König-Pilsner-Arena, Oberhausen, Germany28th October 2005
Coldplay and Goldfrapp
As I heard that Goldfrapp would be supporting Coldplay I knew that I had to see that show. Goldfrapp are brilliant... and unfortunately they gave only two headliner shows in Germany: Berlin and Hamburg. So the only chance was to see them together with Coldplay – another great band. What a package! Just one day before the concert I´ve got the confirmation to see that sold out show in the arena in Oberhausen, which grasps 13.000 people max. We had quite some trouble to be there in time... even though we started very early we reached the arena just in time... traffic jams and the search for a parking lot took a lot of time and so we were taking in our seats just at the forst sounds of Goldfrapps “Utopia” which opened the show.
Goldfrapp
Sex, subversion, style, humour, songs – these are the most important components of great pop music. Goldfrapp always knew that. With groundbreaking electronic sounds, crystal-clear vocals, theatralic visuals and glamourous-decadent and sexual charged aesthetics Goldfrapp stepped out of their Ambient-influenced beginnings and today they are standing in the shining colourful light which was radiated by British pop music since ever. Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory – the two people behin Goldfrapp – met in 1999 for the first time. After they learned to know each other and knew what they really wnated, they started to make music. “Supernature” – their recent album – was relased in summer 2005 after they released “Felt Mountain” and “Black Cherry” in the past. www.goldfrapp.co.uk Music
The recent album is more influenced by electronic elements than the releases before. They really love their sequencers, synthesizers and drum-machines. But if you expect a sterile sound cosm due to the increased use of synthethic sounds you are wrong. Well... keyboard layers, distorted guitars or skewed sound gimmicks could be elements of any EBM-album. But Goldfrapp would not be Goldfrapp if they wouldn´t make something special out of those elements and create music that definitely wears their trademark. Amongst Industrial elements, strings, romantic melodies and Alisons beseeching and whispering voice are integrated. “Supernature” is a real leviathan – complex and exciting. The first single “Ooh la la” is a subtle pulsating and dynamic glam-pop-song. The songs not only live from the sounds. Much more important is Alisons fantastic voice which goes up in unknown hights – clear and without any weaknesses. Her voice bewitches. You cannot escape from its charm. The excellent sound, which was quite loud but crystal clear, in the arena was supporting it very well. The main focus on the evening is of course on the actual album. So four of the eight played songs are taken out of it. The first album “Felt mountain” was attended a bit stepmotherly with only the song “Utopia” taken out of it. For their live performance, the band was expanded to five musicians: drums, bass, keyboard, Alison on vocals and Will playing strings and keyboard as well as doing some backing vocals while wearing a very long cape.
Performance
Earlier than expected the show started at 19.45 with “Utopia”. Alison was entering the stage wearing a tight black suit and extreme high heels. Over it she had a pink mantle, which was puffed up in the wind of two fans. The song was underlined by string sounds and the green light that was floating all over the stage. Alisons voice was climbing up the highest hights perfectly and after their first song the audience was greeted. After a calm beginning they just turned to the fast “Train”. Blue lights on several rods in the back of stage started pulsating in the rhythm of the bass. They strings were changed for another keyboard. It was time to move on stage... for Alison that meant to move like a marionette or play some kind of air guitar stepping up to the beat. Even though the audience was quite reserved during the song they gave exalted applause afterwards. With “Tiptoe” they continue with the up-tempo songs. Pink and yellow spots are combined to the haunting beat supported by strings. Alisons voice sounds magnificent and clear, especially during the slower passages of the song. During the faster parts, a musical sound and light thunderstorm is breaking out. If Alison sings “You feel good” you really feel good yourself. During the songs Alison is a real Diva... but after them she seems a bit shy when she honestly thanks the audience after each song. With “Fly me away” one slower song from the actual album follows, marked by a catchy hookline and supported by blue and pink spots and the white bright lights on the rods in the background.
