Coldplay @ Bell Centre, Montreal 29/07/2008 [Reviews/Setlist/Photos/Videos]

Jul 30, 2008

Coldplay @ Bell Centre, Montreal 29/07/2008 [Reviews/Setlist/Photos/Videos]

Coldplay’s 2nd Canadian date took place last night at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Pictures are posted here. Reviews and videos are below…

Setlist [thanks Montreal]

Life in Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Yes
Viva La Vida
42
Fix You
Chinese Sleep Chant (band playing close together, right side of stage)
God Put a Smile Upon Your Face (techno version, right side of stage)
Speed of Sound
Yellow
Lost! (regular version - not acoustic)
Strawberry Swing
The Scientist (acoustic, b-stage beside sound booth)
Death Will Never Conquer (acoustic, b-stage, Will on vocals)
Talk (remix)
Politik
Lovers in Japan
Death and All His Friends
The Escapist (outro)
——————————————
Green Eyes
The Dubliners

REVIEWS

Montreal Review: Coldplay’s fans will follow

Drawing heavily on new material and feeling the love from a huge crowd, British rockers appear to be well on their way to new ground

Love-ins of this magnitude don’t happen often. British rock band Coldplay held court last night, bringing its soaring, anthemic pop to an enraptured crowd of 19,000 fans at the Bell Centre.

It’s no secret that Coldplay wants to be the new U2. A lack of musical heft aside, the group appears to be well on its way. The standing ovation started the moment the lights dropped, and didn’t let up until the end of the encore. Cheers were deafening and singalongs were omnipresent.

Leaning heavily on material from their new album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Chris Martin and crew - guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion - made a point of not resting on their laurels. Rather, they showed a continued determination to perfect the art of the unifying, larger-than-life rock concert.

After setting the mood with the new disc’s intro Life in Technicolour, they jumped right into its raunchiest track, the bluesy Violet Hill. The crowd didn’t miss a beat, joining in from the first verse.

Old favourite Clocks followed, eliciting a roar from the opening piano notes. A laser light show provided visual enhancement. But it was nothing compared to the energy Martin brought to In My Place.

Calling for the house lights to be turned up, he went into showman mode - skipping, fist-pumping and bouncing from side to side - much to the crowd’s delight. The chorus, “Yeaaaahhh … How long must you wait for him?” was sung by virtually everyone in attendance.

But Martin was not done. Joining Buckland at the end of the catwalk, he draped his arm over his bandmate’s shoulder and sang to the rafters, falling to the ground at song’s end.

His schtick worked like a charm, as did pretty much everything last night. Martin’s exuberant, goofball grace is contagious. And his band held its own, particularly Buckland, who seemed to delight in drawing new sonic textures out of his guitar.

“Sometimes we go to certain towns - in England, Wales, Germany or Australia - and people don’t sing along, so we get depressed,” Martin said. “So we come here, and everyone is going for it 100 per cent, and it makes us feel fantastic.”

It was a savvy introduction to the next number, the band’s ginormous, career-launching ballad Yellow. The room erupted. It was the only song of the night off the band’s 2000 debut Parachutes. The message: Coldplay has moved on. And its fans have followed.

The group gave thanks, sprinting to the back of the arena to perform The Scientist from up in the stands. The encore brought confetti (during Politik), and fireworks (on the big screen); and, in closing, three more off the new album.

Handclaps and chants of “Olé olé-olé-olé!” continued well after the lights came up. The night, as they say, was won.

Brooklyn singer-rapper Santogold brought urban edge to the opening slot. An indie-rock-hip-hop version of M.I.A., she’ll fare better when she returns to a more intimate venue.

http://www.canada.com

Montreal already?

Ole, Ole Ole Ole .. Cold-play Coldplay! (repeat many times).

There’s nothing like a festival crowd. Squished in tight for the best spot. For some that’s right by the speaker, on your friends shoulders, by the fence, or it might be at the back.. where there’s room to dance. For everyone, it’s on the grass/mud/dust/hay, or whatever else is underfoot. It was dust at the first ever Pemberton Festival. For most, the best spot was as close to the stage as possible, when the night reached Coldplay time. Some of those at the back got a surprise front spot when the band played two songs by in the middle of the crowd. Festival crowds are so close, you can feel the heat, just standing. And when the roar goes up for the return of Coldplay to Canada, 5 weeks at number 1 here, you can almost hear it.. the heat i mean.

