Coldplay Concert Review - Mylo Xyloto Tour Vancouver 2012

Dec 19 2017, 1:40 pm

Coldplay brings their Mylo Xyloto 2012 tour to North America, stopping by Rogers Arena in Vancouver on April 20th and 21st to promote their fifth studio album “Mylo Xyloto.” The album is inspired by the erratic and often unpredictable art of American graffiti and highlights the love story of two characters trapped in a world of oppression. The sound is electric, the lyrics expressive, and the concert unforgettable.

In a time when a concert can easily become a circus act onstage, Coldplay was able to entertain audiences at Rogers Arena on both Friday and Saturday night, with only a few simple party acts.

Upon entering the building, fans were asked to put on a chunky wristband as “part of the show.” Everyone mulled around discussing the hidden powers of the device, ranging from mass hypnosis to some kind of subliminal mind-control experiment.

Fortunately, the small plastic gadget, imprinted with the twitter tag #coldplayfilm, turned out to be a radio-controlled lighting device that would omit either blue, white, pink or yellow on cue to music, turning the entire stadium into a sea of dancing orbs.

Instead of using a myriad of special effects that have an artist flaunting money over music, the basic light show was a perfect complement to each poignant tune.

The onstage chemistry between lead singer Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion was infectious and clearly natural, as they moved around stage and jammed with one another.

Martin questioned the crowd to begin the show, “Is anybody out there?” only to be replied by the reverberation of a thousand screaming, eager Vancouverites.

The energy in the building was phenomenal from the start.

Opening with the song “Hurts like Heaven,” from their newest album, Mylo Xyloto, the arena lit up with the glow bands and set the crowd into a frenzy.

It wasn’t long before heart shaped confetti billowed from giant machines into the crowd, massive balls dropped from the ceiling to bounce along a throng of upturned hands, and streams of lights spanned across the stadium in every direction.

Like I said, simple party acts.

The arena became a concave of emotion when the stage lit up with yellow lights and Martin began his sentimental ballad “Yellow”, written over a decade ago, supposedly upon meeting his wife Gwyneth Paltrow.

Shortly after, the crowd bellowed along to “The Scientist,” dragging out the echo of sound (“Nobody said it was easy…”) only to put a bigger smile on Martin’s face, as he thanked Vancouver for being so receptive to the music.

A more intimate version of the popular song “Paradise” from Mylo Xyloto gave another sing-a-long opportunity (with all the “ooo-waaa-ooos,”) as Martin played intimately on his paint splattered piano.

“Fix you” was another crowd pleaser, with the audience echoing the lines whole-heartedly, “Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones.”

One couldn’t help but look around in those moments and be completely captivated by the magic in the stadium, as glow bands were held high in collective agreement – this is awesome.

The concert was a perfect balance of new material from Mylo Xyloto, containing an almost schizophrenic, “all over the place” sound, and some of their classic ballads, that can still put fans into a swaying daze of emotion.

Simply put, four Brits and a few thousand glowing wrist bands, gave Vancouver a night that won’t soon fade from memory.

Image by spacehindu

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

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