The intro for “Number 1” was marked by gentle keyboard sounds until mellow drums appear. Magnificent synth layers underline Alisons seductive “yeah, yeah, yeah”. After two calmer songs it´s time to wake up again with “strict machine” from the album “Black Cherry”. Glaring red strobe lights flame up and with a loud “Yeah” Alison starts the song. Tramping sounds, rising drums lead you to the hights until Alisons chant appears. The song is marked by hammering beats and extremely distorted electronic noises, which do not really fit to the band that should follow that evening. But they fit to the song – actually very well. Glittering spots appear from the back of stage during the refrain, which enlighten the audience. Alisons voice is climbing up to unexpected hights, crystal clear, angelic... and she really seems to be an angel today with her blonde curls and the baggy mantel that reminds of angel wings. The song end with very strange and weird electronic sounds... and I had the impresson they are much more weird than on CD.
But back to the recent album with the last two songs. “Ride a white Horse” is starting with meandering green lights to which Alisons pink mantel is a strong contrast. She is enlightened by a bright spot herself. Well, she´s the main attraction of the show. The bass player is animating the audience for the first time this evening to clapp along and people are happily joining in. I am sure Goldfrapp conquered several hearts during this evening. Of course the current single “Ooh la la” shouldn´t be missed and so the band close a very short but fair and beautiful show with this song – a song where you cannot keep your feet still... you have to tap along or dance. And you really believe Alison when she sings “I want to touch you”... she appears so sexy and gorgeous. “Ooh la la” as perfect end of the show is accompanied by frenetic applause.
Setlist
01. Utopia
02. Train
03. Tiptoe
04. Fly me away
05. Number 1
06. Strict Machine
07. Ride a white Horse
08. Ooh la la
Rating
Music 10
Performance 9
Sound 9
Light 9
Total 9 (9.4)
Coldplay
With floating accords, weepy distorted guitars and tear-ish dropping rhythms Coldplay signalized in 2000: The beauty of the world must be a sad one. The band which just gained attention with their debut “Parachutes” consists of Chris Martin (vocals, guitar, piano), Guy Berryman (bass), Jon Buckland (guitar) and Will Champion (drums). After their album “A Rush of Blood to the Head” they lately released their third album “X&Y”. www.coldplay.com
The Coldplay-stage was expanded with some extra constructions: a half-round in front of the usual stage and some kind of catwalks on the sides of the stage. During the rebuilding break several new stuff was carried onto the stage – a really big show was promised by all the new equipment: the drum set on a podium, a lot of additional speakers, loads of guitars, keyboard and even a piano which promised some melancholic ballads. Additionally there were several cameras built up to broadcast pictures from the show on the big screens in back of the stage. Also the light constructions were rebuilt compared to the Goldfrapp setting. There was a ring of lights around the stage-round and a big LED-screen in the back of stage. Huge spots were built up on the opposite site of the arena as well as over the stage to light up the musicians.
Music
When the band started with their debut “Parachutes” in 2000 you never expected that they could grow that big. “Parachutes” was full of dizzly but nevertheless pretty rock ballads as well as i.e. the huge soaring song “Yellow”. While “Yellow” was a smash hit, anything that followed was even smashier. 2002 saw the release of “A Rush of Blood to the Head” which somehow captured the feeling of a small band acting very big! Front man Chris Martin is supported by his band mates with propulsive rhythms – something he has to pull against. The band masters to write graceful ballads. And now the new album “X&Y” is out – delivering more great songs. “Speed of Sound” is an appealing but not thrilling song. The album is again starting in outer space – there is an atmospheric hum, a tense rhythm, hurtling-forward bass line and skinny guitar lines – plenty to listen to. Of course there are the lovely ballads that sound very Coldplay-ish. “Fix you” for example is an unabashedly sentimental song where words of encouragement in a gentle falsetto are delivered. While of course the main focus was on the current album “X&Y” also a lot of songs especially out of “A Rush of Blood to the Head” were presented while it were much less from the debut. Up-tempo songs and gentle ballads with Chris on the piano changed... pushing the audience up and turning it down... making you laugh or moved by tears.
