7 December 2008: Echo Arena, Liverpool, UK

From WikiColdplay

Jump to: navigation, search

Echo Arena, Liverpool, UK - 7th December 2008

1 Setlist
2 Photos
3 Videos
4 Discussion
5 Fan Reviews
6 Media Reviews

[edit]

Setlist

[edit]

Photos

Photos from this show can be found at Coldplaying.com in the Gallery thread for Liverpool. http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/1564

[edit]

Videos

Videos from this show can be found in the first post of the Coldplaying forum live thread for this show at http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45473

[edit]

Discussion

All post-show discussion for this show at the forum thread: http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45473

[edit]

Fan Reviews

All fan reviews have been submitted to us by the members of Coldplaying.com[1], unless stated otherwise.

Live Text Updates From Mimixxx

19:47 We're in now. I'm rather close to the front. Mari a little further back. Wee. Eugene on. Xx
19:55 In response to: Eugene good? Yeah. He is actually. Was throwing free stuff into the crowd. My block seems dull. Hope they liven up when cp are on. X
19:57 Aww. Jon Hopkins on now. Loads of people leaving! Haha. X
21:07 Jay z finally. Woo! X
21:12 Blue Danube
21:13 They've got sparklers!
21:20 'if you're from liverpool won't you let me know' woo
21:29 in my place and now sos. They in great mood. X
21:35 Yellow balloons back!
21:44 New Song!
21:57 Think was a cover sorry was excited. Chris is overwhelmed, audience is fantastic. Best show ever! Fix u was epic. Ss now
22:01 B stage. Am right next to them
22:16 Vlv. Loudest ive ever heard an audience sing. Jb was visibly shocked.
22:22 In response to: Sounds like one of the best shows all tour. It really is. Green eyes
22:53 Lit 2

Michie's Mega Review Pt. 1

Mich & Mari at the Echo Arena

So at about 4.30 I text Mari and ask her if she wants to meet up. She's been wandering around the Albert Dock all afternoon and has seen everything there is to see. It is also extremely cold.

So me, my friend Mike and her meet up and decide to go to for pizza. Mari is soooo lovely and very funny Anyway we wait for a good 45 minutes to be seated, seems everyone else has had the same idea of getting something to eat before the show. So after ordering off some bullshit "theatre" menu and then after being overcharged, we head towards the arena next door.

The security was really lax, we were just walking through doors looking for our seats, no-one was stopping us or checking our tickets....something we used to our advantage later on...more on that later

So eventually someone decides to show us to our seats, to my great surprise and delight row K is only 6 rows back The perfect view. Dead centre. Mari was about another 6 rows behind us.

Eugene Francis Jr was already playing as we arrived, he was pretty good, talked to the crowd a lot, said the bassists family were here (they were sitting in front of us and were later joined by the band) and gave out free CD's and t shirts to the crowd.

After they went off Jon Hopkins came on, who wasn't that terrible, he was nice background music. Unfortunately everyone was leaving there seats as he started to play.

As our section started to fill up, we noticed quite a few older, well dressed, type people. In fact we were surrounded by them! I (as it quickly become apparent) WRONGLY assumed that the crowd would be quiet and not up for the screaming, dancing and singing I had in mind. Ha. Shows what I know.

So after Jon finished I had a look for Mari. All the security had left the section so we hatched a plan. I gave her my ticket and took her coat and went and sat back down with Mike. Whilst she wandered around the arena until Coldplay started. She would then use my ticket to get into our section after the show had started and we all stood up. We knew it would work because, as I said, the security were really lax.

