Oxfam UK Tour Blog: 15 December 2008

From WikiColdplay

Homecoming..

We made it. And it was great! The band finally made it back to the start.. (well close enough, just a few tube stops away from Brixton). It was the first of three sold-out shows at the O2 Arena in London. This morning, I stepped off the Jubilee Line, at Greenwich North Station, looked up, and saw huge cranes sticking out of a big, white, dome-shaped tent. It was the sight of the Millenium dome. I had only ever seen it on TV, or from a distance on my way around London.. but today, the big show was inside this thing. The first thing Oxfam’s rep did, was get completely lost by going in the ’staff entrance’, going up some stairs and finding myself in a restaurant warehouse, going through a door, past some bemused bar staff polishing glasses, down some steps, and finding myself by the main entrance.. Lot’s easier. I set up the Oxfam tables and got ready to meet the volunteers. Another great group tonight. Full of energy. Keen to get started.. Another massive crowd tonight. Waiting to applaud the band’s homecoming.

It’s been a long way around to get to where we are. Show # 73 was on the day sheet. Crikey. Oxfam has had an amazing time on the tour so far. Almost 70′000 people have taken action with us, or signed up. Incredible stuff.

You could see it on their faces up there on stage. Coldplay were happy to be home. Happy to play those songs, and say to a London crowd. “Hi, we’re called Coldplay, and we’re from London, England”. They were also joined on stage by Simon Pegg. Star of ’Spaced’. Hollywood star.. 5th band member of Coldplay (for one night only), and extraordinarily talented harmonica player. It was a great moment to see him up there, revoluntionary jacket an’ all.. on the C Stage.

The blog-off is on. Roadie #42 just pulled up a chair in Production, to ‘drop a quick blog’. It’s that post-non-load-out-show, quiet part of the day. Quiet descends as thousands of people leave and amps are turned off, leaving the background noise of tapping keyboards, the odd bleeping radio and humming radiators. The video director just walked in and told Roadie #42 that he had met some huge fans of his blog today.. I think I just lost the blog-off..

• At this point of the blog.. my laptop battery died (and I had left the charger in the hotel), so I’ll now pick up where I left off about 15 hours ago.

I’m back in production on the second show-day at the O2. Reflecting on last night, the faces that I saw wandering through the backstage halls, and most importantly, Oxfam’s awesome volunteers. More than 1000 more Coldplay fans pledged their support for Health and Education For All. Just a couple of hours until there will be 20 more volunteers waiting to sign-up the masses, and watch the show.

Just looking back over my shoulder at the Manchester shows. It was two great nights there. I thought I should also mention that the band once again took on the ‘mighty’ crew in football.. It was a similar outcome to what’s gone before, but a well contested game, all the same. I think the crew could hold their heads high afterwards. I met Jonny’s Dad yesterday and told him his son is a very talented footballer.. Better get ready for tonight’s show. There are a lot of people descending on Greenwich tonight. And they are not coming to see where time began..

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=130

Lots of people at the O2.

Just counting the pledges at the Oxfam tables by section 110 at London’s O2 Arena. The Oxfam volunteers have handed in their sheets, and gone in to take their seats. ‘Speed of Sound’ is ringing through the doors, each time someone swings it open, to run to the toilet, or grab some fish n’ chips.

The total so far tonight is 1188. All those names, showing their support, can make a real difference to people’s lives. One person can make a big difference. 1188 can make a huge difference. Imagine what 6 million could do.. Oxfam is asking 6 million people to make the Health and Education For All pledge, to represent the 6 million more well trained and accessible doctors, nurses and teachers that are needed. If Oxfam can put that sort of pressure on world leaders, they can’t ignore it.. especially if over 40′000 of them are noisy Coldplay fans!

I just popped my head through the door, to watch the noisyness, as the huge yellow balloons were released into the audience during ‘Yellow’. They are all now happily bobbing around off heads and raised arms.

Just came back and set up for tomorrow, and Coldplay are not even on for the encore yet. Now there’s efficiency and planning.. The masses are streaming out now, to cram waiting tube trains, buses and Thames clippers full of happy punters. It’s amazing how popular this band are. I always forget how many people are in these arenas, until they all leave at once, after Coldplay have left the stage. Thank you to the 1188 of them, who took the time to talk to an Oxfam campaigner and get involved with the campaign. Maybe some of those 1188 will be back as campaigners themselves someday, getting in free to the show, on the invitation of the band. Thanks also to our 17 great volunteers from today!

I’m off to bed as soon as I get to the hotel. It’s been another long day. I just realised that almost everyone has left the building.. or is relaxing in the bar. I’ll see you tomorrow. Pete

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=131