Performance
It was 21:15 as the lights turned down and the intro started, accompanied by loud screams and whistles. A digital count down was projected to the big LED screen in the back of stage while the band entered the stage. With the opener on the recent album “X&Y” – “Square One” they started the show. Besides the LED screen there was no additional light at the beginning of the show and Chris was standing right in front of the countdown. Ecstatic applause accompanied the first sounds until the real show started with a “bang” – the LED screen flamed up in bright red, green and blue light while white spots were targeted at the musicians. Chris just takes over all the space on stage – the additional stage constructions seem to be made only for him, letting him jump over the whole stage. For several passages he´s playing the piano – but he doesn´t sit still behind it, rocking on his chair. Just the second song “Politik” from “A Rush of Blood to the Head” makes the arena boil. Rapid moving white spots stray through the venue, Chris behind his piano is enlightened by a single white spot. Hammering drums appear. The cameras are broadcasting the first pictures on the screens – mirrored collages with fast crops in sync with the music. This song is a good example for the combination of Britpop-ish guitar sounds with gentle electronics. The stage appears quite romantic in red and lilac, while explosions of any colors you can think of a projected onto the screen. After the song ends with a gentle piano solo, frenetic rejoicing breaks out.
For the next song “Yellow” Chris is grasping the guitar while the stage was shining in bright white and yellow light – very fitting to the song when Chris sings “Shine for you”. The audience cannot be stopped – all are dancing, clapping and singing. Numerous yellow ballons filled with yellow paper stripes are floating down from the ceiling. People are pushing the ballons forward to the stage where they are destroyed one ofter the other by Chris using his guitar or jumping on it – all the paper stripes are passed out over the stage. With “Speed of Sound” another song from the current album follows. It starts with gentle piano sounds while red LEDs appear on the back. Chris is always moving between his paiono and the two catwalks. Colourful play of lights are shown on the screen. Chris is rocking on his chair behind the piano so much that you imagin him falling down any second. The song ends with turning stars projected to the screen and a singer laying down at the rim of the stage.
”X&Y” – the eponym of the recent album – follows. Spotlights are dropped down from the ceiling while the long intro to the song arises. Chris is taking his place again behind the piano while mellow synth layers appear slowly until finally the drums begin. White lights are floating up and down while the background flames up totally in red. The song is followed by “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face” which Chris introduced with “So anybody ok? It´s great to be here. I hope you´re enjoying it as much as we do”. Actually Chis is very communicative the whole evening – something new for me compared with the last concert I´ve seen. The whole band is giving everything – Will is freaking out behind his drums and Chris is jumping across the stage with his guitar. Towards the end of the song they include fragments from Rammsteins “America” – “We are living in America, America ist wunderbar” which makes the audience to freak out too. After a slight break the song “How you see the world” is starting. At the beginning the whole stage is totally dark while only Chris is lightened up by a single red spot util after a few lines the rest o fthe band is targeted by red spots. This slow song is supported by blue lights which grasp the whole venue while feathery bright light threads enlighten the stage.
”White shadows” – the next song – is again underlined by projections of the band on the big screen. Chris – first standing on the speakers – is then jumping across the stage in strange movements. Overall, everything comes across much more agile, bigger and more professional than during the last tour. Chris is using the whole stage – even behind the drums. Cameras are always with him to broadcast his picture to the screen. Blue spots accompany a very soulful finish. “The Scientist” starts with Chris´ question “everybody ok?”. This gentle ballad is opened by piano sounds and accompanied by rhythmic calling. There is only a bright spot on Chris behind the piano while the galaxy is projected to the screen. Lighters are turned on and everyone is singing “Nobody said it was easy....”. This song touches your heart. Chris invites the audience: “Please sing with us. I sing it and you sing it back”. When everyone does so it simply sounds fantastic – you´re getting a lump in your throat. To the outro of the song an additional keyboard is carried to the rim of the stage while the band takes pictures of their fans.
