Pete's Oxfam Blog - the Autumn US leg

[Jenjie]

Coldplay and Oxfam have landed.
Here’s one I penned earlier (when I didn’t have access to the internet..)

It’s oh so quiet. I just got to the hotel. All I can hear is the slight ringing in my ears (still popping occasionally due to the air pressure changes). Coldplay and Oxfam have landed. I caught the same plane as the band today, back over the pond. We’re back on tour. North America (part 2). Now we find ourselves in Ottawa, Canada. Well, just outside, to be precise.

Silence is a rare thing on tour. You know.. when you can actually hear it. Completely quiet. So breathing sounds noisy. Things rarely shut down and switch off, on the road. For about a week or so, the whole crew did just that. Got some silence in their ears. Coldplay have another 20 shows coming up here. Oxfam will have 20 campaigners at each and every one. The first of this leg, and the last in Canada, is tomorrow night. Oxfam Canada are up first.

Oxfam will continue to follow this amazing tour, on the personal invitation of this huge band, Coldplay. Their support gives Oxfam a massive opportunity for thousands of their fans to start something with Oxfam. Have a conversation. Sign a petition. Take an action. Pledge support. Take a flyer. See the Oxfam sphere. Go online. Be inspired. Maybe even read a blog..

The band has arrived. I saw them get off the plane. They are ready for another great set of shows. Their fans, i’m sure are ready to make some noise. Oxfam is also ready to make some noise too.

But before all that.. i’m going to get back to my silence..


http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=78


-----------------------------


Show day 1. New tour. New itinerary. New haircuts.

Time to get back to work. I’m in a cold-looking corridor again. This one skirts around the bottom of the Scotiabank Center. A 13′000 seater hockey stadium, which usually plays host to the Ottawa Senators. Today’s runner, Eric, told me that they are pretty good.

It will be Canada’s last chance to watch Coldplay for a while tonight. Way back in summer, in Toronto, Pemberton and Montreal, the atmosphere was electric. I’m sure that it will be tonight too. The band have had a chance to rest, and i’m sure they will want to come back with a bang.

Everyone seems to be walking around with shorter hair today. No more shaggy-dog looks in the crew. The chance to visit your own barbers is another luxury of visiting home for a day or two. It’s all hands on deck today. Lots to do before we head on to Cleveland tonight. Everyone wants it to go off well. Start on a positive, get us rolling again. 20 Oxfam volunteers are fired up and ready for tonight. Let’s hope it’s a good one.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=79


-------------------------------------------


Record breakers..?

Amazing stuff from the Oxfam campaigners tonight. 1847 signatures collected in just a couple of hours before the Coldplay set. We have a little more time after the set.. so there is a chance, that we could surpass the current ‘world record’ held since Montreal.. (which was 1889).

Just think.. all those fans stopping to think about providing people with good quality Health and Education For All. Then signing their name. For Oxfam to take off to the Canadian government, to show that support. All those people then go off to watch a Coldplay show. Can’t be bad can it..? I can hear the last song going on inside.. I had better get back out there. There are people who need to get some school books. There’s a record to be broken.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=80

[busybeeburns]

The new ‘Oxfam sign-ups on the Coldplay tour 2008 World Record’ holders are Oxfam Canada’s amazing group of volunteers in Ottawa. 2032 is the magic number of Coldplay fans who signed up. It was an incredible night. What a way to start the new tour. The Coldplay set was awesome too. They nailed it last night, following opening act, a local band called ‘Stars’, with an awesome set. The atmosphere once again, was electric.

Thank you to Victoria Harnett, from Oxfam’s Toronto office, and all of our volunteers last night, for their energy and enthusiasm. They worked tirelessly to give as many fans as possible, the chance to take an action with Oxfam. It was a really inspiring night. 2032 people in the space of a few hours standing up against poverty, and making a noise for Health and Education For All. Amongst them was Ottawa Senators Allstar player, Jason Spezza. One of the volunteers was very pleased about that!

