Coldplay Live Review @ The Reebok Stadium (Bolton Wanderers FC) (Bolton) - 05 Jul 2005

Photos:Elly Roberts

Live Review

The huge stage took 4 days to erect. Overnight, it takes less than eight hours to dismantle. Coldplay performed for roughly two hours. They left the arena at the speed of sound to a police escort. That's life in the super wad squad. After a pathetic global warming charm offensive at Live 8 (except for Richard Ashcroft's fantastic Bitter Sweet Symphony slot) it was time for 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 last Saturday. Their recent album X&Y is selling like hot cakes, though it shows no real signs of progression or adventure. The third album, recognised in the music 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 UK singles chart, much to the annoyance of Chris Martin. So what of this night? Thirty thousand fans braved the elements as thunder clouds threatened to turn the event into a damp squib. Taking to the stage to a huge roar, the foursome launched into a vibrant Square One, as the tee-total one bopped like an excited teenager. Followed rapidly by Politik, Chris Martin chomped at the keys of the rickety piano, and then took to guitar on a thunderous Yellow, as the lights went into complimentary colour. From the outset they sounded very good, remaining so all night with CM singing much better than Saturday. But would I finally fall in love with Coldplay?

Moving from photo pit to my stand seat, I could hear Speed Of Sound blasting out inside the stadium. In my seat, I had a chance to see the bigger picture. Considering the enormity of the wrap-around stage and gear, the light show 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 tenderness but all too short. White Shadows showcased their arena engulfing sound with Buckland's riffs and Berryman's synths echoing into the twilight. Clocks brought out the rockers in them, going into frenetic overdrive with collective simultaneous clapping and jumping. Talk was more of a Simple Minds tribute. A finale brought a sublime In My Place and two video takes of Fix You complete with a fireworks blast, sending smoke across the whole stadium. Individually, Buckland rarely exhibits any emotion or showboating almost in The Edge's low-key manner. Berryman is always industrious and effective, with Champion being the unsung hero on thumping sticks. As a unit they are top class, allowing Martin to do the PR work. They are a very 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!

Elly Roberts