For the bonus song on “X&Y” – “'Til Kingdom Come” the band comes together on the rim of stage around the newly brought keyboard. Before they move on, Chris greets the fans with the Scottish flag on the other side of the arena. He excuses for not speaking German but he says that he´s lucky to be in Germany. Finally he introduces a “Country song”. Will takes a seat behind the keyboard. Jon is sitting on stage most of the time. For some lines he´s playing harmonica. All are standing very close, enlightened by reduced light so you might have the feeling of a small club concert even though it was a big arena they were playing in. “Sing with us if you want” Chris askes and as the fans did so he says “Thank you, very nice”. With Jonny Chash´s “Ring of fire” another country song follows and you might recognize that anyone had fun tonight. After this cover version an own song was played: “Don´t panic” from “Parachutes”. The four band mates are still close together at on stage and Chris is dedicating this song to Depeche Mode, including an edited line of their song “Enjoy the silence” – a great pleasure for me as Depeche Mode fan. “This is for Jonny, the most talented man in the world” he states hugging his guitarist.
With “Clocks” from the second album one of the most known songs followed. You really felt how amazed the band was by the fans when Chris stated “What an audience, what a crowd”. The catchy song started with piano sounds. Rainbow colours were projected to the screen. Huge white balloons were thrown out into the audience with the written word “Thank you” in different languages. A magnificent concert is leading towards its end. The song turns faster and faster to its climax, followed by the last song of the set: “Talk”. The LED screen is now covered by a real white screen on which any band member was projected. The areana is boiling, people are jumping – fans in the arena and Chris with his guitar on stage. Chris is singing lying on the floor. The set ends, the band says goodbye, but they are not allowed to leave yet. Long lasting steady applause pushes them to come back for a three-song encore. For “Swallowed in the sea” Chris takes a seat behind the piano to intonate this ballad while handwritten lyrics are projected throgh the whole hall. Very atmospheric. With “In my place” and “Fix you” a great concert ends.
There are people calling this concert the best one Coldplay ever played. And compared with the last one I´ve seen myself I only can agree. When I rather found it boring last time, the guys were bubbling over with energy, burning down fireworks of light and sound, animated to dance or plucked your heartstrings. Well done, guys!
Setlist
01. Intro
02. Square One
03. Politik
04. Yellow
05. Speed Of Sound
06. X&Y
07. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (with an edited part of Rammstein´s "America")
08. How You See The World
09. White Shadows
10. The Scientist
11. 'Til Kingdom Come
12. Ring Of Fire (cover of Jonny Cash)
13. Don't Panic (with an edited melody of Depeche Mode´s "Enjoy The Silence")
14. Clocks
15. Talk
------------------
16. Swallowed In The Sea
17. In My Place
18. Fix You
Music 10
Performance 9
Sound 9
Light 9
Total 9 (9.4)
Coldplay
With floating accords, weepy distorted guitars and tear-ish dropping rhythms Coldplay signalized in 2000: The beauty of the world must be a sad one. The band which just gained attention with their debut “Parachutes” consists of Chris Martin (vocals, guitar, piano), Guy Berryman (bass), Jon Buckland (guitar) and Will Champion (drums). After their album “A Rush of Blood to the Head” they lately released their third album “X&Y”. www.coldplay.com
The Coldplay-stage was expanded with some extra constructions: a half-round in front of the usual stage and some kind of catwalks on the sides of the stage. During the rebuilding break several new stuff was carried onto the stage – a really big show was promised by all the new equipment: the drum set on a podium, a lot of additional speakers, loads of guitars, keyboard and even a piano which promised some melancholic ballads. Additionally there were several cameras built up to broadcast pictures from the show on the big screens in back of the stage. Also the light constructions were rebuilt compared to the Goldfrapp setting. There was a ring of lights around the stage-round and a big LED-screen in the back of stage. Huge spots were built up on the opposite site of the arena as well as over the stage to light up the musicians.