We have now rolled up in Cleveland, Ohio, after crossing the border to USA during the stormy night. The rain may have held us up a little.. It’s going to be a quick day. Everyone is running around to get the stage up, lights in the air and rigging set. Trucks are being wheeled in one after the next, with cases flowing off the ramp. It’s a frantic start to the day, but ‘we’re jamming now’ (as Fin, the production manager just said), so we’ll get there. I will be pleased to climb in my bunk tonight and say.. “we did it again”.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=82

[Chavi]

:nice: Pete's blog is back ! GOOD LUCK ! get tons of signatures ! :D
still waiting for those photos you promised us :P

[Carlaatje]

^I already tried reminding hm bout that... by commenting on one of his blogs... didn't work:\
anywayysss yayyyy 3 blogs in one day!!! weee I love emmmm

[Jenjie]

Have they left Pete behind in Ohio? He's gone very quiet

[Chavi]

that's what ive been wondering.. I keep checking his blog and nothing new. Hopefully soon ! Plus the gallery has still not been updated :rolleyes:

[Carlaatje]

ohhh dammmit I got all excited thinging he posted blog, now this thread was on top! booohooooo

[Jenjie]

I need to keep the thread where I can find it

[Chavi]

ohhh dammmit I got all excited thinging he posted blog, now this thread was on top! booohooooo

dont tell her, but Jen always bumps old threads and scares the hell out of people .. pfff :rolleyes: :P :kiss:

[Carlaatje]

I need to keep the thread where I can find it

yeah yeah yeah... that's what they all say...
you just like to scare us!

[Jenjie]

:cry: and I thought you two were my friends




no goodies in December for you then :P

[Chavi]

Oh nooooooooooooo ! Carla look what you did ! :angry:


:P



:kiss:

[Carlaatje]

she's the one teasing us with the bumping! I don;t see why we should be punished...
this alone is punishment enough i'd say....

[Jenjie]

bumpity bump bump bump :p

[busybeeburns]

:shocked3:

[Carlaatje]

:shocked2:

[busybeeburns]

COLDPLAY, IZOD CENTER, E Rutherford, NJ. That’s what it says on the white A4 sheet taped to the mirror above my laptop screen. Below that title is a list of phone numbers and times for today’s daysheet. It’s taped to a mirrow in my (borrowed) office. Surrounding the mirror are those big white bulbs, like the ones you would imagine backstage at a Broadway show, or on Bugsy Malone..

It’s just over 8 hours until Coldplay are due to take the stage here. About 5 hours until today’s troop of Oxfam volunteers arrive. We’re back to the big shows again. The buses rolled into Manhatten on Wednesday morning. The backline crew unloaded for a Yahoo Sessions show at the Hammerstein Ballroom, which aired on TV that night. The next couple of days was preparing for the Saturday Night Live show which aired last night, .. and exploring Manhatten. I took the chance to check out Longwave at the Bowery Ballroom. Steve Schiltz from Albert Hammond Jr (the Coldplay support out in Europe), is the lead-singer for Longwave. They put on a great show. Switching between gentle melodies and a wall of sound. They also have a new record coming out in November..

Tonight, we are back to the regular day-job. All crew back on the floor, rolling cases around and getting the big show rolling again. Another chance for a fresh bunch of Coldplay fans to get involved with Oxfam’s work and take in a great concert.

I heard that there may be a few famous faces in the house tonight.. Including, possibly, a certain Glastonbury conquerer.. Maybe tonight, we will see a special ‘Encore’.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=83

[Chavi]

Pete's back to work ! finally ! :P

[Carlaatje]

I bet he read here first and then got hooked and forgot to write a blog... untill jen bumped this thread hehehe

wouldn't it be cool if Jay-z finnaly got up there! I don't particully like the song but still they should at least perform it live once...

[Chavi]

It’s time for the B-stage. I heard a fan earlier talking about how ‘they do this techno bit on the catwalk’. He must have caught the show before.. but I wouldn’t describe this remix of ‘God Put a Smile’ as ‘techno techno..’ Each to their own.

New Jersey is a lucky place. Like LA, Chicago, Toronto, Paris, Stockholm, Rotterdam.. They all have one thing in common. Two chances to catch the Coldplay show, rather than one. For Oxfam, this gives us a chance for 40 lucky volunteers, rather than the normal 20. It’s a good feel for a Monday night today. Lots of people coming up to find out what we’re up to, at our little booths. Oxfam is up to all sorts, to overcome poverty across the world. Lobbying world leaders at the UN recently for the Control Arms campaign. Oxfam America is still working in the Gulf Coast, following the initial devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Intermon Oxfam, today, took our signatures from the Coldplay shows in Barcelona and Madrid, to the a Signatures Handover in the President’s Palace in Spain. Oxfam Ambassador Miguel Bose talked with the Institutional Director of the government, about Coldplay’s involvement with Oxfam to Make Trade Fair in the world. The signatures have been handed over. Coldplay fans in Spain have used their voice, both to sing Coldplay songs, and to stand up and speak out about poverty.

Small actions really do change lives. You can buy Fairtrade coffee. Boil only enough water for one cup of tea. Sign a petition for Health and Education For All, at a Coldplay show. You’ve got that power.
The band have moved up to the C-stage now. They’re on the IZOD Center balcony, the mood has shifted. It’s harmonica’s, acoustics and harmonies. Science is ringing through the arena. Chris Martin helped out with the lyrics by 14′000 fans.

Oxfam has over 550 people signed up tonight, who want to take action and find out more about overcoming social injustice. More than 40′000 people have signed up or signed a petition on this tour so far. That’s an incredible number. Coldplay have done something amazing by inviting Oxfam to be here.
I just want to mention. I met a couple of ‘Coldplayers’ earlier. They’re always so supportive of Oxfam’s work. So cheerful too. Thanks for that! The band just came sprinting past, to get back to the stage. It’s almost time for the encore. Almost time to move on to Boston. There’s just a couple of songs to go first.. oh, and I just got surrounded by a group of the crew, who are excited about the post-show ‘hot-dog party’! Nice.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=85

:D

[melanieau]

another mention! WHOOP!

[Chavi]

Woohoo Noelia and Christa ! :D

[Jsalyers]

Ahhh, ya thats awesome!!!

Congrats Noelia and Christa:D

[Pris]

Congrats Christa & Noelia!!!!! :dance:

And hot-dogs for Pete!!!! :D

[Carlaatje]

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....... pretty soon we'll be giving pete an official pete is hot thread! :P

[halokiti]

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....... pretty soon we'll be giving pete an official pete is hot thread! :P

I think Pete would be a little too shy for that, it'll make him blush. :laugh3: But yeah, he's a cutie. Shh, I didn't tell them I am a Coldplayer.

[Pris]

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....... pretty soon we'll be giving pete an official pete is hot thread! :P

i think he already earned it!!!!! ;)

Plus, he's such a cutie :nice:

[Christa42]

i have pics!!!!!!!! pete is so cute. i will try again to uplaod waiting for cooky to do it for me. i will post his pics here i think i can handle one, jen will probably have to fix it for me though

you can tell i am not shy, i went right up and said where is Pete? basically grabbed his hand to shake it and introduced us. and i was yacking away. He runs marathons!!! how great can this guy be?. am emailing him the pics. ok now i will try

[Christa42]

63%
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq244/Christa42/catiebdayandcoldplaydigny080.jpg?t=1225211328

A nice man, Noelia and Pete. i was official mom and photographer

[Chavi]

:wacky: awww !

[halokiti]

The nice man in the photo, I think his title is the "NYC media coordinator." I think his job is to try to find more artists and venues that will allow Oxfam to sign people up during concerts.

[Pris]

awww.... cute & sweet Pete :nice:

[Carlaatje]

awww yayyy for pete....
although i hope he don't mind we outted him... now coldplayers all over the world are gonna talk to him... so let's not forget to sign his petition after we take a piccie!

[halokiti]

awww yayyy for pete....
although i hope he don't mind we outted him... now coldplayers all over the world are gonna talk to him... so let's not forget to sign his petition after we take a piccie!

No, it's not a petition it's a sign up for the e-mail list. But yes, please sign up if you haven't already.

[Carlaatje]

you got what i meant didn't ya....;)
just sign his forms then! :P

[CookyMnstr]

i have pics!!!!!!!! pete is so cute. i will try again to uplaod waiting for cooky to do it for me. i will post his pics here i think i can handle one, jen will probably have to fix it for me though

you can tell i am not shy, i went right up and said where is Pete? basically grabbed his hand to shake it and introduced us. and i was yacking away. He runs marathons!!! how great can this guy be? Noelia was all gaga for him. am emailing him the pics. ok now i will try


Christa, I'm gonna kick your ass! :whip:(I had no idea you posted the pic!:shy:Interesting how you forgot to put the one you were in!!)

