Coldplay – Live in Bolton, 2005

Elly Roberts reviews

Coldplayat Reebok Stadium BoltonTuesday, July 5, 2005


X&Y: The huge stage took 4 days to erect.

Overnight, it takes less than eight hours to dismantle. Coldplay performedfor roughly two hours. They left the arena at the speed of sound to apolice escort. That’s life in the super wad squad.

After a pathetic global warming charm offensive at Live 8 (except forRichard Ashcroft’s fantastic Bitter Sweet Symphony slot) it was timefor pop’s slush puppies to show their mettle. Sandwiched between legends U2,The Who and Pink Floyd, they were made to look like complete novices lastSaturday.

Their recent album X&Y is selling like hot cakes, though it shows noreal signs of progression or adventure. The third album, recognised in themusic industry as the ‘difficult one’, continues the predictable no risks,play it safe formula using their penchant melodic template.

The single Speed Of Sound was a recent global download phenomenon,though a certain frog keep them away from their desired number one in the UKsingles chart, much to the annoyance of Chris Martin.


So what of this night? Thirty thousand fans braved the elements as thunderclouds threatened to turn the event into a damp squib. Taking to the stage toa huge roar, the foursome launched into a vibrant Square One, as the tee-totalone bopped like an excited teenager. Followed rapidly by Politik, Chris Martinchomped at the keys of the rickety piano, and then took to guitar on athunderous Yellow, as the lights went into complimentary colour. Fromthe outset they sounded very good, remaining so all night with CM singing muchbetter than Saturday. But would I finally fall in love with Coldplay?

Moving from photo pit to my stand seat, I could hear Speed Of Soundblasting out inside the stadium. In my seat, I had a chance to see the biggerpicture. Considering the enormity of the wrap-around stage and gear, the lightshow was low-tech until the latter stages, and even then it was hardly dynamic.

Taking it down a pace, Warning Sign was delivered with great tendernessbut all too short. White Shadows showcased their arena engulfing soundwith Buckland’s riffs and Berryman’s synths echoing into the twilight. Clocksbrought out the rockers in them, going into frenetic overdrive with collectivesimultaneous clapping and jumping.


Talk was more of a Simple Minds tribute. A finale brought a sublimeIn My Place and two video takes of Fix You complete with fireworksblast, sending smoke across the whole stadium. Individually, Buckland rarelyexhibits any emotion or showboating almost in The Edge’s low-key manner.Berryman is always industrious and effective, with Champion being the unsunghero on thumping sticks.

As a unit they are top class, allowing Martin to do the PR work. They are avery good live band, and I like their tunefulness. But I never fell for them,as they never touched me like Zeppelin, Queen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2,Elton John et al.

There’s a line in the next single Fix You – ‘…stuck in reverse…’.

Coldplay are not so much as stuck in reverse, as not quite out of first gear.

Self proclaimed ‘best band in the world’? Get in line boys!

Rating: 7/10

Weblink:Coldplay.com



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