, Sparky! Back then I was so afraid it would be the end. You did an amazing job! Best wishes to you, Stephen, and most of all: have fun! Up&up&up! :)

Oh yes, they absolutely are! I guess the writer got the album for Christmas and remembered that Coldplay exist. :D (Well, I have to say it wasn't too bad. Bonus points for mentioning Phil.)

Local newspaper has a Coldplay article today, titled "Now they're done whining", lol. :D

Lovely memories in here. :) So mine for 2015 would be (no particular order): 1) Listening to AOAL about 40 times on its release date and being so happy that the boys are back and that a tour is impending, where I would be able to sing along to the woohoos from the top of my lungs. 2) Enjoying AHFOD in its entirety for the first time shortly after midnight on Dec 4 lying in bed with my headphones. Such an amazing experience! I can still feel the moment of Chris ending with, "Don't ever give up", and thinking that this is my band. 3) Winning tickets for Offenbach and that smile:

LOL, I don't even understand this article and it's reasoning or better contribution to the world than what it criticizes. However, the word pompous always makes me giggle and think of that:

This song still makes me so happy, it really shouldn't be allowed. :bliss: I have the strange feeling though, that it will be left out on next year's live setlists. I hope I'm wrong. :(

Is mainstream just one certain style? (Not a trick question or accusation - I honestly don't really know what it means.) Thinking of mainstream, for me pretty wide and different worlds of music come to mind that are simply popular with a large number of people at a certain time. From grand pop ballads with soul influences by Adele, to catchy (and yet in parts very deep) alternative hip-hop from Macklemore, established rockers like Muse, indie R&B from The Weeknd, synth-pop by Ellie Goulding, singer-songwriter folk by Ed Sheeran, to pop from Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and the likes... (all currently in the Billboard 100; bad genre labeling by me :D). Of course all of these things are up to one's personal taste. They just feel very different to me musically. :)

Phew, that was close, @I ran away! Glad you got them. I'm always afraid that I might accidentally throw tickets away that I have lying around for concerts that are still quite some time away. My best friends and I are all turning 30 next year and we're throwing a big party together. We decided that for the music that night, everybody of us chooses 15 songs that are special to us from the last 30 years. My friends joked that I will probably annoy them with 14 Coldplay songs and one from Caught In The Act (erm, my favourite 90s boyband way, way back). They know me so well. :D

For me personally they've been "mainstream" (whatever that means) ever since AROBTTH. That was when I didn't get blank stares for mentioning Coldplay as my favourite band anymore. Instead I got knowing looks of either slight disgust for liking such a whiny and humorless band, or gleeful expressions of people and everybody's mother loving Clocks as well. Suddenly they were played on regular radio stations, the gig venues were getting bigger, and Chris made the gossip news columns for allegedly smashing a paparazzi's car windscreen. :D Actually, for a while back then I felt betrayed. I didn't want them to be big. I wanted them to be my small, well-kept secret - something that made me different from the rest. I let go of that notion quite quickly, though. They will forever be "my" band, because of all the history and memories I connect with them. Nobody is taking that from me, even if they are much more well-known now. And for my taste, once they got bigger I quickly noticed that it also made them more confident and eager to try out new things. I wouldn't be a fan today if they had made Parachutes seven times by now. But yeah, I totally get it when some people don't feel the current direction. I happen to like it and they still make my life better on a regular basis. Maybe I have fallen from grace as well. :p Sorry, did I venture off? I started writing and then forgot what the thread was about. :eek:

As I always seem to miss them on their own tours and because I love their music: Alabama Shakes. (Damn, Brittany Howard rocks! I wish I could be this cool for just ten seconds.)

That's a personal opinion, not a universal truth. There are many reasons why somebody would consider one album ahead of another for oneself. How something is making us feel and what it reminds us of is is luckily something very personal and unique. :)

OK Computer David Gray

It is likely that tickets will go back into sale closer to the actual dates. But those will still only be smaller amounts and you likely have to be quick. It's good to sign up for any ticket alarms you may find (from the ticket websites, Twitter, threads here...). Sometimes additional tickets are released once it's clear how big the stage is exactly. Then usually some are going back into general sale when VIP and package deals are not sold and initially reserved contingents are not needed. It's a personal choice of course, but I wouldn't buy overpriced tickets from eBay. It's just helping the touts and keeping their business alive. There's also a thread here for ticket offers for face value. Keep a look at that one. Hope you will be lucky! :)

Yes, it was.

What, no religious posts since October? Blasphemy! :D Well, I came here to profess my utter love for Jonny. He's my favourite member and I appreciate his awesome guitar play, his contributions to the band's music, as well as, yes: his smile. That's why one of my very favourite moments of 2015 was this (me and Jonny sharing an inside joke about my Blue Room EP - I honestly can't remember what exactly we talked about): I still can't believe the photographer captured that exact moment. It was so awwwwwww...

That's pretty cool! Welcome and I hope you get to see them on tour!

I always do both and run all out of breath, lol. :D

Truly a great gift! Thanks to the whole team for your dedicated work! :) My favourite part was also how they talked about what they learned from each other. So insightful. I like it that they realise these things and that they make them better as individuals, as a group of friends, and as a band.

Interesting interview, thank you! Good for you! I need to learn that as well. Great to learn more about X Marks The Spot. It's still growing on me and always stuck in my head. :D