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COLDPLAY
@ Marvel Stadium, Melbourne,
30th October, 2024
(Live Review)

Review by Kelly Green

Photos by Rena Tan (@bear.n.tripod)

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Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Tonight, at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne is the “Music of the Spheres” world tour by Coldplay. Coldplay hasn’t been to Melbourne since 2016 and has 4 sold out shows this week .

I didn’t know what to expect. I have heard a lot of good things about Coldplay live and I was hoping the all would be true.

 The crowd on the way from the train station was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. It is a mixed crowd of all ages, some long-term fans and others just discovering their music. On entry to the venue everyone is given a white wrist band that looks like a watch without a face and cardboard “Moon goggles”. Inside the stadium the roof is open and the stage is huge, taking up one end of the floor with a catwalk that runs half way down the floor area. The crowd were warmed up by special guests Shone, Emmanuel Kelly and Ayra Starr (a gorgeous young Jamaican singer). The crowd is really building as an army of ant-like stage hands set the stage for the main act. By the time “Welcome to Country” is about to be performed there is not an empty seat in the house. 

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Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Just as the welcome is about to start Chris Martin walks out on to the stage. He is not there to perform yet, but to deliver bad news and apologise. Guy Berryman, their talented bass player, is ill and cannot perform tonight. He is replaced by an alien creature aka Bill Rahko on bass. It is the first time ever they have performed with one member missing. Up until one hour before the show they thought Guy would be able to solider through, but unfortunately this was not going to happen. Chris disappears and “Welcome to Country” is proclaimed. Then a short film is shown promoting the concert’s sustainability and humanitarian projects, activism and the environment. 

Stage goes black. The theme from E.T can be heard, there is footage backstage of the band making their way to the stage. Our wrist bands start flashing red, the circular screens on either side of the stage and the 4 moon shaped ones, high at the back of the stage plus a very large semi circle screen start flashing images.

BANG straight into “Higher Power” with planet like balls released into the crowd, confetti bombs going off. It is a sensory overload; at times I didn’t know where to look. It is a chaotic, light flashing in your face opening.

Coldplay were on stage for 2 hours playing 20 songs including 3 encore songs. I won’t give you a full set list as I don’t want to ruin it for the other nights, but if you are a fan, you won’t be disappointed as all the hits plus more are covered. By the time the 4th song of the evening was played and it was a more subdued number with Chris on the piano, my brain was ready for a calmer moment. “The Scientist” was beautiful and the crowd sang along in full voice. Musically and vocally, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion are flawless, even with Guy missing. Their blend of melodic hooks with atmospheric instrumentation is uniquely Coldplay. Their songs have a culminating effect with their soft starts that build until there is an explosion of sound and lyrics full of love, loss and hope. Tonight’s set transitioned from their melodic rock to at times a more electronic and experimental sound with even puppets doing the singing. 

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Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Chris Martin is charming, witty, charismatic and at times a little goofy. He has the crowd in the palm of his hand and at times it felt like an induction into the cult of Coldplay. There were so many great moments. Crowd participation and even two lucky newlyweds pulled up on stage to help Chris perform “Everglow” after he saw their sign saying they got engaged to that song. My favourite moment was the song “Yellow” with all the lights glowing yellow, it felt like you were in a field of wild flowers.

Coldplay’s show is epic and my only criticism is that at some points if felt too much. I don’t think they need all the razzle dazzle, sometimes the band and music got lost in the production. Chris Martin thanked everyone for carrying them through the show without Guy. There was a beautiful tribute to Shane Warne and a humorous hint of Kylie Minogue and a line of a John Farnham’s “You’re The Voice” thrown in too.

A little hint if you are on the floor near the back and can’t see Coldplay up close, move further back at the encore and you will get to be up close and personal. I am not going to tell you what the “Moon goggles” do, but hold onto the tightly , it is worth the wait. And the show finished like it started with a BANG. Beautiful fireworks which would have woken up all the dockland residents. Music of the spears is well worth the ticket price.

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Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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SET LIST

Higher power
Adventure of a Lifetime
Paradise
The Scientist
Viva la Vida
Hymn for the weekend
Everglow
Charlie Brown
Yellow
Human Heart
People of the pride
Clocks
We Pray (with special guests)
Something just like this
My universe
A sky full of stars
Sparks
The Jumbotron song
Fix you
Good feelings

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Check out Rena Tan’s (@bear.n.tripod) full gallery of this event HERE

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Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Follow COLDPLAY
Website – Instagram – Facebook

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Photo – @bear.n.tripod

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Press Release 24th September 2024 (below) HERE

COLDPLAY
2024 Australia & NZ Tour

Extra tickets released for
upcoming shows
on record-breaking
MUSIC OF THE SPHERES
WORLD TOUR

AYRA STARR, SHONE
announced as support across all dates in addition to
EMMANUEL KELLY

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Coldplay
Music Of The Spheres
World Tour
AU / NZ Tour Dates:

OCTOBER 2024

30 – Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
31 – Melbourne, Marvel Stadium

NOVEMBER 2024

Sat 2 – Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
Sun 3 – Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
Wed 6 – Sydney, Accor Stadium
Thurs 7 – Sydney, Accor Stadium
Sat 9 – Sydney, Accor Stadium
Sun 10 – Sydney, Accor Stadium
Wed 13 – Auckland, Eden Park
Fri 15 – Auckland, Eden Park
Sat 16 – Auckland, Eden Park

For further information: livenation.com.au and livenation.co.nz

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AMNPLIFY – DB