COLDPLAY | Concert Review | CenturyLink Center | August 14, 2017

Photo credit: Brenda Turner

When entering the CenturyLink Center arena in Omaha, NE, there were lots of curious and confused faces as each of us were handed a white mesh wristband after making it through security.  What??  This is a concert what type of souvenir is this?  It was evident within the first few notes of the opening song, that everyone’s wristband was actually a controllable led light display and played into the ambiance of the show.  As each song started, the wristbands lit up in a color designated by the band and crew.  You guessed it, all lit up yellow during the song Yellow.  A Head Full of Dreams tour started in 2016 and is on the books for at least 120 shows across 5 continents in support of the bands seventh studio album of the same name.  As Chris Martin (vocals, piano) stated, the night in Omaha was the 96th show with 95 rehearsals leading up to this show.

The night was full of light, color, melodic music and a theme of a united people.   Prior to the band coming on stage, a video played of people in all different countries along the way of the tour saying hello to other cities on the tour as the clock counted down to the start of the show.  This went over really well with fans.  During the night, Chris also took a moment to thank all the fans for whatever they went through earlier in the week or day yet still made time to attend the show.  He made sure to call out each section of the arena.

Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland (lead guitar) formed Coldplay in 1996 when they both attended the University College London.  Guy Berryman (bass guitar) soon joined after and in 1997, Will Champion (drums) joined.  The band officially named themselves Coldplay in 1998 before releasing their first EP in 1998.

The show started off with the title track A Head Full of Dreams from the new album released December 4, 2015.  During the next several songs huge confetti cannons set off covering everyone in bird-shaped tissue paper.  For the second song, the stadium lit up in all yellow and the song that really launched the band, Yellow was met with a huge crowd response.  The show overall was broken up into several mini-sets with performances from the main stage accompanied by full light and lasers.  They also played 3 songs from the end of the ramp as well as a short acoustic set during the night.  For Coldplay fans, this is truly a full immersing show, with great melodic tunes and a good span of song choices from the last 17 years.  The band continues on the road until mid-November where they end with a few dates in Brazil and Argentina.

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All photos are © 2017 Brenda Turner Photography.