Coldplay ran hot last night, taking on a 50,000 plus sold-out Eden Park in central Auckland, and owning the place. Such was the astounding scale and spectacle of their live act juggernaut. This was as grand and colourful as a live show can get!
And look out! They’ll do it again for two more shows there this weekend.
The streets of Morningside were packed with concert goers, rolling in a little late, bypassing some encouraging supports.
Emmanuel Kelly, Shone and Ayra Starr.
You knew it was gonna be big, with 3D glasses and synced flashlight watches handed out upon entry.
And into the stadium, Coldplay’s stage setup was of immense proportions, with light towers positioned around the covered playing field area, and what seemed like the longest runway designed for a music show, save for AC/DC and the Rolling Stones maybe.
Ngāti Whātua welcomed the expanded Brits on stage with a rousing pōwhiri and haka.
With ambient meditation type music playing before the mega-group took stage, it was feeling like Rock’n’roll has shifted into another realm.
Higher Power kickstarted the show as lead singer Chris Martin and lads took to the stage with gusto.
Over-sized balloons were released and wafted overhead. Very much a family friendly show and designed so. There was still the odd waft of weed floating about intermittently.
Coldplay now are a big deal. I came across them originally on BFM as an indie unit (back in 2000).
Their trajectory has seen them scale up the charts and lofty heights as a touring act, shifting quite dramatically from a more traditional guitar and piano based Pop/Rock group to a synth-based ethereal act at this point. Almost new-age, for a New Age.
Paradise lifted the atmosphere higher, as the rain held off and the triggered lights from our prescribed wristwatches synced up collectively, making Eden Park aglow as the sky darkened.
Turning back the clock to 2002’s The Scientist, the piano ballad a reminder of Coldplay’s roots as a sing-along song-writing band.
These coloured lights were really kicking in now, the band moving to a centred stage for Viva La Vida. Will Champion, who was described later by Martin as the band’s MD (musical director), went to thumping flipped kick drums and a large bell.
Martin gratefully felt grounded about coming to Eden Park and not having to get thrashed like other English collectives, alluding to The All Blacks 30-year undefeated record at NZ’s home of rugby.
Interactive with the audience throughout, he plucked some eager fans out of the crowd and plonked them down next to him to sing Up & Up.
There was a bit of a church vibe about Coldplay’s delivery, Hillsong with a secular twist almost? And when they tore into the driving God Put a Smile on Your Face, you got them at their rockiest.
A tight solid unit that have been together since the start, guitarist Johnny Buckland was ever-present, along with bassist Guy Berryman’s consistency and drummer Champion, they were there behind Martin the whole way.
Their breakthrough hit Yellow (off 2000’s Parachutes), got anyone off the seats who wasn’t already. Martin’s voice has a rawness but is so identifiable and distinctive, a key component to their popularity.
People Of the Pride cast imagery on the vast big screens of AI designers and ego inspired world leaders.
Then we got the driving Clocks, Martin interweaving his piano part, which he did for many of the earlier Coldplay records.
The brand new We Pray (off 2024’s Moon Music), was a highlight, with a myriad of special guests including local singers joining the group onstage. Martin halted the performance midway to repeat verse two, because he dug it so much.
He would stop the band again for A Sky Full of Stars, to request we all put away our phones (now commonplace), so only we can experience the moment. The collective glow of the wristwatch lights was really something, and throw in fireworks that emanated cascading white stars, you’d think you’d seen it all.
A third stage was accessed at the back end of the stadium for Sparks. The early sparse ballad showing Coldplay’s worth, and roots as a bunch of varsity students coming together with a common love of music, and writing and playing great songs.
Of course, Fix You was going to bring everyone together in song and movement. The only entry off 2005’s X&Y, that album represented a shift for Coldplay, moving to a more electronic sound. They even sampled Kraftwerk on that record.
With an encore factored into the show and broken up into 4 parts in a play-like format, Coldplay rounded off the final act with Feels Like I’m Falling In Love. The production level was at the highest I’ve ever seen, and the finale delivered like the end of a World Cup tournament or significant New Year celebration.
They’re bringing back the L word. These good lads Coldplay are right back here at Eden Park to continue their Music of The Spheres World Tour Friday 15th and Saturday 16th. Don’t let this one pass you by.
Mike Beck.
Photography by Leonie Moreland
Setlist
Higher Power
Adventures Of a Lifetime
Paradise
The Scientist
Viva La Vida
Hymn For the Weekend
Up & Up
God Put a Smile on Your Face
Yellow
All My Love
Human Heart
People Of the Pride
Clocks
We Pray
Infinity Sign
Something Just Like This
My Universe
A Sky Full of Stars
Sparks
The Jumbotron Song
Fix You
Good Feelings
Feels Like I’m Falling in Love
