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| Coldplay @ Stanford Stadium (Photo: Anna Lee / LiveNation) |
Chris Martin and the boys of Coldplay (guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, and drummer Will Champion) returned to the Bay Area to kick off their US tour with a two-night stand at Stanford's football stadium in Palo Alto this past weekend. It had been almost exactly three years since the band last played the Bay Area, back in 2022 at Levi's Stadium.
Fresh from wrapping up an Asian tour just a week prior, the gang was in top form, ready to restart their world tour. Martin quipped early on that this stop marked the 195th show of the tour, "and those were 194 rehearsals for tonight's Stanford show." This concert also happened to be the first ever held at Stanford's football stadium since its opening in 2006, essentially a trial run for the nearly 20-year-old venue.
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| Coldplay @ Stanford Stadium (Photo: Anna Lee / LiveNation) |
The stage was set up in the southern end zone, with a walkway extending out towards the opposite 40-yard line. A giant circular video screen suspended high above the left side of the stage complemented a semi-circular arched video screen that ran along the rear center of the stage. While the band members stayed relatively centered on the main stage, they would occasionally join Chris at the end of the walkway for songs that stripped down to a simple drumbeat.
One of the most striking aspects of the show was the immersive experience created for the audience. Upon entering the stadium, attendees received a plastic wristband with embedded LEDs that synchronized with the music, flashing, pulsing, and illuminating different colors throughout the show. This created an amazing visual identity, allowing the audience to become part of the performance. Additionally, fans were given 3D glasses, which would later be used to stunning effect during the performance of "A Sky Full of Stars."
The audience itself was a testament to Coldplay's broad appeal, with a diverse mix of people from various age ranges and ethnicities – one of the most diverse crowds I've seen in a long time. Chris Martin was vocal about his appreciation for the audience, taking time to acknowledge fans across every level of the stadium. He'd point out specific individuals, saying "I see you," and even took a few minutes to walk around the stage and read signs created by fans – some with birthday wishes, others with song requests. One fan had traveled all the way from Jordan, and another referenced Palestine, prompting Chris to note the band's love for all people, while cautioning against taking his words out of context online.
The performance itself was everything you'd expect from a massive outdoor stadium show. High energy from Chris, solid musicianship from the band, and a 2.25-hour setlist that spanned their hits, complete with high-production visuals, copious amounts of confetti, giant inflated planets, and pyrotechnics. The band was augmented by two talented female background singers, Willow and Elyanna, who made their first appearance during "So We Pray."
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| Coldplay @ Stanford Stadium (Photo: Anna Lee / LiveNation) |
One of the standout moments came during "Infinity Sign," when the band donned alien helmets and invited a rather serious-looking security guard to join them onstage. As soon as Chris placed an alien helmet on the guard's head, he transformed into an incredible dancer, wowing the crowd.
As the show entered its final act, the band made their way to a small stage at the opposite end of the stadium, performing "Sparks" in an effort to get closer to fans in that section.
The full setlist is below, but some personal highlights for me included "Yellow," "Viva La Vida," "The Scientist," and "A Sky Full of Stars" – the latter featuring those 3D glasses with a cool kaleidoscope effect that created heart-shaped images from any light source. As the spotlights pulsed around the stadium, the glasses made it seem like hearts were pulsing everywhere.
If you're heading to the show tonight, you're in for a treat! And for those outside the Bay Area, this show is definitely one to catch – if tickets are still available in your city, grab them!
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