I was right in there. Where Oxfam Canada frisbees flew all around. Beach balls bounced off heads and the buzz of human excitement filled the air. Girls and boys alike screamed for their favourite songs, and for band members hands in marriage..(one guy behind me said.. “That Chris Martin guy.. he’s a .. guy.. but i’d like to marry him”). There was a general consensus. It was worth the traffic which awaited us all, to see Coldplay close the festival Sunday night.

Coldplay follwed ‘Mr’ Jay-Z (as they called him). He warmed up the crowd nicely for his friends from London. Coldplay claimed that they should have done that for their friend from Brooklyn, New York.

It was another whistlestop tour of another incredible place. Pemberton festival more visually stunning than most. The stage back-drop was snow-tipped peaks. Oxfam’s tent was in a wooded path, where Oxfam Canada had linked up with Make Poverty History. People could also sign action cards, buy white wristbands, watch the main-stage video, or have their picture taken for the 0.7 campaign action asking the Canadian government to keep their promises for international development assistance.

British Columbia is a beautiful place. Vancouver will be a great setting for the 2010 Olympics. Coldplay are a long way from there now, just two days later. They are two doors down from me, warming up for their show at Centre Bell, Montreal. Santogold is busy on-stage warming up the crowd. Oxfam Quebec volunteers are busy talking to the crowd about the Health and Education FOR ALL campaign. There is the chance to take an action right there to sign a petition asking for more and better health and education workers worldwide. I had better go and see how they are getting on, before they take their seats. It’s not long until Coldplay time.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=32

FAN REVIEWS

Oh God it was CRAZY!!!My first concert with a Canadian audience and I’m used to French (from France) crowds (they don’t sing…at least the concerts I went to)WAOW what a differences!!Fantastic atmosphere I found (as Chris said, especially for a Tuesday night).I have videos and stuff so I’ll see what I can do.I really really enjoyed the show.They were really trying to get close to the audience so at one point they came to the back, not far away from where I was standing.That was probably one the best parts.It was for Scientist and Death will never Conquer.Chris spoke a little bit of French, which was pretty funny I must say.He messed up at one point, some piano stuff They also did Green Eyes at the end after Death and All is Friends.Anyway…I’m a little deaf right now.

[thanks marie/pims]

Sound was excellent… Chris spoke a lot in french saying that UK people were not shouting enough.

Fantastic atmosphere I found (as Chris said, especially for a Tuesday night).I have videos and stuff so I’ll see what I can do.I really really enjoyed the show.They were really trying to get close to the audience so at one point they came to the back, not far away from where I was standing.That was probably one the best parts.It was for Scientist and Death will never Conquer.Chris spoke a little bit of French, which was pretty funny I must say.He messed up at one point, some piano stuff They also did Green Eyes at the end after Death and All is Friends.Anyway…I’m a little deaf right now.

It was AMAZING! The crowd was awesome. People around me was dancing, singing (except my brother) and smoking weed o_O. Anyway, the show was awesome. Chris Martin’s french is lovely hehe. Setlist was posted just before. No surprises but I got my Politik <3.

[Thanks tha.devil.girl]

was an awesome show. still reeling from it! of course, felt too short. but guess thats just the massive coldplay fan in me that just cant get enuff

the energy of the crowd was great! and i thought *I* was pumped!! it was amazing concert. chris’s french is beyond charming! i was also very happy about my seats. section 112, row B. and the side stages were def a cool addition this tour! it was so cool being able to get close to the band without having to be in the first five rows of the floor.

anyway, ive had a long (but fabulous) nite!

[thanks dizzygirl2000]

Last night my friends- is why Montreal ROCKS for concerts- especially COLDPLAY concerts!!!!!!