So I sat back down and waited for Jay-Z to start, and waited, and waited, and waited. The roadies had finished setting up, the lighting dudes were on their seats high above the arena, the curtain was down. And nothing. I later found out that Mari had asked someone when the show was starting (as she was running out of places to go in the arena) and they looked at their watch and said "about ten minutes ago"

There was a commotion at the side of the arena and people were screaming and taking photos, I thought at first it may have been Gwyneth, but couldn't see. Apparently it was Xabi Alonso and Robbie Fowler

FINALLY at about ten past 9, Jay Z started, people were dancing and cheering the dancing roadies. And I knew then...I was in for a good night

More to follow

[Mimixxx]

Ok, so this was my first time seeing Coldplay, and it was really fantastic! I'm a huge Muse fan, a band who always deliver a brilliant show as well as great music, and Coldplay seem to have realised that this is the way to go to get the fans involved. I was right up at the top of Block 6, and almost didn't get to the gig, due to some b******* stealing my handbag from under my chair in Nando's an hour earlier. However, my son went over to the Arena whilst I was phoning police and banks etc, and asked the box office what they might be able to do. Bless them! Because they had my details, they printed off another couple of tickets for us, so we could still go! Thank you Liverpool Arena!!! Turned a horrible evening into a good one again, and the gig was awesome. Tell me, someone who's seen them a lot, was that gig really the best you've been to? It certainly seemed so to me - the singing along was fantastic and everyone round me was up and dancing, clapping etc.

Thanks Coldplay - looking forward to the next time!!

[Bazza12]

How good was take that haha! Did anyone see the 2 gays in the bright yellow t shirts? That was me an my mate Last night was immense! Shame to see some scuffling between people at the end.. I was almost touching them when they did green eyes and death will never conquer, almost had chris' harmonica too! What an amazing night, didnt see xabi but would of loved too, hes my fave player for liverpool! Hope chris wasnt joking when he said we were the best crowd of the tour!

[glover3492]

Michie's Mega Review Pt. 2

So Blue Danube comes on and everyone is clapping along and cheering (with no roadie promptingl) and FINALLY The Escapist starts to play...

Everyone stands up and cheers! Weeeee. I'm jumping up and down and screaming and hardly notice Mari pop up beside me. Mwahaha. Brilliant plan, executed to perfection. No-one around us minded.

So LIT starts and we can see four glowing lights as the boys come on, a closer look revealed they were sparklers How random. They all had one each. Jonny's went out and Chris used his own to light it again Me and Mari were going wild, jumping and screaming, so excited after waiting for so long.

Next Violet Hill, the crowd started singing along from the get go, the boys were jovial to begin with but you could see they were loving it already. Chris ended the song with "If you're from Liverpool won't you let me know" Weeeee.

Clocks was epic as usual, the stage is soooo dark during it though, you can barely see anything. The multicoloured lazers are extremely cool though Chris played it very well, not hitting the wrong key every few seconds like he usually does His voice was in fine form too He did some leaning back off his stool action at the end too

IMP was next I immediately rang Kara and held my phone up until the second chorus, don't know if you can tell from the audio she posted but the crowd were sooo loud! As Jonny's big riff started Chris said how great we were and how that song was recorded in Liverpool I hung up before the ramp of love action, for obvious reasons, but my filming was blocked by stupid tall people with long arms. I got what I could but couldn't see much. Chris did fling his arm around Jonny as they walked back up the ramp though. Much to our delight

Speed of Sound was next, again another big crowd sing along They were singing everything it was unbelievable.

More to come...

[Mimixxx]

OMG, I know this is sorta late, but i feal i have to just relive that, That was absolutely amazing, Dead centre front row! They Walked on carrying Sparklers, and imediately divulged into an energetic set. The set that we seen was the norm, however with a strange ending to Chinese sleep chant instrumental that i'd never seen before. Chris was realy up for it, and the Crowd more than Followed. Baloons during Yellow, and looking up into the skies to see a sea of glow in the dark butterflies fall gracefully onto you is awe inspiring.

We Took our French flag with Viva la Vida on it, And thought that we should throw it on stage, so during the Politik we did, Chris noted it, Played on and then Just before Lovers, Picked it up and put it around him!! then put it around Will who smiled at us!!! At the end when they do there salute, it was around wills arms!

I was Dressed as Chris and My mate went as Johnny, Thus the Cap My other mate went as guy with the waistcoat and got a gratuitous nod during the show I have some good pics, but unfortunately, Have got to go to school.. I shall try and upload the ones where will has our flag, and a few of our uniforms later on.