Music
When the band started with their debut “Parachutes” in 2000 you never expected that they could grow that big. “Parachutes” was full of dizzly but nevertheless pretty rock ballads as well as i.e. the huge soaring song “Yellow”. While “Yellow” was a smash hit, anything that followed was even smashier. 2002 saw the release of “A Rush of Blood to the Head” which somehow captured the feeling of a small band acting very big! Front man Chris Martin is supported by his band mates with propulsive rhythms – something he has to pull against. The band masters to write graceful ballads. And now the new album “X&Y” is out – delivering more great songs. “Speed of Sound” is an appealing but not thrilling song. The album is again starting in outer space – there is an atmospheric hum, a tense rhythm, hurtling-forward bass line and skinny guitar lines – plenty to listen to. Of course there are the lovely ballads that sound very Coldplay-ish. “Fix you” for example is an unabashedly sentimental song where words of encouragement in a gentle falsetto are delivered. While of course the main focus was on the current album “X&Y” also a lot of songs especially out of “A Rush of Blood to the Head” were presented while it were much less from the debut. Up-tempo songs and gentle ballads with Chris on the piano changed... pushing the audience up and turning it down... making you laugh or moved by tears.
Performance
It was 21:15 as the lights turned down and the intro started, accompanied by loud screams and whistles. A digital count down was projected to the big LED screen in the back of stage while the band entered the stage. With the opener on the recent album “X&Y” – “Square One” they started the show. Besides the LED screen there was no additional light at the beginning of the show and Chris was standing right in front of the countdown. Ecstatic applause accompanied the first sounds until the real show started with a “bang” – the LED screen flamed up in bright red, green and blue light while white spots were targeted at the musicians. Chris just takes over all the space on stage – the additional stage constructions seem to be made only for him, letting him jump over the whole stage. For several passages he´s playing the piano – but he doesn´t sit still behind it, rocking on his chair. Just the second song “Politik” from “A Rush of Blood to the Head” makes the arena boil. Rapid moving white spots stray through the venue, Chris behind his piano is enlightened by a single white spot. Hammering drums appear. The cameras are broadcasting the first pictures on the screens – mirrored collages with fast crops in sync with the music. This song is a good example for the combination of Britpop-ish guitar sounds with gentle electronics. The stage appears quite romantic in red and lilac, while explosions of any colors you can think of a projected onto the screen. After the song ends with a gentle piano solo, frenetic rejoicing breaks out.
For the next song “Yellow” Chris is grasping the guitar while the stage was shining in bright white and yellow light – very fitting to the song when Chris sings “Shine for you”. The audience cannot be stopped – all are dancing, clapping and singing. Numerous yellow ballons filled with yellow paper stripes are floating down from the ceiling. People are pushing the ballons forward to the stage where they are destroyed one ofter the other by Chris using his guitar or jumping on it – all the paper stripes are passed out over the stage. With “Speed of Sound” another song from the current album follows. It starts with gentle piano sounds while red LEDs appear on the back. Chris is always moving between his paiono and the two catwalks. Colourful play of lights are shown on the screen. Chris is rocking on his chair behind the piano so much that you imagin him falling down any second. The song ends with turning stars projected to the screen and a singer laying down at the rim of the stage.
”X&Y” – the eponym of the recent album – follows. Spotlights are dropped down from the ceiling while the long intro to the song arises. Chris is taking his place again behind the piano while mellow synth layers appear slowly until finally the drums begin. White lights are floating up and down while the background flames up totally in red. The song is followed by “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face” which Chris introduced with “So anybody ok? It´s great to be here. I hope you´re enjoying it as much as we do”. Actually Chis is very communicative the whole evening – something new for me compared with the last concert I´ve seen. The whole band is giving everything – Will is freaking out behind his drums and Chris is jumping across the stage with his guitar. Towards the end of the song they include fragments from Rammsteins “America” – “We are living in America, America ist wunderbar” which makes the audience to freak out too. After a slight break the song “How you see the world” is starting. At the beginning the whole stage is totally dark while only Chris is lightened up by a single red spot util after a few lines the rest o fthe band is targeted by red spots. This slow song is supported by blue lights which grasp the whole venue while feathery bright light threads enlighten the stage.