Amazing show- amazing band- amazing crowd. FUN FUN FUN. Great energy- great show. LOVED Lovers in Japan with the butterflies!!! That was so neat. I was a little disappointed when we didn’t get any balls or flying confetti for Yellow- but that totally made up for it!!!!!

Would have liked to hear one or two more tracks from album one- and I didn’t love the Techno version of GPASUYF- but- still an awesome show. Scientist acoustic was beautiful. Yellow was beautiful. Chris was not as great on Yes live as on track- but I figured that would be a hard one for him Live.

Wish I could see them in Montreal again!!!

Forgot to mention- great seats. Row P- decently close to the stage- but- TWO ROWS behind the right side stage!!! Two songs- front and center- that was AWESOME!!!!

[thanks mcrose]

Maple Leafs all round.

The singing was ringing in my ears as I packed up and took a shower last night. Chris Martin had told the crowd the rules of the encore: that they had to make lots of noise, if they wanted the band to come out again. That was before they played the last song of the set.. then, even with a mic, you couldn’t hear him speak to introduce it.

Montreal was an amazing show. The crowd in full voice from start to end. Coldplay couldn’t help but play a second encore. There’s a lesson in making some noise for one more song. 1887 strong of that same crowd signed Oxfam Quebec’s FOR ALL petition. Exigez l’accès de tous aux services publics en signant la déclaration Pour tous!
Countless more spoke to one of our fantastic volunteers. There may be only one show in Quebec, but I won’t forget it.

7 hours after getting on the bus, we’re off again, load-in has begun, the stage rolled in, the floor marked, riggers walk the gangways way up high, and road cases just keep rolling in off the trucks. There are cables and chains everywhere. It’s hard hat city, and everyone seems to know their place. The ice for the Maple Leafs is long gone. A new stage is being built before my eyes. Tonight, Toronto’s Air Canada Center plays host to Coldplay. For now though, it’s a building site.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org

VIDEOS

The crowd’s anticipation for Coldplay [thanks jrouby]

LIFE IN TECHNICOLOR [thanks jlchartrand]

VIOLET HILL [thanks jrouby ]

CLOCKS [thanks thennecy]

IN MY PLACE [thanks jrouby]

YES [thanks jrouby]

VIVA LA VIDA [thanks Shanninsky]

42 [thanks jrouby]

FIX YOU [thanks junkfred]

Another version [thanks juanjo195]

Another version (better sound) [thanks jlchartrand]

CHINESE SLEEP CHANT

GOD PUT A SMILE UPON YOUR FACE

SPEED OF SOUND

YELLOW [thanks rockfrog2]

LOST!

STRAWBERRY SWING [thanks jrouby]

THE SCIENTIST [thanks rockfrog2]

DEATH WITH NEVER CONQUER [thanks rockfrog2]

POLITIK [thanks KomisarekFreak] Chris changes the words

Another version [thanks jrouby]

LOVERS IN JAPAN [thanks MariciMEM]

DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS [thanks fernand82]

THE ESCAPIST

GREEN EYES [thanks juanjo195]

Another version [thanks rockfrog2]

THE DUBLINERS

9 Comments, Comment or Ping

Fred

Ohh my god I missed it…. well no problem they come to Ottawa on oct 20th, and as of to day there are still nice tickets available, I got mine at 201 section YEAH
So for those like me who missed the show at the Bell Center, please come in Ottawa, we’ll bring along more Montreal Energy frenzy

Jul 30th, 2008
Gise_Honey

Wait a minute!!

“Ole Ole Ole Ole Coldplay Coldplay!!” this is an Argentinean chants..

Jul 31st, 2008
Dan

A great show! Here are a few more pictures and videos: http://www.danielpeterjackson.com/concert-coldplay-montreal-quebec-canada/

Jul 31st, 2008
Nettie

Thanks Dan!!

Jul 31st, 2008
Nettie

OOh, your butterfly pic is GORGEOUS! They look so real….

What a fantastic idea to have - thanks Coldplay!