At the end of the Show, we got a Set list off one of the techs, and Got a Plec of Johnny, Each!!!! And chris came over to us, and put two thumbs up. Didnt get the flag back like, but im glad because its nice to immagine where it is now. Absolutely fantastic Night.

Who Needs Dreams when they can Never Match that Reality?

[Bilbo-215]

Hey. I just registered. I went tonight and loved it.. absolutely loved it! I took my mam along and she was well into it as well ha! I want to go to a Coldplay concert everyday now

[Jus Luke]

Michie's Mega Review Pt. 3

Jonny & the Attack of the Yellow Balloons

So by this early point the atmosphere was already incredible I can't even begin to explain it, I've never been to a gig where the audience are just so into it so early! Obviously this didn't go unnoticed by Chris who, after he had the house lights brought up, told us how incredible we were. He said again how so many songs were recorded in Liverpool and how they finally had somewhere to play them. He then decided to take advantage of our loud cheers by having a cheering competition.

He told the right side to cheer when Guy raised his hand, the left when Jonny did and the centre when Will did. The centre were loudest by far. Mwahaha. Go us! He did it over and over again though. "Guy, Jonny, Will, Guy, Jonny, Will, Guy, Jonny, Will..." They boys were having a great time as we all competed with one another, I have it all on film

So then Yellow started and what should appear above our heads? THE YELLOW BALLOONS! They're back and as big as ever! There were soooo many of them. They kept landing by poor Jonny who had about 7 at his feet I took some film, but is very shaky due to them landing on our heads every 2 seconds. Was great though. And we all still managed to sing along. And then at the end, he got us to sing the last few lines, not once, not twice, not three times but FOUR times Asking us to get louder with every go. Which we did. He had a massive smile on his face, it was just incredible!

CSC next, Jonny (who I forgot to mention JB fans, has a new hat ) was rocking out big style, jumping around, throwing his body around the stage.

Next they started playing a riff I didn't recognise, in my haste I got excited and text Jen saying it was a new song It wasn't. It was Lips Like Sugar They didn't sing though. Just played it through.

42, we all sang the beginning, and Chris did his usual silly dance as the guitar kicked in. Jonny was giving it some welly tonight At the end Chris milked us for loud singing AGAIN by getting us to song the last few lines and then the "ooooh" once we did that he celebrated by holding a very loud and very, very long note.

More to come...

[Mimixxx]

WOW!!! That was awesome, excellent, incredible, amazing, great!!! I got some butterflies, whoop! Life In Technicolor ii was one of the best moments of my life. Lovers In Japan was one of the best moments of my life too. The whole show was one of the best moments of my life! My voice is wrecked and my hands are nearly bleeding from clapping so much, but I don't care I also saw Xavi Alonso (Liverpool player) and Robbie Fowler (ex-Liverpool, current Blackburn), so that was pretty darn cool.

[Fixed]

Concert really was brilliant. The best one out of the 3 I went, by far. and I'm glad the Arena was so helpful and managed to solve your problem!!!!!! Some place just have really good services...

[marianatsl]

Michie's Mega Review Pt. 4

Next was Fix You, I don't think I need to tell you how loud we were. We sang the whole thing, start to finish, it was the loudest I'd ever heard a crowd sing...up until that point of course Guy clapped us at the end. Weeeee.

Strawberry Swing next, which I just love, we all clapped along with Guy Lots of lovely little Chris and Jonny moments too, girlies, at one point Chris was looking over to Jonny and singing the lines "Now the sky could be blue, I don't mind, without you it's a waste of time"

So they head on over to the B stage and because of the lax security and the weird layout of the arena we all got to move over and we were INCHES from them So so close! No one cared that we'd rushed the stage. Was awesome! I have some excellent ass shaking footage that I'll get up as soon as I can They played GPASUYF and Talk but I honestly don't remember much due to being in a daze at how close we were As they walked off me and Mari decided to be a little fangirlish and scream for Jonny It was loud and I'm sure he heard, but he didn't turn around. Booo

