Since Coldplay inched onto the scene in 1999 they’ve come a damn long way. Over the ensuing years they’ve shifted well over 16million units, been number one in countless countries, and are commercially the biggest band in Britain now. However, brushing fickle sales figures aside, easily the most satisfying thing about Coldplay is how they’ve ripened in confidence and charisma… and just like their startling Glastonbury headline set, tonight is a case in point. When this reviewer saw them supporting Shack and Witness (yes, Witness) back in 1999, genial as ever, the band bumbled on stage and statically plodded through their six-song set almost apologetically. True, their songs showed plenty of potential but their onstage antics left a hell of a lot to be desired.
Zip forward six years and Chris Martin is like a man possessed – with boundless energy he sporadically tilts his head skywards, one-footedly hops round the stage, bounces from stage left to right and reaches out to the crowd like some kind of deity - and at one point even crawls on all fours. Couple this with the voluminous sound the other three fellow black-clad members concoct and you’re on to a winner. Without any apologies, Coldplay own the stage. Such exuberance is something support act Doves could learn from. While scruffy frontman Jimmy Goodwin and the bird brothers Williams, undoubtedly have some top-notch tunes in their arsenal (surpassing the headliners in many departments) and perform them competently, really there’s little to get the pulse racing. It’s only with the pounding, drum clattering finale of the stunning ‘There Goes The Fear’, that the Doves really take off.
Opening unexpectedly early with a vivacious ‘Square One’ with lights silhouetting the band giving them an almost enigmatic air, Chris Martin gushes that he senses the gig “will be a good one†and he’s “mad for it.†Soon, the band launch through an enchanting rendition of ‘Politik’, a glorious ‘Yellow’ inspires the 30,000 faithful into a mass sing-along, and a stunning ‘Warning Signs’ which Martin jokingly dedicates to none other than Denise Van Outen. Yet, perhaps the biggest plus point is how the new material from ‘X & Y’ shines and compliments their earlier material. Delivered with plenty of gusto ‘White Shadows’ is radiant, ‘Talk’ consumes the vast stadium and ‘Speed of Sound’ positively excels in its live form. It’s perhaps only ‘Low’ that doesn’t arouse any fervour within the crowd.
Other peaks in the set include a swirling, pounding version of ‘Clocks’ – before which Martin clears his throat saying “I think I’m nervous because I’m a southerner, I just hope the good people of Bolton and the surrounding areas are ready to embrace Coldplay†– don’t worry Chris, we have. While the band move to the front of the stage for a poignant ‘Till Kingdom Come’, which duly instigates a lighter waving frenzy. Undoubtedly though, the best is saved till last with the encore of a touching ‘Swallowed By The Sea’, a magnificent ‘In My Place’ and show-stopper ‘Fix You’ – complete with fire works explosions, and performed twice to get enough footage for their new promo video.
Many may bracket Coldplay with the hordes of indie-warblers (a la Keane, Embrace, Travis, Athlete) perpetually denting the charts. But what distances Coldplay from such comparisons is that with this tour they’ve proved they have the charisma and aura to fill stadium’s and reach out to the crowd. On record, they may not be the most exciting or ambitious band, but live Coldplay are truly luminous.
Photos by: Shirlaine Forrest