:laugh3:

[Chavi]

[hehe no one posted the new entry :D glad to do it !]



"We now find ourselves in Boston, otherwise known as ‘Beantown’. Apparently that is because back in the colonial days, a favourite Boston food, was beans, baked in molasses for several hours. So there you go. You live and learn.
There’s a yellow page in the itinerary book, meaning there is no concert tonight. It was a relatively short trip from New Jersey last night. There was a party kicking off on my bus. Felt like being on a bouncy-castle-boom-box.. another round of ipod wars in the back lounge. A chance to let off steam, for the guys involved with the TV recordings during last week. The night before a well earned day-off is always a late one.
Oxfam America’s office is just down the road from here. Right opposite the TD Banknorth Center, where the show is tomorrow. They have been working hard recruiting volunteers for every show. Especially Soha Yassine, who actually met us at one of the first shows of this tour, in LA. Now she works for Oxfam. That just shows how much this support from Coldplay can mean.
I’m off for a quick run. Getting a bit restless. This time of the evening, i’m usually running around a big arena. See you back in one of those tomorrow. Pete."




YAAAAYYYY ! we've got the pics he promised us ! :D THANKS PETE !
http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?page_id=4

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7960/strasbourgcologne102dh9.jpg

[Christa42]

Christa, I'm gonna kick your ass! :whip:(I had no idea you posted the pic!:shy:Interesting how you forgot to put the one you were in!!)

:laugh3:

you are the cute one my dear, i'm the mom and photographer!! omg i sent him the pics and one of the butterflies and he asked if he could use the butterfly one for the blog!!!!! yeah!!!!!

sorry i should have asked you first you are still my hero though

[Mimixxx]

Boston Celtics one day, Coldplay and Oxfam the next.

Last night I watched the Boston Celtics NBA World Championship banner be raised to the rafters, inside the TD Banknorth Garden. They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers (whose arena we were in the other day), to open the new season. Today, the Coldplay lights, rigging, screens, confetti canons, amp-stacks, PA, and huge inflatable spheres, are being slowly raised towards the roof of this famous arena.

This is the first time that we have returned to exactly the same place, on two separate occasions, so far this tour. Boston was the last show before Japan, last time out in North America. Now we are back. Familiar surroundings. The band must have really enjoyed that show. If the atmosphere is anything similar to the basketball last night, it’s going to be another day for the earplugs later.

This time Oxfam still has another 16 shows in North America, after this one, to look forward to. No trip to Japan until February this time...

The Boston Celtics. NBA World Champions. Coldplay. Possibly the world’s biggest band right now. Oxfam. Working towards ending poverty world-wide. Amazing stuff.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=89

[the.hardest.part]

I'm definitely gonna talk to him at the Kansas City show... maybe ask him if he wants coffee or something after ;) :D

[Carlaatje]

Whoa... Pete must have slept well! 2 blogs! Nice :)

edit: ^ okay the Pete madness is getting pretty much out of hand now... just give him your siggy....

[Carlaatje]

weee I get to post the blog for once...


Quick note from Boston..
October 29th, 2008 / No Comments » / by plusby
Coldplay are live onstage in Boston right now. I can see the spotlights on Guy, Will, Jonny and Chris, on the balcony, of the Boston Banknorth Garden. The band are crammed onto a tiny stage amongst the crowd. All eyes on them, and camera flashes lighting up faces. People have swarmed towards the band. It’s an amazing sight. The lucky few, in those seats around them, have an incredible view. Best seat in the house. Bet they didn’t expect that. Oxfam volunteers are scattered around the arena, enjoying the show. I’m going to head backstage to put this online. Next stop is Washington, when all eyes will again be on Coldplay, on Halloween. A few days after that.. all eyes, will be on the White House..

[busybeeburns]

There is a weird skeleton-skull-ghost-doll thing hanging from the door of the production office. I’m sat right outside, with it watching over me.

