REVIEW: Coldplay clocks first of four Toronto shows at Rogers Stadium after delay

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Coldplay

Rogers Stadium

Monday night

RATING: ***1/2 (3.5 out of four)
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There was at least one major hiccup at British pop band Coldplay’s opening night show – the first of four – at Rogers Stadium in Downsview Park on Monday night.

And it’s probably not what you think given initial concertgoer complaints about long bathroom lineups, lack of cold water at refill stations, lengthy delays and overcrowding while leaving the venue to access free transit following the first ever show at the new 50,000-seat outdoor venue on June 29 by K-pop band Stray Kids.

Lead singer Chris Martin came out to explain to the audience that the group’s start had been delayed because one of their four massive lighting towers wasn’t working.

So once the tower kicked into action, the show began about 25 minutes later than expected and went past the 11:00 p.m. curfew by about 15 minutes as a result.

“Thank so much for your patience,” said Martin, once the concert was underway. “Thank you for waiting for eight years and 10 minutes for us.”

Martin was referencing the fact that Coldplay last played in Toronto in 2017.

Since noise doesn’t seem to be an issue, I’m not sure anyone will complain about the curfew being broken but from other reports there did appear to be more buses, GO trains, and signage to all three TTC Stations on Monday night to make leaving Rogers Stadium easier.

Still, long lineups at the bathrooms continued.

Entering via the American Express gate 3 was a breeze for the most part (there are two other gates) and each concertgoer was given a lighting bracelet – which turned the venue into a sea of whatever colour or colours went with each Coldplay song – plus a pair of 3D glasses or moon googles to make the fantastic light show and fireworks displays even more compelling.

Making their way through the backstage area live on video, vocalist-pianist Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, and drummer and percussionist Will Champion eventually walked through the crowd and onto the B stage in the centre of the floor before walking the catwalk to their enormous stage.

They opened the evening with Higher Power while fireworks ignited the night sky and the CN Tower and the rising moon could be seen behind the band’s spectaclular production in a picture-perfect moment.

Meanwhile, Martin – a chatty, charming presence all night long – was a relentless cheerleader and told the crowd: “You people are fantastic. Toronto is amazing.”

After Adventure of a Lifetime, which saw multi-coloured balloons move around the crowd on the floor, Coldplay created their first big moments with Paradise followed by the oldie but goodie, The Scientist, the latter the first tune of the night to feature Martin on piano.

Martin also wasn’t afraid to make fun of the new surroundings thanking people for making, however they could, to “this weird stadium in the middle of nowhere.”

Then it was time to make use of that B stage playing Viva La Vida in all it’s anthemic glory, before Martin invited two young girls, Summer and Maya, up on stage to watch as he performed their fan request, Trouble, in a cute moment.

The song that started it all for Coldplay – Yellow – was another highlight bookended on either side by Charlie Brown and All My Love.

My Coldplay taste runs to their first four albums versus everything after those so naturally the piano-bashing workout, Clocks, was a complete pleasure to hear live again.

And when Martin started, stopped and then restarted A Sky Full of Stars, joking the band’s parking had run out on their Green P app, it was a ruse to get the audience to put away their phones if only for one song to make a better “connection.”

Mission accomplished.

The group finally moved to the even smaller C stage at the back of the floor to perform Sparks, and something called the “Jumbotron Song” in which Martin makes up funny lyrics about individual audience members who appear on the big screen.

The evening wound down nicely with another classic, Fix You, which brought the band back to the big stage as Martin sang hopefully: “Lights will guide you home,” before newer songs, Good Feelings and Feels Like I’m Falling In Love, ended what turned out to be a beautiful night of summer music.

Coldplay return to play Rogers Stadium on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
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SET LIST

1. Higher Power

2. Adventure of a Lifetime

3. Paradise

4. The Scientist

5. Viva la Vida (on B stage)

6. Hymn for the Weekend (on B stage)

7. Trouble (on B stage, with two fans)

8. Charlie Brown

9. Yellow

10. All My Love

11. People of the Pride

12, Clocks

13. We Pray

14. Infinity Sign

15. Something Just Like This (The Chainsmokers cover)

16. My Universe

17. A Sky Full of Stars (restarted; asks audience to put phones away for this song)

18. Sparks (on C stage)

19. The Jumbotron Song (on C stage)

20. Fix You

21. Good Feelings

22. Feels Like I’m Falling In Love

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