Coldplay brings Toronto to a standstill with second of two sold-out shows

By: Laura Stanley –

Coldplay at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. July 24, 2012. (Photo: Christine Urias)

I’ll be the first to admit that Coldplay’s latest album, Mylo Xyloto, isn’t their best work. With most of the album being over produced pop songs featuring Rihanna (okay, that was just the one song but still), gone are the days of emotionally rich, soft piano-pop songs like that of their older material.

During Coldplay’s second night in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre (ACC) as part of their “Mylo Xyloto Tour,” it didn’t matter in the least if you’re a fan of their newer work, or even a fan at all, Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, and Will Champion know how to put on an entertaining show.

With every audience member handed a bracelet, “Xylobands,” upon entering, Coldplay didn’t waste any time dazzling the crowd with their cool new addition to the concert experience. In “Hurts Like Heaven,” the brilliant “In My Place” from their 2002 record A Rush of Blood to the Head, and “Major Minus,” and in various other songs throughout the show, the Xylobands would light up in time with the music for a crowd and visually pleasing effect.

Coldplay dipped into their back catalogue throughout the night, playing hits from Viva La Vida including, “Lovers In Japan,” “Violet Hill,” and the always energetic “Viva La Vida,” X&Y’s “Speed Of Sound” and “Fix You” and a more animated version of “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face” from A Rush of Blood to the Head.

Disappointingly, Coldplay didn’t pick anything too adventurous from their past, although that’s expected seeing as this was the “Mylo Xyloto Tour,” but the real thrill was the inclusion of “Trouble,” from their first album Parachutes. Playing “Trouble” in a more stripped-down way, the band moved to a smaller part of the main stage, marking not the first stage change of the night. As they have at previous shows in other years, Coldplay moved to a very small stage in an upper section of the ACC for a musically gratifying part of the show, delighting the fans they were near and inhibiting seeing the band for fans who were not.

The awkward misstep of the night had to be the Rihanna-less “Princess of China” in the latter half of the show. It’s also discouraging to see such a musically strong band like Coldplay having to play a song with a vocal track overdubbed on top of it to please some fans.

As now concert professionals, Martin’s running around onstage trying his best to interact with  everyone in the sold out stadium, added to an already energetic show.

Playing a whopping twenty-one songs in total, including a very welcoming four song encore, fans didn’t leave feeling underwhelmed by a show that excelled both as a music concert and as pure entertainment.

Setlist

Intro (Back To The Future Theme)

1. Mylo Xyloto
2. Hurts Like Heaven
3. In My Place
4. Major Minus
5. Lovers In Japan
6. The Scientist
7. Yellow
8. Violet Hill
9. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face
   B-Stage
10. Princess of China
11. Up in Flames
12. Trouble
    A Hopeful Transmission
13. Don’t Let It Break Your Heart
14. Viva La Vida
15. Charlie Brown
16. Paradise
    C-stage
17. Us Against the World
18. Speed Of Sound
    Encore:
19. Clocks
20. Fix You
21. M.M.I.X.
22. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall