Oxfam America Tour Blog: 4 July 2008
From WikiColdplay
Ready.. steady..
So this is where it all starts. I’m sitting behind my desk at Oxfam. Just got my itinerary through for my trip to LA in just 8 days, where I will join Coldplay and their crew for the first show of their Viva La Vida North American tour. The album sounds fantastic.
The band have been wowing crowds with their live comeback at the free shows in Brixton, Barcelona and New York (amongst TV slots galore). Next stop, California.
Rehearsals at Wembley arena were followed by the live return (both on stage and on Radio 1), at a packed out Brixton Academy, London, 16/06/08. I arrived just as the band were soundchecking ‘Viva La Vida’ just hours before the waiting public rushed in. Oxfam was there with the Health & Education FOR ALL campaign.
It is a call for action from governments and institutions on people’s right to health and education. Our volunteers also gave out Be Humankind badges and action-postcards. The badges were as prominent as Coldplay’s butterfly confetti at the end of the night… almost.
Heads were turned when the band did a very special acoustic version of ‘Yellow’ from the balcony followed by the drummer, Will Champion, on lead vocals for ‘Death Will Never Conquer’.
Next up, the band rolled into New York for their huge Madison Square Garden show. It’s a huge venue, covered from head to toe in history. As the crew were rigging for the new show, it felt as though the band were making history themselves. Over 350 people signed up to help Oxfam America on overcoming poverty and injustice around the world.
Coldplay have continued their amazing support of Oxfam, by inviting us to campaign at their concerts on this huge world tour. Another packed venue. Hand painted guitars playing brand new number 1 hits. Viva La Vida is going to be an incredible tour.
I can’t wait.