Skeletons will walk the halls of the Verizon Center, Washington D.C. tonight. It’s Halloween, and the Coldplay crew are dressing up for the occasion. I hear rumours of all sorts of alterations to the show. Projections on spheres, confetti, lights, video.. it should be fun to see what gets thrown in to the party. One of the roadies has a mask which is proper freaky.. I’m sure the mood won’t be too dark though. After all, one of the songs is called ‘Death will never conquer’..!

Coldplay and Oxfam are back in Washington D.C. This is one of three venues being repeated from the last stint out here in the States.

I took advantage of the crisp winter weather yesterday, to check out the city. There is history everywhere. Past and present. One minute, I was running past the Lincoln and WWII memorials, the next, past a stage being constucted in a park in front of the White House, and on down Constitution Avenue. It’s now only 4 days until the election here. Good to get a chance to see the city this time. Last trip, we were whisked right through as the concerts rolled on.

22 more Oxfam volunteers will be gracing the venue tonight. I wonder how many witches and ghosts will be amongst them. Maybe we will have a trick or treat theme when they go about talking to the fans.. We already have the treat, the beloved Oxfam badge. I will have to think of a trick though.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=91

[Oxfam America]

The nice man in the photo, I think his title is the "NYC media coordinator." I think his job is to try to find more artists and venues that will allow Oxfam to sign people up during concerts.

Ha! I'm the "nice man" in the photo. Thanks for the compliment!

And yeah, I'm the guy who works on behalf of Oxfam America in the music industry, with great Oxfam supporters like Coldplay, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Crowded House, DJ Shadow, LCD Soundsystem, Tegan & Sara, and many, many more. I'm also the guy who has been posting here and corresponding with all the great folks on this board who have volunteered with us and have asked amazing questions about what Oxfam does and how Coldplay fans might be able to help.

And your observations are correct, Pete is a fantastic guy and a great ambassador of all the great things Oxfam is about! If you do happen to see him at a show, tell him you are reading his blogs, and ask him anything you'd like about Oxfam. He's a wealth of information.

Thanks again for all the support!

-Bob F.

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/resources/images/logos/logo_h_ko_bw.gif
www.oxfamamerica.org

[Pris]

Wow!!!

A TRUE Oxfam-er among us!!!!

Nice meeting you Bob!!!! :nice:

[Christa42]

Hi Bob, it's Christa. Noelia and I met you at Jersey, i sent Pete the pics i took of you guys. it was great to meet you. let me know if you would me to send them to you too.

[Carlaatje]

isn't anybody watching his blog anymore? just his piccies!

Duffy’s last stand, and roadies playing dead..
November 1st, 2008 / No Comments » / by plusby

Directly in front of me, is the constant stream of Coldplay fans entering the Philadelphia Wachovia Center. Beep.. beep.. beep (etcetera), go the machines, as ticket bar code’s are scanned. There is one very enthusiastic security guard too, whooping and cheeing, singing ‘Violet Hill’, anything to put a smile on faces as they enter. That’s if the smiles aren’t already there.

Fans then walk directly over to the Oxfam booth to my right, where our Philly action group is busy signing up the masses, and talking about Oxfam’s amazing work. Those that miss us, are heading in to see the Duffy show, which is in full swing. She has a couple songs left before the end of her last show on this tour. Those (notoriously hard to please) roadies, have often been heard talking about her presence on stage. This girl from Wales is only going to get more fans, the more shows she does. One of the biggest hits of the year.. alongside Coldplay of course.

This is a huge venue, I can see 3 balcony’s if I look up. Amazing that it’s only a couple of months since we were last here. It’s full again. (That security guard is now dancing along to Duffy - it really is a pleasure to watch him putting smiles (or confused looks) on so many faces).

So last night. Last night. Let’s talk about last night. Last night I saw a few things I thought I’d never see on stage with Coldplay. There were giant pumpkins bouncing up and down above their heads. Tim Burton’s ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ faces smirking at the crowd. One dead roadie (*no roadies were harmed during the process of this show). Finished off with raining confetti bats! I haven’t even mentioned some of the fans costumes.. Halloween was a real treat. The band obviously enjoyed tricking the crowd with the ‘dead-roadie’ moment though. One of the band’s technitian’s (I won’t name names), was dressed with drumsticks through the heart, fake blood, dungarees, a jagged saw and a very odd looking mask.. He was priveledged to be chosen for his moment during ‘Cemeteries of London’. At least.. i’m pretty sure it was him.. and not the ghost of the Verizon Center. . .It was great to stand amongst the crowd, listening to people slowly realising there was a 5th motionless, blood soaked person on stage as the lights went up, and as he was dragged off stage. Anyway.. back to tonight.