Next was The Hardest Part, we were so close, we could literally see the sweat pouring down Chris' face His back hunched over the piano, playing it faultlessly, it was amazing. His voice was beautiful, best it has sounded in a while. I'm sure he slipped another Liverpool line in there too, but I can't be sure. It was followed by Postcards, again it was amazing to see him work so close up, completely focussed, you could actually see him pause over the keys, unsure if he had it right, hehe. He did

Next was VLV we all scrambled back to our seats (where I discovered some lovely person had spilt two bottles of beer in my bag! ) whilst singing along with Will. [fangirl] As Chris stepped up to the keyboard I saw him mouth 'are you okay?' to Jonny, who smiled widely and nodded yes [/fangirl] The "woahs" were soooooooo loud, so so loud Me and Mari were jumping up and down our hands in the air and discovered that everyone else was going as crazy as we were! As the song ended Chris just dropped to the floor! He didn't get on his knees and bend back like usual, he just literally dropped like a limp doll to the floor! Hehe. We all carried on singing the "woahs" so loudly. We kept going on and on, I looked over towards the stage and Jonny and Guy were looking at each other visibly SHOCKED by how loud we were and long we were going. By the end I could barely breathe, I literally didn't have the energy to sing any more. It was incredible. In the end Chris had Will start Lost! I've never heard a crowd so loud before, I'm trying to convey just how epic this was.

So Lost! starts, Chris is running around the stage, hassling poor Guy by doing crazy dances behind him! He did the thing with the drumstick too...as always We all sang the "oooooo ahhhh ooooohhh" bit at the end and he got us to sing the last line with him AGAIN! He's such a little sing along whore

More to come

[Mimixxx]

Absolutely awesome! Just got back and Im still on a massive high, it was just incredible. Life in Technicolour ii was just brilliant live, and Fix You as always. The guys can come back to the Echo Arena anytime, preferably tomorrow. I've got a few videos I'll post up when I get into Uni tomorrow! Hope everyone else had a great time

[*Mike*]

Really enjoyed the gig. Yellow was ace with the balloons. Felt so sorry for Xabi Alonso being hassled!

[kvnw24320]

Michie's Mega Review Pt. 5

So they leave the stage and go up into the crowd, as per. Chris says to us in the front that we should text our friends (which I was ) whilst those at the back see how ugly they really are (yeah, yeah Chris, stop fishing for compliments ) I can't remember exactly what he said after that, something about Liverpool again Then was like "this has got to be the most long winded introduction ever" They played Green Eyes (SQUUUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE) and I was desperately trying to call Mel, I had a really bad signal and it wouldn't connect and I was scared it would be over before I got through. Thankfully I did. Sorry it was the end of the song Mel

He introduced Death Will Never Conquer by saying Will was going solo and was going to audition for X Factor He said if you're watching next year vote for "little 30 year old Will from Southampton" He sang it well and Jonny and Guy were having a right old laugh throughout

VLV remix was played as they made their way back down. You boys at the front were waving your phones and your glow bracelets Me and Mari danced like crazy fools

Politik next Some lovely singing from JB Chris changed one of the lyrics to "give me screams from Liverpool" or something like that, which we all did, of course. His voice was stunning tonight, "so give me love over etc" was just perfect!

LIJ weeee! Started with Chris and Jonny having another little laugh. Chris was skidding down the ramp on his knees like a little kid The butterflies were stunning as usual, of course we knew they were coming, but I love seeing everyone else look utterly amazed as they fall. Chris ran up to Jonny and sort of jumped on him and then span him around I have it on video

DAAHF followed. Chris sang the beginning acapella Was stunning and when Jonny's guitar came in he timed it so his fingers hit the piano at exactly the same time! It was just amazing! We all sang along to the "recycled" revenge lines

So they did their bow and left the stage. The "woahs" started up again along with stomping and clapping and we must have done it for a good 5 minutes. Really loud. It was amazing. Chris came back out on stage, dropped to his knees and worshipped us!

Next up was The Scientist full version! Sooo beautiful sang every word again! I've really missed the full version I filmed the whole thing.