Jul 31st, 2008
marie-josee

I had missed out on the tickets sale. I could not beleive i was not going and didn’t have like $200 to buy on the streets..I called at noon at reseau admission. No Way!! New tickets released. Left my job running to go to The Bay thank god 10 minutes from job ..Boum !! 119 EE seat 3. Not too sure but we seemed to be the most amazing crowd on the planet to me that night. When all was over i had sang my heart out, stood up dancing the whole show,screamed my lungs out i was soaked all over. I would of liked it if they would of played Shiver and Trouble but oh well. Hey!! The crowd made all the difference. So into it it was AMAZING to see & hear.
Plus they didn’t even check my bag sniff !! i had an amazing 18X zoom camera sitting at home..DARN !! If touring again next year..count me part of that crowd again !! lol..thanks for all those video memories from the people on you tube..xxx

Aug 1st, 2008
Nettie

Hey Marie-Josee!

So glad you got to see the guys perform. It’s was a wild horses wouldn’t stop me moment for you, eh?

Good for you!

Yeah, and shame about the camera. Nevermind. You’ll get them next time…

Aug 1st, 2008
DLK

Hey,

First off: Kudos Montreal, that’s one of the most amazing concert crowds that I have ever been amongst!! At times, it is very true, the crowd (incl. me, as I cheer & applaud like mad) was utterly deafening! I kid you not. When those above say they are a bit deaf, it’s totally true.
I am from Toronto and journeyed to Montreal for the show; the first time I have ever done such a thing. I was in section 104, behind the stage, 4 rows back. An unbelievable seat. I live in Toronto and went back the next day, as I also had tickets for Wed. & Thurs. Absolutely unbelievable, a treat each night.

Corrections to the set list someone’s offered above. It’s partly incorrect and out of order. I know for certain because, also for the first time ever, I actually wrote down what they played. Trust me, utterly meticulous. And yes, I realize it makes me a nerd! (’Talk’ was not played.It was a balloon video interlude while they made there way back to the main stage.)

Life In Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Viva la Vida
Yes
(technical difficulties here; CM’s on the piano, then he says he has to switch out, techncial issues, gets off. Gets the go ahead to go back/proceed as planned, so he jumps on but they’re wheeling the piano back off stage with him on it. Then back out. It was pretty funny.)
42
Fix You
Strawberry Swing
…from side stage right, small stage up front:
Chinese Sleep Chant
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face - techno style, wicked Buckland guitar!
…back to the main stage:
Speed of Sound
Yellow
Lost! (yes, uptempo Lost! not the also beautiful acoustic/piano Lost?)
…up into the crowd, far end stage left…
The Scientist
Death Will Never Conquer sung by Will
(balloon video interlude with techno ‘Talk’ playing)
…back to the main stage:
Politik
…into a short, pretty piano interlude…
Lovers in Japan (crazy amounts of butterfly confetti spill down!)
Death And All His Friends

Encore:
Green Eyes
The Dubliners (wasn’t sure @ the time if old, new or a cover. I believe it is a new one…)

It is totally true that the Montreal crowd would not depart! We cheered and applauded like mad. Only when the stage hands literally started ripping apart the stage, did the crowd reluctantly admit it was indeed done.

Unforgettable! As were the Toronto shows. Set list was the same for Wednesday except we got ‘Don’t Panic’ instead of ‘Green Eyes’ in the encore.
Thurs. night, right after ‘Speed of Sound’ we got ‘The Hardest Part’ with Chris only on piano…he messed it up and said ‘ah! I’ve ruined the moment!’, jumped up, grabbed the acoustic guitar and they proceeded into ‘Yellow’…set remained the same up to the piano interlude following ‘Politik.’ The piano interlude turned into picking up where he messed up ‘The Hardest Part’, and he finished it off.
The highlight tonight was after ‘Lovers in Japan.’ A cake was brought out and the band + an amazing crowd, sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Will!
It was awesome.
We actually did not get an encore of a likely select Parchutes song and The Dubliners…but we did get The Hardest Part & Happy Birthday so that was special.
As for banter/talk: he definitely did not say the same things…very congenial as always, but always original. The crowds were fantastic for all. But I’ll never forget the deafening moments in Montreal, that was truly special!
Cheers. Peace.

Aug 1st, 2008
Dan

No problem. Yes, the confetti shots came out better than I thought they would.

Aug 1st, 2008

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