”White shadows” – the next song – is again underlined by projections of the band on the big screen. Chris – first standing on the speakers – is then jumping across the stage in strange movements. Overall, everything comes across much more agile, bigger and more professional than during the last tour. Chris is using the whole stage – even behind the drums. Cameras are always with him to broadcast his picture to the screen. Blue spots accompany a very soulful finish. “The Scientist” starts with Chris´ question “everybody ok?”. This gentle ballad is opened by piano sounds and accompanied by rhythmic calling. There is only a bright spot on Chris behind the piano while the galaxy is projected to the screen. Lighters are turned on and everyone is singing “Nobody said it was easy....”. This song touches your heart. Chris invites the audience: “Please sing with us. I sing it and you sing it back”. When everyone does so it simply sounds fantastic – you´re getting a lump in your throat. To the outro of the song an additional keyboard is carried to the rim of the stage while the band takes pictures of their fans.
For the bonus song on “X&Y” – “'Til Kingdom Come” the band comes together on the rim of stage around the newly brought keyboard. Before they move on, Chris greets the fans with the Scottish flag on the other side of the arena. He excuses for not speaking German but he says that he´s lucky to be in Germany. Finally he introduces a “Country song”. Will takes a seat behind the keyboard. Jon is sitting on stage most of the time. For some lines he´s playing harmonica. All are standing very close, enlightened by reduced light so you might have the feeling of a small club concert even though it was a big arena they were playing in. “Sing with us if you want” Chris askes and as the fans did so he says “Thank you, very nice”. With Jonny Chash´s “Ring of fire” another country song follows and you might recognize that anyone had fun tonight. After this cover version an own song was played: “Don´t panic” from “Parachutes”. The four band mates are still close together at on stage and Chris is dedicating this song to Depeche Mode, including an edited line of their song “Enjoy the silence” – a great pleasure for me as Depeche Mode fan. “This is for Jonny, the most talented man in the world” he states hugging his guitarist.
With “Clocks” from the second album one of the most known songs followed. You really felt how amazed the band was by the fans when Chris stated “What an audience, what a crowd”. The catchy song started with piano sounds. Rainbow colours were projected to the screen. Huge white balloons were thrown out into the audience with the written word “Thank you” in different languages. A magnificent concert is leading towards its end. The song turns faster and faster to its climax, followed by the last song of the set: “Talk”. The LED screen is now covered by a real white screen on which any band member was projected. The areana is boiling, people are jumping – fans in the arena and Chris with his guitar on stage. Chris is singing lying on the floor. The set ends, the band says goodbye, but they are not allowed to leave yet. Long lasting steady applause pushes them to come back for a three-song encore. For “Swallowed in the sea” Chris takes a seat behind the piano to intonate this ballad while handwritten lyrics are projected throgh the whole hall. Very atmospheric. With “In my place” and “Fix you” a great concert ends.
There are people calling this concert the best one Coldplay ever played. And compared with the last one I´ve seen myself I only can agree. When I rather found it boring last time, the guys were bubbling over with energy, burning down fireworks of light and sound, animated to dance or plucked your heartstrings. Well done, guys!
Setlist
01. Intro
02. Square One
03. Politik
04. Yellow
05. Speed Of Sound
06. X&Y
07. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (with an edited part of Rammstein´s "America")
08. How You See The World
09. White Shadows
10. The Scientist
11. 'Til Kingdom Come
12. Ring Of Fire (cover of Jonny Cash)
13. Don't Panic (with an edited melody of Depeche Mode´s "Enjoy The Silence")
14. Clocks
15. Talk
------------------
16. Swallowed In The Sea
17. In My Place
18. Fix You
Rating
Music 10
Performance 10
Sound 9
Light 10
Total 10 (9.85)
Music 10
Performance 10
Sound 9
Light 10
Total 10 (9.85)
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