Ghost Stories Tour
Tour by Coldplay
Promotional poster example
Location
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • North America
  • Oceania
Associated albumGhost Stories
Start date25 April 2014 (2014-04-25)
End date8 December 2014 (2014-12-08)
No. of shows9
ProducerLive Nation[1]
Attendance29,129
Box office$3.09 million[a]
Websitecoldplay.com/tour
Coldplay concert chronology

The Ghost Stories Tour was the sixth concert tour undertaken by British rock band Coldplay. It was announced on 17 April 2014 in support of their sixth studio album, Ghost Stories, and marked a return to live performing at more intimate venues following the stadium, arena and festival shows from Mylo Xyloto Tour (2011–12). The band performed all songs from the album's standard version and some of their previous material. Concerts began on 25 April 2014 at Germany's E-Werk and ended at the BMW Welt (in the same country) on 6 December 2014, being noted for combining live and pre-recorded content for small settings.[3]

Only three dates had an opening act, with SZA, London Grammar and AlunaGeorge supporting the Beacon Theatre, Royce Hall and Royal Albert Hall concerts, respectively. The tour was met with generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised the production and how Coldplay connected with the audience. Following its ending, the band released Ghost Stories Live 2014, which included music videos for "Always in My Head", "All Your Friends" and "Ghost Story" in its physical editions and was nominated for Best Music Film at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Overall, the concert run grossed $3.09 million from 29,129 tickets sold in 10 reported shows.[b]

Background

During the Australian leg of the Mylo Xyloto Tour, lead singer Chris Martin told attendees at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium they "wouldn't play another big show for a few years".[5] After the release of "Midnight" and "Magic", the first two singles from Ghost Stories (2014), the band announced they would not be making a full tour for the album.[6] Martin joked it was because they "couldn't afford it".[6] Upcoming songs were later performed at the iTunes Festival and Coldplay held a one-off performance at Culver City's Sony Studios as well.[7] On 17 April 2014, they announced a set of six intimate shows: three in Europe, two in the United States and one in Japan.[8] A second date in London was scheduled due to high demand.[9] Months later, the band made tickets available for a performance in Australia,[10] while a final show in Germany was announced to celebrate the upcoming release of Ghost Stories Live 2014.[11]

Opening acts

The tour included supporting acts in only three dates: the first of them was American singer SZA at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, on 5 May 2014.[12] She stated during an interview for Radio.com that "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".[13] English band London Grammar then opened the Royce Hall concert on 19 May 2014.[14] Lead singer Hannah Reid later commented talking with Martin was the "first time [she was] given any really excellent advice" about protecting her voice before shows and how to handle tensions in a group.[15] Meanwhile, electronic duo AlunaGeorge were chosen to play songs from their debut album, Body Music (2013), in the two performances at Royal Albert Hall between 1 and 2 July 2014.[16] They became a supporting act for A Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016–17) as well.[17]

Concert synopsis

A short-haired man touches a beam of light in the dark
Guy Berryman using a laser harp while the band perform "Midnight" at Sony Studios, Culver City

The band used a different set list for every show and, unlike previous tours, did not divided them into sections. For the performance at Sony Studios (which was later released on Ghost Stories Live 2014), they played singles "Paradise" and "Clocks"; followed them with all standard edition tracks from the tour's namesake album in order; and finished the concert with "Viva la Vida" and "Fix You".[18] The remaining shows contained between 15 and 20 songs, combining Coldplay's back catalogue with their current material.[19] With exception of "Another's Arms" and "O", all tracks from the new album were played in every tour date.[20]

Martin also mentioned they would be trying to incorporate a few rarities and fan favorites.[19] During the song "Midnight", him and Berryman performed with a laser harp,[19] while Will Champion used a reactable.[21] The latter accompanied the singer in "O" by providing "subtle guitar licks", as the track was mostly played solo on the piano.[18] At Royal Albert Hall, Coldplay had a circular stage said to be particularly close to the audience.[22] For their show in Sydney, the band invited Kylie Minogue to perform "Can't Get You Out of My Head" and a cover of "Where the Wild Roses Grow" by Nick Cave.[23] The last concert from the tour saw them play "Christmas Lights".[24]

Reception

According to Gigwise, tickets for the first Royal Albert Hall show went sold out within minutes of availability, which led the band to announce a second date.[25] Similar demand was registered at Enmore Theatre.[26] In total, they grossed $3,092,008 from 29,129 tickets sold in 10 reported shows.[b] The tour also received positive reviews from music critics: Robert Altman from Consequence said Coldplay "are cohesive enough to rival the most skilled musicians in the industry", adding "what separates them from any studio performer is Martin's light stage banter and ability to connect with a multi-generational audience".[27] The Hollywood Reporter's Roy Trakin stated they "turn heartbreak into transcendence, which is what all great artists do".[19] Writing for The Guardian, Ian Gittins commented that while the band "always majored in empathy", the "sympathy vote being extended towards Martin tonight is palpable".[28] Greg Inglis from DIY praised their confidence and emphasised it is often "overlooked" how versatile Coldplay are, as Champion was taking piano duties.[29]

Live album

Main article: Ghost Stories Live 2014

Following the end of the tour, the band released Ghost Stories Live 2014, their fourth live album.[30] It consisted of a CD with selected renditions of each song from the original studio album and a recording of their Sony Studios performance directed by Paul Dugdale.[31] Martin described it as "a very special moment for our band" and added the film was "basically our original vision" for the project.[30] Bonus content included the director's cut for "Magic" and three new music videos: "All Your Friends", a tribute to those who fought in the First World War; "Always in My Head", an animated version of the album cover; and "Ghost Story", which featured fading black and white shots of the band performing.[31] Additionally, the second had an alternative concert take, along with "Oceans".[31] Meanwhile, the Japanese CD edition included the tour's recording of "Viva la Vida".[32] In 2014, the band received a Best Music Film nomination at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards for the project, losing it to 20 Feet from Stardom (2013).[33]

Set lists

This set list was taken from the 19 May 2014 concert in Los Angeles, United States. It does not represent all shows throughout the tour.[20]

  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"
  16. "A Sky Full of Stars"
  17. "Yellow"
  18. "O"

Tour dates

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

Boxscores

List of reported boxscores, showing city, venue, attendance and gross revenue[35]
City Venue Attendance Revenue
Cologne E-Werk 2,000 / 2,000 $206,505
New York City Beacon Theatre 5,512 / 5,512[b] $449,929[b]
Munich BMW Welt 1,511 / 1,511 $159,859
Total 9,023 / 9,023 (100%) $816,293

See also

Notes

  1. ^ $3.98 million in 2023 dollars.[2]
  2. ^ a b c d e Two concerts were held in New York City on 5 May 2014, the first was sold exclusively to Citibank card holders and not part of the tour, while the second had general public sales.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Coldplay Announce One-Off Australian Show at Enmore Theatre". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  2. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Coldplay's Ghost Stories Tour With Roland". Fast and Wide. 2014. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Coldplay | Ticket Sales Recap". Touring Data. 30 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Coldplay Reveals Intimate Live Shows for Ghost Stories Launch". The Hollywood Reporter. 17 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Coldplay Not Touring Ghost Stories Album: We Can't Afford To". Press Party. 20 May 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Coldplay Debut Ghost Stories on a Movie Soundstage at Intimate LA Show". Rolling Stone. 22 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Coldplay Announce Six Intimate Shows". NME. 17 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Coldplay Announce Second London Royal Albert Hall Show". DIY. 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Coldplay Announce Intimate One-Off Australian Show at Enmore Theatre". The Guardian. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  11. ^ "One-Off Munich Show Announced". Coldplay Official Website. 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Coldplay Sold Out Beacon Theatre, Add Early Show". Brooklyn Vegan. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Interview: SZA Matures at TDE Clubhouse For Her Full Length Debut". Radio.com. 2014. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Coldplay's Royce Hall Concert Shifts Between Intimate Show, Spectacle". Daily Bruin. 20 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  15. ^ "London Grammar's Hannah Reid Learnt Two Big Lessons From Chris Martin". British GQ. 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Coldplay Make Their Long-awaited Return to the Hall". Royal Albert Hall. 2 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  17. ^ "AlunaGeorge Interview". Coldplay Official Website. 27 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Coldplay Introduces Ghost Stories in Intimate Concert". The Hollywood Reporter. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d "Coldplay's Chris Martin Turns Sadness Into Gladness: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 21 May 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Coldplay Get Intimate At UCLA Royce Hall For Ghost Stories Release Show". KROQ-FM. 20 May 2014. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  21. ^ "XL Creates A Sky Full of Video For Coldplay". AV Magazine. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Coldplay at London's Royal Albert Hall Review: Intimate and Contained". Digital Spy. 2 July 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Watch Kylie Minogue Join Coldplay on Stage in Sydney". Music Feeds. 20 June 2014. Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  24. ^ "Coldplay Feiert Tour-Abschluss Mit Exklusivem Konzert in München" [Coldplay Celebrates the End of the Tour with an Exclusive Concert in Munich]. Augsburger Allgemeine (in German). 7 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Fans React to Coldplay Royal Albert Hall Tickets Selling Out in Minutes". Gigwise. 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  26. ^ "Coldplay Sell Out Sydney Show in Three Minutes". The Music. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Live Review: Coldplay at New York City's Beacon Theatre (5/5)". Consequence. 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Coldplay Review – Chris Martin's Melodies Ease A Long, Dark Night". The Guardian. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Live Review – Coldplay, Royal Abert Hall, London". DIY. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  30. ^ a b "British Band Coldplay Celebrate the End of their Ghost Stories Tour 2014". Digital Journal. 7 December 2014. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  31. ^ a b c Coldplay (2014). Ghost Stories Live 2014 (liner notes). Brazil: Parlophone. 0825646206087.
  32. ^ "Coldplay – Ghost Stories Live 2014 (Japan BD)". Amazon. 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Grammys 2015: And the Winners are..." Billboard. 8 February 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  34. ^ "Coldplay Announce 6 Special Shows for Ghost Stories Album Launch". Digital Spy. 17 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  35. ^ "Coldplay – Tour History Report". Pollstar. 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.

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