Philadelphia has just celebrated winning the World Series Baseball. I have to mention it, as we are just a stones throw, from where the last pitch was thrown. I hear there were amazing scenes here last night, just before the Sixers Basketball game.. 2 million people. Wow. Congratulations to all those people walking in, proudly wearing their red hats.

No Halloween tonight. No Friday 13th on the roadie bus. No flaming pumpkins. Hopefully no dead roadies either. Plenty of high fives for the crowd coming in (from that guy), and plenty of sign-ups for Oxfam too. We continue to do our amazing work. Saving lives. Campaigning on climate change. Providing clean water. Giving life-saving injections. Providing footballs for children to play. Helping farmers sell their coffee. Going to a Coldplay show, and spreading the word. Almost time for the show.. i’d better go.

[Mimixxx]

Lost! .. in those Auburn Hills..

Coldplay just polished off the last notes of ‘Strawberry Swing’ and after a little wander down to the front of stage left, have now burst into life again on the remix version of ‘God put a smile…’ I just came back to production to write to you all, who aren’t in here. Seems to me like plenty of you are crammed in though. It looks packed out there.. People are on their feet, clapping and cheeing. The atmosphere is incredible. Spare a thought for the nerves that must jangle in those 4 lads as they look up at all those peering faces for the first time. At least you can always rely on it being an overwhelmingly good reception when the curtain is raised during ‘Violet Hill’. The hip-hop/classical entry music, the dimmed - then flashing - lights, mixed with ‘Life in Technicolour’ always gets the crowd raised to their feet and ready to make some noise for these British boys.

We’re at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit. Home of the Detroit Pistons, NBA champs of 1990. There is only one Champion on stage tonight. He’s currently busy mangling drums and hitting them into submission. Just wait until ‘Politik’…! It’s a mellow moment right now, one of my favourite parts of the set.. Chris Martin and Will singing ‘The Hardest Part’. The rest of the stage is dark. It creates a great mood. Fitting for the song.. but also ready, eager and waiting, to burst back into life, when those strings come in..

I went out earlier without my earplugs for the first time in a while (*”why earplugs?!?” - I hear you cry?!?* .. well, just because, when you work on a tour like this everyday, you have to, at least try to stop the tinitus for a while). It’s an incredible wall of sound without them though. Especially when the music is blended with the thousands of fans mouths that are also chanting/screaming/singing/drunkenly blurring the words. Feet are stamping now to ‘Viva La Vida’.

*Fin (Coldplay’s tour production manager) just popped his head over my shoulder ..

Fin - “is that your blog Pete?”

Me - “yeah”

Fin - “tell em’ Fin says ‘Hi’…. and give generously immediately!”

(he’s now gone back out to keep an eye on the show - as the keys and drums burst into ‘Lost!’. It’s another crowd pleaser. This band are really rolling at the moment. Seem to be loving every minute. I must just say, I still love this band, even after 40+ shows. My favourite part of the set is right after I have packed up the Oxfam gear (when the volunteers have come back), and I rush through the curtain to catch ‘Cemeteries of London’ and ‘Chinese Sleep Chant’. Chris usually says hello to the crowd before that song. Maybe it’s because it mentions London (and i’m British), or maybe it’s because I just love the beat (and i’m a drummer).. either way, i’m hooked.

The Oxfam crowd here in Detroit have been amazing. Full of energy and determined to talk to as many people as possible. About 737 people signed up here before the show (I say “about”.. - i counted exactly.. twice). That’s great work and we were a couple volunteers short tonight. Most of them are new to campaigning but really seemed to enjoy it. Some of them even said they started up after seeing us in Toronto in the summer. That’s awesome to know. There are plenty of ways to play a part, in changing the world. As I have said many times. Small actions, save lives.

