Saturday 29/11/08 Coldplay @ Sheffield Arena, Sheffield

For their first show back in the UK for two years Coldplay aren’t exactly off to a flyer. Dates have been moved, ticket touts are uneasy and the frantic search is on for a last minute babysitter. Maybe I’m being too harsh, but it seems Coldplay’s grip on middle England’s ears and pockets seems to have slightly loosened.

But at least they seem glad to be on home turf. So much so that they crash through into ‘Violet Hill’ barely able contain their energy. Any doubts about this being a tepid arena performance are quickly dispelled as Chris Martin jumps and writhes around the stage, falling gratefully to his knees at the feet of the crowd.

Bubbles hang from the stage and the ceiling capturing their reflections and holding them momentarily hostage. ‘42’ stabs through the dark and pumps them full of revolutionary zeal. It’s almost as if for a time they are not just play-acting in their French civil war costumes and blood spattered bandages. The crowd pre-empt all the lines, drawing a shy grin from Chris as he holds sway over the rabble choir.

Abandoning the stage for a TOTP style disco set up they look momentarily like a scruffier Hot Chip as drummer Will Champion fires out the electro beats for ‘Talk’.

‘Viva La Vida’ sees Chris Martin literally bowled over by the force of the crowd’s response. He rolls around on the floor before flinging himself to his feet to soak up the last chords. It all looks bit Platoon from a distance, yet seems genuine, as he playfully squares off with guitarists Jonny Buckland and Guy Berryman.

Briefly they journey to an outpost in the stands to play a stripped down version of ‘The Scientist’. Feeling light-hearted they throw in a bit of Take That’s ‘Back For Good’ for giggles until stuttering lights and crashing drums drag us back into the present. Chris aeroplanes around the stage as confetti rains own from the sky in an ecstatic ‘Lovers In Japan’. The last of the looping piano chords dies out, transporting me back to a similar moment at a Sigur Ros concert that still seems more naïve and joyful, somehow.

Still, bathed in ‘Yellow’ light for their final encore, for a moment everyone is united in escaping their blighted credit crunching lives. Isn’t that really what it should all be about?

Coldplay live in Sheffield: