Ghost Stories Tour

The Ghost Stories Tour was an intimate concert tour by British band Coldplay, consisting of nine shows at a handful of low-key venues, during eight non-consecutive months in 2014, reaching North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. The concerts were part of Coldplay's campaign in support of their sixth studio album Ghost Stories (2014). All the songs on the standard version of the album were performed by group, as some of their previous songs from their five prior studio albums. The concerts mixed live and pre-recorded content in a show that worked in the more intimate settings but also produced a visually stunning finale.[1] In selected dates, SZA, London Grammar and AlunaGeorge were the opening acts.[2][3][4]

Ghost Stories Tour
Tour by Coldplay
Promotional image used for the date announcement of the first six shows.
Associated albumGhost Stories
Start date25 April 2014 (2014-04-25)
End date8 December 2014 (2014-12-08)
No. of shows9
Coldplay concert chronology

The largely pared-down of this tour stands in stark contrast to the band's last digression, the Mylo Xyloto Tour (2011–12). That tour saw the band playing 80 shows in massive stadiums and arenas across five continents, where it grossed over $192 million en route becoming one of the highest-grossing tours of all time.[5] Some critics praised the more intimate shows as opposed to their last tours to the world's greatest stadiums and arenas,[6] though others noted that even though songs from the new album were more personal to Chris Martin, they often failed to leave a mark.[7]

Promotion

The show at Sony Studios was a very special moment for our band [...] was literally a dream come true. And it was the first time anyone outside of our studio had heard the new songs. This film is basically our original vision for the album.

— Chris Martin, talking about the intimate show in Sony Studios.[8]

In 21 March 2014, Coldplay debuted the album Ghost Stories at an intimate gig in Los Angeles. The band played the new album in its entirety for the first time to 800 fans on a movie soundstage at Sony Studios. The gig was being recorded as part of a DVD extra for the album, which was released on 19 May.[9] After the release of the first two singles from Ghost Stories, "Midnight" and "Magic", a more intimate tour at smaller venues was announced.[10] During the Australian leg of the Mylo Xyloto Tour, Chris Martin told onlookers at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium that they wouldn't play another "big show for a few years". With the smaller capacity of venues on this intimate run, Martin remains true to his word.[11]

From April to July, Coldplay embarked on a six-date promotional tour in support of the album. The band performed at E-Werk in Cologne, Germany on 25 April and performed at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, New York on 5 May, prior to the release of Ghost Stories. On 16 May, the band announced one-off show in Sydney, Australia scheduled for 19 June.[12][13] After tickets for the show sold-out in just under three minutes,[14] Coldplay announced a second date at Royal Albert Hall.

The band continued the tour after the release of the album at the Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California on 19 May, the Casino de Paris in Paris, France, on 28 May,[15] the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan on 12 June, the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Australia on 19 June and closing the tour at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 2 July.[16][17] On 20 October, Coldplay announced the release of a new concert film and live album, Ghost Stories Live 2014, which was released on 24 November.[18] The band recorded the concert film throughout the tour.[19] To celebrate the release of the new live album, the band announced a one-off concert at BMW Welt in Munich, Germany on 6 December.[20] This was the last show to promote the album.[21][22]

Opening acts
London Grammar served as the opening act in concert in Los Angeles.

Only three regions on the tour used opening acts. SZA served as the show opener at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, on May 5.[2] In an interview on Radio.com, the singer stated "I can't even believe that was an opportunity or an option. I don't know why you would waste an opening slot on me".[23]

The British trio London Grammar opened the concert in Los Angeles, on May 19.[24] English electronic music duo AlunaGeorge were the opening acts for the shows in Royal Albert Hall, in London, on July 1 and 2, performing songs from their debut album Body Music.[25]

Concert synopsis
Coldplay performing during the tour.

Each concert contains a different setlist, and unlike previous tours, was not divided into sections. For the show recorded at the Sony Studios, that was released as a DVD extra on the album, the setlist consisted of the tracks from the standard album. Just four old songs of the band were performed; "Paradise" and "Clocks", opening the show, "Viva la Vida" and "Fix You" closing.[26]

The rest of the shows contained between 18 and 20 songs, mixed with songs from the new album. Prior to the start of the tour, Martin promised a set that will incorporate rarities, favorites and new songs, all of which he squeezes into a maximum efficiency and according to him, "We will never play another show like this in our lives".[27] All the songs on the standard version of the album were performed, except the songs "Another's Arms" and "O", which were played only on select dates.[3][28][29] The performances of the album's songs during the tour are similar to the show recorded at the Sony Studios. During the song "Midnight", Chris Martin and the bassist Guy Berryman make music using the laser harp. Martin played the piano for the mostly solo "O", with drummer Will Champion providing subtle guitar licks.[26] In the show in London, the band performed on a circular stage in extreme proximity to the audience.[30]

Kylie Minogue made a special cameo during the show in Sydney, performing her hit single "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (2001) and a cover of the Nick Cave song "Where the Wild Roses Grow" (1995).[28]

