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May 03, 2023

Review: Coldplay light up Manchester's Etihad Stadium

Coldplay certainly don't do things by halves. For three nights their

Coldplay certainly don't do things by halves. For three nights their spectacular show - a continuation of their Music of the Spheres world tour - delighted and entranced capacity crowds at the Etihad.

For all the effects and the seemingly endless number of trucks parked outside the stadium and this is a tour which prides itself on its green credentials. A pen of static bikes allowed those so inclined to pedal away while watching the show helping to power the show. A kinetic floor also meant that every bounce generated electricity. The trucks, naturally, use renewable diesel.

But honourable as all this is, it would mean nothing to the fans if the music being served up wasn't up to scratch.

Frontman Chris Martin, bounding around the various stages with seemingly endless energy, was in fine voice and his three trusty companions - Guy Berryman on bass, Jonny Buckland on guitar and drummer Will Champion - provided a rock solid platform for their exuberant leader to do his stuff.

You cannot help but like Chris Martin, part eco warrior, part Puck. He was clearly relishing the reception the band was being given in Manchester. This was an audience of devotees lapping up every word, every note.

Although songs from the most recent album Music of the Spheres featured prominently, the 22 song set on the final night featured numbers from eight of the band's other albums spanning their career.

Coldplay live isn't a gig, it isn't a concert - it's a full blown show.

There's a short film before the band appears containing key messages about sustainability, love and living in harmony. Beach balls are released, illuminated inflatable planets hover over the crowd, fireworks are launched into the night sky, Chris Martin duets with a singing puppet and at one point the band don cartoon-like neon alien heads - just another night on tour with a band which thinks out of the box.

But the real star of the show was the LED wristbands given to every audience member and which are reused at every show. Designed by Canadian company Pixmob, at times the effects they produced threatened to upstage the band.

Using infrared signals, the seven LEDs on the wristband - made from recyclable plastic mixed with sugar cane, of course - flashed, pulsated and transformed an entire stadium into a vast sea of colour.

If you think a stadium looks impressive when all the mobile phone lights come on, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Before launching into A Sky Full of Stars, Chris Martin urged the audience to put their phones away for a song and to just celebrate the moment together - and once again the wristbands did their stuff.

Apart from the hi-tech highlights, other treats on the final night of the three in Manchester included a guest appearance by Tim Booth from James to lead a rousing version of Sit Down and a solo performance of Up&Up by Chris Martin at the piano dedicated to a fan's mum who had been taken into hospital the day before the show.

As the band ended the night with Biutyful, Chris Martin looked genuinely moved at the reception the band had received. Manchester loved Coldplay and you suspect that Coldplay loved Manchester just as much.

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