Coldplay has grown into a band that is all about love, and the more than 50,000 Kiwis that packed out Eden Park on Wednesday night felt that in bucketloads.
A karakia and haka set the scene for a show like no other.
Chris Martin looked so comfortable on stage, maybe the t-shirt and track pants helped him feel casual.
“I think this is gonna be super fun,” he said with a gleaming smile, “I'm glad we came all the way!”
Coldplay live is so special, the production is next level. There was even a movie-esque credit roll at the end of the show to acknowledge the hundreds of people that make it what it is.
I can just imagine Chris and his team hanging out in a lounge chatting about how they can make live shows special for every single person in the crowd. You could feel the care. Coldplay has so gorgeously blended music with an immersive experience that feels as much like a celebration as a concert.
One of the most exciting features has to be the LED wristbands, which light up in sync with the music and transform the entire crowd into part of the show. Given to everyone upon entry, these wristbands pulse and glow, responding to the beat and creating a vast, ever-changing sea of colours that shifts with each song.
From a bird's eye-view Eden Park would have looked alive, and from inside the stadium, it added such a special element of unity and connection.
The big screens gave us all a great close of the band, and in particular Chris Martin and those gorgeous blue eyes. I mean c’mon, that man, those eyes.
I really didn't expect Chris to be as funny and as quick as he was. As of late, a picture of the frontman kissing the pavement as he landed in NZ has gone viral, with some calling it "weird".
He tackled that head on: “I’ve been getting a lot of shit for kissing the ground in New Zealand… Why wouldn't you? It's lovely here.”
Seeing Coldplay perform their classics like 'Fix You', 'Yellow', and 'Viva La Vida' is an experience that combines nostalgia, emotion, and celebration. Each of these songs holds a special place in our hearts, and the moment they start playing, the atmosphere in the crowd shifts.
During Wednesday's gig, Chris did a lap of the stage reading out signs, which felt really personal and direct.
One said something along the lines of: “I've got exams tomorrow but Coldplay was more important than studying.”
When Chris wasn't having a laugh, he was being charming,
“We're so happy to see you, I can already tell this is one of my favourite shows,” he said, before adding: "I promise you, I don't say that all the time.”
When they played 'Fix You', Chris' voice, filled with sincerity, echoed through the stadium, and we all shared a moment of vulnerability.
The song built gradually, and when the guitar part kicked in, it caused a rush of emotion, with people singing along, arms raised, and LED wristbands illuminating the entire venue. It was a powerful, cathartic experience that brought the crowd together.
Then there was 'Yellow', the song that launched Coldplay to stardom.
The first time Coldplay ever performed in New Zealand was at a 500-person venue in Auckland in 2001, and they played 'Yellow' that night.
Last night, they sang the anthem to a sold-out Eden Park. The stadium was awash with an ocean of yellow lights, and for so many of us, we were transported back to the early 2000s.
Coldplay doesn’t stop at just the wristbands, the production is INSANE. Fireworks burst into the night sky, and pyro adds a literal heat to the stage.The confetti cannons also bring a dreamlike quality to the show, showering the crowd in clouds of colour.
The current tour Coldplay is on has now made $1bn and has been going for two years. Almost 10m tickets have been sold, making it the most attended tour of all time, surpassing even Taylor Swift’s 'Eras' tour. The secret sauce to success is how Coldplay are able to make even the biggest stadiums feel intimate.
The band's commitment to reducing their environmental emissions with initiatives like a kinetic dance floor that powers batteries and generators powered by cooking oil adds another level to how you feel about the band. It may be their greatest legacy. The reduction in emissions sets an amazing example for other touring acts.
Leaving the concert, I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear with a heart full from a night of love and connection. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that Coldplay's Friday and Saturday shows at Eden Park are sold out. If you are heading along this weekend, soak it up, and enjoy what might be one of the greatest shows to come to New Zealand.