Finally LITii! It was soooooo good live, I'm so glad I got to see it! Chris thanked us profusely between the verses, saying he wished they could play Liverpool every single night I'd gladly take them. He got to his knees again too He waved and walked off. The other boys stayed for ages though. Waving, smiling, clapping, thanking us, throwing stuff into the audience. Guitar picks, drums sticks Unfortunately I got neither

I hope I manged to put across how epic this show was, I saw the twice in Florida and whilst they were both amazing, this was just on another level. I think the mixture of a fantastic audience, them being in an amazing mood, plus them being completely on form performance wise made it the best evening of my life. And surely one of the best for the boys. They honestly did seem overwhelmed and dumbfounded by the response and I'm sooo glad I got to be a part of that

A little more to come.

[Mimixxx]

I spent the entire weekend in bed with the flu - my boyfriend wanted to cancel or sell my ticket... if it had been any other band I'd have stayed in bed but I'd been looking forward to this so much.

This was my fifth Coldplay concert and I have to say it was by far the best. When I saw them during the X & Y album, they seemed to be a band kinda going through the motions. Last night was just four guys having the time of their lives. They all seemed so up for it - as were the crowd! I've had my fair share of moans about Liverpool audiences in the past, but last night they sang their hearts out - I did too when I wasn't coughing my guts up!

Highlights for me included In My Place - it's always been my favourite song but because I had such an awesome seat, I got to see Jonny up close - he's transformed from the shy musician I saw way back in the early days. He was feeding off the crowds energy so much. I was sat right infront of the little runway to the left of the stage. Jonny came to do his thing then Chris joined him, by doing a massive jump towards him... for a split second there was this look of panic on Chris' face "Shit, I'm going to knock him over"... he somehow managed to pull back and leave Jonny safe to play that beautiful riff.

Yellow was awesome - wasn't expecting the balloons. It was fun to see the looks on peoples faces who'd clearly never been to a Coldplay concert before.

Strawberry Swing was brilliant too. I know one or two people have been disappointed with it live, and I've seen clips myself that were a little underwhelming but they totally have that number sussed now and I couldn't help but laugh at the "nipples" in the magic balls... Coldplaying.com was never far from my mind.

I could go on and on, but I'm still in the grip of the 'flu. I will say that 42 was brill - it's a song I've never been a huge fan of, and that Will sounded great on Death Will Never Conquer. I hope it's not the last time we get to hear him take a lead vocal.

The absolute highlight, however, had to be Viva La Vida. The crowd went absolutley mental and maybe it was just me, but that song actually sounded louder than all the others. Everyone just had so much fun.

I really shouldn't have gone and I'm paying for it this morning, the flu is worse than ever, but it truly was a night I'll never forget.

Finally I know what to put on the back of my postcard!

[RedGirl76]

Michie's Mega Review Pt. 6

So after everyone started clearing out I asked Mari to come get a setlist We hung around for a bit trying to get the attention of any roadie. Eventually Rik gave me his Weee I have it right here. Then another roadie went to give Mari Jonny's setlist off the floor and some bastard jumped in front of her and snatched it away! Prick.

We decide to go say hello to Pete, I got a text of Jen about the amazing response for sign ups. We chatted for a bit about how amazing the show was and how the crowds had been a bit off during Sheffield and Birmingham. I laughed at him for getting a blog out so fast. We told him Mari was from Coldplaying and she told him she was from Brazil, but didn't mention she lived over here He was probably thinking we were both freaks. One of us turns up in America, the other comes all the way from Brazil I told Pete the bastard setlist stealer story and he gave Mari his setlist! Yaaaaaaaaaaay!

And that's that.

Mari is lovely as I said, I had a blast with her and she has the most AMAZING pictures! Wait until she gets home

I have a few pics and video that I'll try and sort tomorrow. The video is actually pretty good

I had a blast. Weeeee.

[Mimixxx]

What a fantastic night,they lived up to my expectations and then some,my wife who has never seen them before is now a massive fan and we are now hopefully going to the Manchester summer show. I just wish I'd taken my camera as we had a fantastic view right next to the left walkway,anyway that didn't detract from an amazing show and I'll be taking it on Thursday to Manchester My one and only disappointment was that they didn't play Glass of water but hopefully they will play it on Thursday.

