Gig Review - Coldplay Arsenal Football Stadium 2nd June 2012

Happy Jubilee and all that... although frankly beginning to feel a bit like, ok enough already, had the river thing - sorry but that was so funny with the orchestra in the dry and the poor choir singing their hearts out on top in the deluge that only an English summer can conjure up.  I laughed my head off!  Saw some of the concert - Stevie Wonder - brilliant, Madness - ditto, Paul McCartney - better than I'd expected but Elton John... er sorry when did he stop being able to sing.  I know he'd been ill but frankly he was pretty awful to my ears.

Anyway - one of our bits of the weekend was Coldplay at the Emirates Stadium (Arsenal).  So... firstly support - Rita Ora was brilliant, that girl can sing and got the limited crowd that was in early going.  Only a short 20 mins set which was a shame, I'd have gladly listened to more - great band as well.  The Robyn... well not my sort of thing, very very clever drumming but her sound and style didn't really suit a stadium gig.  A smaller venue would have been better but then again maybe not for me.

So Coldplay hit the immense stage.  Now I quite like Coldplay but in that genre probably prefer Snow Patrol if I'm honest - I listen to them more regularly anyway.  Having seen Snow Patrol a couple of times at The O2 I was expecting to say "Coldplay were good but not as good as Snow Patrol"...  I couldn't say that, they can command a stadium these boys.  Not a lot of chitchat just hit after hit from Yellow, In My Place, the absolutely stunning Fix You to Paradise and all points in between.  Great sound, fantastic light show - we were up in the Gods towards the back which whilst you can't see the stage close up you do get to see the light show better - and a great great sound quality.  Add to that the fact that it absolutely chucked it down with rain for most of the gig a testament to both band and the technical crew - there was pretty much no cover for them at all.

Finally - everyone got a wristband as you went in - at a couple of points, the start and more notably the end these lit up driven by a radio signal, pulsing in time to the music.  60,000 people waving their flashing wristbands in the air, cool sight and also a great way to include the crowd actively in the event.  Top marks...

Comments

  1. Coldplay? My, you are a trendy young thing, Mr F.

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    Replies
    1. I don't think Coldplay are considered that young and trendy these days :-)

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  2. My next door neighbour was at the Coldplay concert. I haven't heard her report yet. The Jubilee concert was an interesting experience for me since I shut down all other contact with the outside world so that I couldn't hear the bitching and the whining and the negativity which tends to generate. And I loved every minute. :)

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    Replies
    1. I watched some of it live - I was out at AA - then the highlights. It was generally ok but frankly I don't like that 3 songs each format, but that is just me. Highlights for me were Stevie Wonder who was just brill and Madness who were just... Madness as ever:-)

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  3. I love the flashing wristbands - that was a great idea! I thought of you and several other several bloggers over the last few days. Sounds like you had fun.

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  4. i've nearly given up going to gigantic stadium concerts -- having been disappointed by both the performances and the behaviours of humans in large numbers. but this seems well worth the effort... and as a bit of a techno-geek, i'd have loved the musically timed wristbands! rock on!

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  5. this is my first concert and my favorite band!

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