Coldplay w/ Tove Lo and Alina Baraz
Centurylink, Seattle, WA
09.23.17
Nearly two years after the release of their seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams, British rock band Coldplay descended upon Seattle. A sold-out crowd filtered into Centurylink Stadium, receiving special light-up wristbands and “love” pins at the gates before scooping up their adult beverages and giant plates of stadium nachos.
They were first treated to the sultry stylings of pop singer Alina Baraz. Clad in black boots and an oversized Yang Li shirt emblazoned with the iconic “This film should be played loud” phrase, Baraz delivered a solid 30-minute set of smooth-tempo tracks. It’s modern R&B for the toke-happy millennial, her high voice sweet and sassy over emotional electronics.
Up next was the harder-hitting Tove Lo. With the sun dipping below the edge of the stadium walls, and smoke billowing around her, the Swedish singer-songwriter had plenty in the crowd dancing. Her confessional, confrontational pop tracks are all about big beats and making you move. She even managed to stay fully clothed for the family-friendly crowd.
After a full 40-minute break, it was finally time for Coldplay, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. They led off the set with pyrotechnics and blasts of rainbow confetti and it didn’t slow down from there. On a stage – actually, multiple stages – littered with brightly-hued flowers, lead singer Chris Martin ran around in bedazzled denim, giving it his all.
The set covered a wide swath of their catalog, from old favorites like “Yellow” and “Scientist” to the newness of their Chainsmokers collaboration “Something Just Like This.” The whole way through, wristbands lit up to the music as fans waved their arms in the air and sang along. Basically, it’s pretty much what you’d imagine from a giant arena-rock tour, only with a massive dose of kaleidoscopic illumination to boot. If you’re a Coldplay fan, there’s no question it’s where you need to be.
Review by Stephanie Dore
Photos by Sunny Martini
Tove Lo
Alina Baraz