[hooper68]

[edit]

Media Reviews

9/10

If ever there was a man who sums up the phrase “dance like there's nobody watching” it’s Chris Martin. The Coldplay singer jigged and bounced around the ECHO arena stage last night like an over-excited puppy, clearly loving every minute. The packed crowd responded with equal glee, singing, cheering whooping and hollering. That’s the surprising thing about a Coldplay gig. For a band which made its name with some downright miserable lyrics (“Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be this hard” anyone?), they put on a refreshingly cheerful show.

They’ve already done more than 80 gigs around the world promoting new album Viva la Vida. It’s clear that this is arena-craft at its most refined. As Chris pointed out, in a moment eerily reminiscent of Bruce Forsyth: “We’ve done 87 of these shows now and you could well be our number one crowd yet.”

But it seemed he meant it. “It’s so great to be back in Liverpool, our second home,” he grinned, returning to the city for the first time in four years. “This is where so many of the songs we’re playing tonight were written – in Parr Street.”

Then, as an extra nod to their stay in Liverpool, they dedicated Fix You to Scouse producer Ken Nelson who worked on them during that time on Parachutes and A Rush of Blood to the Head. The main thrust of the show may have been the new album, with its undoubted highlight Viva la Vida. But there was also a leisurely journey through their back-catalogue, with rousing singalonga versions of Clocks, The Scientist, Speed of Sound, In My Place and Yellow, complete with an avalanche of yellow balloons from the ceiling.

All the usual Coldplay boxes were neatly ticked – ponderous one-note bass lines, the mournful voice with its faint sense of sorrow, the lifts from minor key piano expeditions into vast, pumping rock and tunes so sweetly melancholy you just know Chris and the lads wrote them just for you. With those songs, the band held the crowd in the palms of their hands, shrinking the 10,000-capacity arena to the size of the Parr Street bar. They seem to be one of the few bands who’ve realised to get the audience involved – about time a band put their crowd first.

Welcome back. Let’s hope this is the first of many.[2]

1 in 4 at the Echo.

The capacity of the Liverpool Echo Arena is 8000 tonight. 2044 of them made the Health and Education For All pledge, in just under 3 hours, thanks to our incredible Oxfam campaigners. For many of them, it was their first time volunteering with Oxfam. That’s a pretty good first time campaigning, by any account.. 1 in 4 signed up. Wow.

Chris Martin is currently singing ‘The Hardest Part’. The volunteers effort tonight has certainly ensured that Liverpool is not the hardest part of this tour for me. I think it’s great when so many people join in. That’s like the whole floor area of the arena standing up at once, in unison, against poverty. All those people believing that governments should do more to provide people with their basic rights to good quality healthcare and education. Imagine if you just took away all the running taps, plasters, first aid workers, and hygienic cooking areas in this venue. The show probably wouldn’t happen. If nobody had access to an education, there might not even be anyone working here. But they are. Why couldn’t the same thing happen anywhere? Good quality and affordable healthcare and education are some of the things many countries’ prosperity is built on. It’s not a new idea. Oxfam believes it’s about time everyone had the same chance.

2044 people can make a lot of noise if they want to. When joined by all the tens of thousands of others, who have signed up with Oxfam on this ‘Viva’ Coldplay tour, in 2008, the noise is loud and clear. Change is possible. One person can make a big difference.

Just look at those 4 people on stage singing the last chorus of ‘Viva La Vida’. They wrote a song. Now people are singing it even when they have stopped. That’s quite a powerful thing. When people join together on a cause they can be even more powerful. That’s what governments need. They need to know that people care and want to help change the world.

Who knows.. All those people screaming for an encore in there could be the tipping point.

I can hear the volume has dipped inside. ‘Green Eyes’ is now being sung out in the arena. I still can’t quite get over 1 in 4. Incredible stuff. We only had 20 volunteers.. Imagine if we’d had 80!

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=127

Retrieved from "http://wiki.coldplaying.com/index.php/7_December_2008:_Echo_Arena%2C_Liverpool%2C_UK"