On the last show of the tour, in Munich, the band performed "Christmas Lights".[31]

Setlist examples
Royce Hall, Los Angeles, United States, 19 May[3][32]
  1. "Atlas"
  2. "Charlie Brown"
  3. "The Scientist"
  4. "Don't Panic"
  5. "A Whisper"
  6. "Til Kingdom Come"
  7. "Viva la Vida"
  8. "Paradise"
  9. "Always in My Head"
  10. "Magic"
  11. "Ink"
  12. "True Love"
  13. "Midnight"
  14. "Another's Arms"
  15. "Oceans"
Encore
  1. "A Sky Full of Stars"
  2. "Yellow"
  3. "O"
Royal Albert Hall, London, England, 1–2 July[25]
  1. "Always in My Head"
  2. "Charlie Brown"
  3. "Paradise"
  4. "Magic"
  5. "Clocks"
  6. "The Scientist"
  7. "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face"
  8. "Til Kingdom Come"
  9. "Don’t Panic"
  10. "Everything's Not Lost"
  11. "Ink"
  12. "True Love"
  13. "Viva la Vida"
  14. "Midnight"
  15. "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"
Encore
  1. "Oceans"
  2. "A Sky Full of Stars"
  3. "Fix You"

Shows
List of concerts, showing date, city, country and venue.[10][33][34][35]
Date City Country Venue
25 April 2014 Cologne Germany E-Werk
5 May 2014 New York City United States Beacon Theatre
19 May 2014 Los Angeles Royce Hall
28 May 2014 Paris France Casino de Paris
12 June 2014 Tokyo Japan Tokyo Dome City Hall
19 June 2014 Sydney Australia Enmore Theatre
1 July 2014 London England Royal Albert Hall
2 July 2014
6 December 2014 Munich Germany BMW Welt Auditorium

References
  1. "Coldplay's Ghost Stories tour with Roland". Fast-and-wide.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  2. "Coldplay sold out Beacon Theatre, add early show, airing a new TV special; SZA opening the late show". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  3. "Coldplay Get Intimate At UCLA Royce Hall For 'Ghost Stories' Release Show". KROQ-FM. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  4. "AlunaGeorge – London Concert Tickets". Bandsintown. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  5. "Coldplay Announces 2014 Tour Dates". TiqIQ. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  6. "Coldplay wrap up intimate Ghost Stories global tour at the Royal Albert Hall". Theupcoming.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  7. "Coldplay – Beacon Theatre – 5/5/14". The Village Voice. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  8. "British band Coldplay celebrate the end of their 'Ghost Stories Tour 2014'". Digital Journal. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  9. "Coldplay preview 'Ghost Stories' at intimate LA gig". NME. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  10. "Coldplay announces intimate shows in support of new album 'Ghost Stories'". AXS. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  11. "The band's six small venue dates are targeted for Cologne, New York, L.A., Paris, Tokyo and London". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  12. "Coldplay announce one-off Australian show at Enmore Theatre". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  13. "Coldplay Announce One-Off Aussie Show". Triple M. LocalWorks. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  14. "Coldplay Sell Out Sydney Show In Three Minutes". Themusic.com.au. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  15. "An Exclusive Coldplay Concert at the Casino de Paris". Lesgrandshotelsparisiens.com. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  16. "Coldplay announce six 'intimate' shows". NME. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  17. "Coldplay announces 2014 tour dates". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  18. "Ghost Stories Live 2014 out 24 November". Coldplay.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  19. "Coldplay releasing new 'Ghost Stories' tour concert film and live album". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  20. "One-off Munich show announced". Coldplay.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  21. "British band Coldplay celebrate the end of their 'Ghost Stories Tour 2014'". Digital Journal. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  22. "Coldplay at BMW Welt". BMW Group. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  23. "Interview: SZA Matures at 'TDE Clubhouse' For Her Full Length Debut". Radio.com. CBS. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  24. "Coldplay's Royce Hall concert shifts between intimate show, spectacle". Daily Bruin. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  25. "Coldplay make their long-awaited return to the Hall". Royal Albert Hall. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  26. "Chris Martin floats above the crowd of 800 to preview the album's May 19 release". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  27. "Coldplay's Chris Martin Turns Sadness into Gladness: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  28. "Watch Kylie Minogue Join Coldplay On Stage In Sydney". Music Feeds. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  29. "Here's What Happened At COLDPLAY's "Ghost Stories" Japan Tour!". Myxph.com. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  30. "Coldplay at London's Royal Albert Hall review: 'Intimate and contained'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  31. "Coldplay feiert Tour-Abschluss mit exklusivem Konzert in München". Augsburger Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  32. "Coldplay at Royce Hall, Los Angeles, California, USA". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  33. "Coldplay announce intimate, one-off Australian show at Enmore theatre". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  34. "Coldplay add extra Royal Albert Hall date as tickets sell out in minutes". All-Noise.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  35. "British band Coldplay concert at BMW Welt". BMWblog.com. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
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