Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams Tour. Opening Acts: Tove Lo, Alina Baraz
Date Seen: September 26, 2017
Cost of Ticket: $225
Rating: 90%
Going into tonight's Coldplay concert I had rather mixed feelings. I'm not a fan of their music but I don't mind it if it's on the radio. Perhaps I have a couple songs downloaded randomly in my 8000 song Spotify catalogue. And honestly, if you asked me what the first thing that comes to mind when someone says "Coldplay"—it would be Gwyneth Paltrow. (Let the judging begin).
This evenings performance at Edmonton Rogers Place was nothing short of magical. This is Coldplay's seventh tour and includes 123 shows internationally. From the moment the band took the stage, their electric energy could be felt pulsing throughout the arena. More correctly, Chris Martin's energy. This really is the Chris Martin show—though humble and gracious, he is much more than just the frontman. At the age of 40, Chris has an endless supply of unharnessed energy, smiles and pitch-perfect notes. He is magnetic to watch. He is what you paid to see. And Chris delivered and delivered and delivered.
The rest of the band, consisting of Guy Berryman (bassist), Jonny Buckland (lead guitarist) and Will Champion (drummer), ensure that Chris sounds incredible. Berryman's good looks, Buckland's guitar talent and Champion's personality keep the band likeable. But Chris Martin is the Adam Levine of Coldplay.
The show starts strong with A Head Full of Dreams and fan favourites Yellow, Every Teardrop is a Waterfall and The Scientist. From the beginning, the show was as much of a concert as it was a spectacle. Coloured wristbands strobed to the music. Confetti cannons regularly exploded. Lazers penetrated the arena. Fires blazed high behind the band. Dozens of balloons bounced over the crowd on the floor. The stage lit up with nonstop imagery and video clips. The stage backdrop was illuminated floral strands. Even Jonny Buckland's guitar was equipped with strobing lights. But none of this compared to how Chris Martin effortlessly bounced down the stage and twirled till he collapsed on the stage in childlike innocence—all without missing a beat or a breath.
The band moves down to the end of the runway and does a short three-song set where the pace begins to fade. Moving back to the main stage, the show continues with Clocks and with Martin working the entire runway and stage with his prior energy. For the song Charlie Brown, Chris Martin asks the crowd to put their phones away for one song to connect and feel the music. The result is rousing and the crowd dances with their hands free. Magic restored.
The next three songs are music gold and the audience is on cloud 9. Then the 4 bandmates move to a stage located directly in the stands and perform inches away from fans on the opposite end of the arena. It is a real treat for the nearby fans, but not much of one for the crowd on the floor. The band is crammed onto a 10 sq ft platform and once again the momentum drops. But it does allow time for the band to connect with the audience in a way other artists can't.
The final few songs back on the main stage brings back everything to awesome. The band seems in their element and Martin parades down the catwalk, plays piano and runs back and forth to cover each side of the stage. The concert finishes strong and the crowd gives a solid standing ovation. All the band members take their bows together and truly seem thankful for the opportunity to perform.
The show is designed to make you feel recharged and reborn. Martin talks about how no matter what craziness and terror are going on in the world, he reminds himself that people are generally good. Scripts flash across the screen about being good to one another. The message to spread love comes across loud and clear. It almost makes you want to run out and by a totally tie-dyed wardrobe and live in a commune near Big Sur. Almost.
The concert also had 2 opening acts. Alina Baraz was truly forgettable in elevator music kind of way. She began before the concert was scheduled to begin at 7pm. Tove Lo gave an edgier performance and proved that she could be the next big thing out of Sweden since Robyn. Her gritty lyrics and songbird voice gave a few memorable moments. Coldplay came onstage at 845pm and finished at 11pm.
Even if you're not fans of Coldplay, I very strongly suggest you check out their live shows. There is one more show scheduled for Edmonton. Tickets begin at $29 and I'm even considering going again. The show is beautifully performed, stylistically pleasing, and nurturing for the soul...just with a few minor pacing issues.
Edmonton Set List
O mio babbino caro (Maria Callas song)
A Head Full of Dreams
Yellow
Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall
The Scientist
Birds
Paradise
Always in My Head
Magic
Everglow
Clocks
Midnight
Charlie Brown
Hymn for the Weekend
Fix You
Viva la Vida
Adventure of a Lifetime
Kaleidoscope
In My Place
Don't Panic
Til Kingdom Come
Something Just Like This
A Sky Full of Stars
Up&Up
North American Concert Dates:
August 1 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
August 4 – Boston, MA @ Gillette Stadium
August 6 – Washington, DC @ FedExField
August 8 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
August 12 – Minneapolis, MN @ US Bank Stadium
August 14 – Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center
August 15 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
August 17 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field
August 19 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
August 21 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre
August 25 – Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium
August 28 – Miami, FL @ Hard Rock Stadium
September 23 – Seattle, WA @ CenturyLink Field
September 26/27 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place
September 29 – Vancouver, BC @ BC Place
October 2 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
October 4 – San Francisco, CA @ Levi’s Stadium
October 8 – San Diego, CA @ Qualcomm Stadium