This is turning into a long one. I might let you go, get back to your facebook, or signing that online petition with Oxfam. (I know which one i’d like you to do, and it doesn’t involve books of faces..) I’m going to get back out there and try to catch another song or two, before the volunteers come back, with beaming faces, and sore throats (from all that singing). I hear a harmonica out there.. Great talking to ya. See you in Atlanta! (It’s a loooong bus ride tonight…)

I hear those drums being mangled again. It’s ‘Politik’.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=98

[Jenjie]

at this rate we'll have names for most of the crew :D

[CookyMnstr]

maybe it’s because I just love the beat (and i’m a drummer)
Pete is a drummer?!?!:wink3: Seriously?!:bomb:


ok ok I'll stop acting like a teenager now!:blush: hehehe

[greeneyes1207]

I'm so excited to work for Oxfam at tomorrow's show! yay!!

[Pris]

at this rate we'll have names for most of the crew :D

Now all we need is a pic to go with the name........ ;)

Pete is a drummer?!?!:wink3: Seriously?!:bomb:


ok ok I'll stop acting like a teenager now!:blush: hehehe

Jejejejejje.............. that's exactly what i was thinking........... :P

[Carlaatje]

at the next concert just yell fin and see who looks up!

[Carlaatje]

a shortie:
United States of America has a new President.
November 5th, 2008 / No Comments » / by plusby

A quick note of a memorable moment in history.

Outside my Atlanta hotel room, I can hear car horns beeping and voices shouting for joy. I have the TV on. More of the same. Celebrations in the street and huge crowds gathered in Time Square, NYC, and Grant Park, Chicago. The Chicago crowd awaiting their Senator, the President-elect, Barack Obama.

The tour made it’s way down to Atlanta today. All eyes on the bus were on the election. Some people in this city won’t get much sleep tonight. With all this beeping outside, I might not either..

[busybeeburns]

thanks!

[Carlaatje]

you're welcome! :D

btw I love that I learned this awesome news from Pete's blog first...

[Christa42]

Damn, you are good Carla, quick and cute

[Jenjie]

you're welcome! :D

btw I love that I learned this awesome news from Pete's blog first...

I learned it on the radio. It just never ended. I kept waking up and it was still going!!

[Carlaatje]

Damn, you are good Carla, quick and cute

:blush:
ad it was HOURS ago!

I learned it on the radio. It just never ended. I kept waking up and it was still going!!

yep first thing i did was turn on my computer...:uhoh: but I had to charge my phone!!!:rolleyes:
I wake up to a parachutes... so no obama news there :P

[busybeeburns]

Extra show added due to phenomenal demand. That’s how this show came about. Without it, there would have been a lot of people who missed out. As it is, they didn’t have to. Another sold out show in another state in the US. Coldplay whipped up another storm. The set may have settled into a groove, but the crowds are jumping around wherever we go. One of the Oxfam volunteers summed up the crowd reaction.. ”that was magical.”

I’m sitting on Bus 5, waiting for Doyle (our driver), to hop on and take us on to Orlando, Florida. I’ve not been there before.. I hear it’s kinda hot. Slices of cold pizza and plastic cups filled with various beverages, is the order of the day (even if we are just an hour into it).

So I want to say a big Oxfam welcome to ‘Sleepercar’. They played their second show of this tour tonight. I like what I hear, even if it has only been snippets through a balcony curtain. I’ll have to make a point of watching the whole set some point, and get some pictures for you. I hear they are long-term friends of the band, from the ‘Parachutes’ days. I’m going to have to speed this up. The internet connection will get cut off when the wheels on the bus start to roll.

Hundreds more Coldplay fans signed up with Oxfam America today. Hundreds more people wanting to find out more, to get involved, to do what they can, to take action, to make a difference. Over 45′000 people have got involved with Oxfam for the first time, during this tour. As i’ve said before, Coldplay have done something amazing by inviting us out here. They have supported Oxfam for many years now. Every night, I meet people who say they checked out Oxfam, when they saw the ‘MTF’ on Chris’ piano, and the Make Trade Fair = on his hand at every show. Or looked up the website address from the album sleeve cover. Or met an Oxfam volunteer on a previous tour. The bands support has had a real influence on the Make Trade Fair campaign and also, just how many people know what Oxfam does. That’s awesome.

One of my favourite songs in the world just came on the TV. I got a bit distracted. Someone just said “why not just take our last three paper plates as well.. we haven’t even got ketchup!” (I’ll leave it up to your imagination why..) I’m talking nonsense. I’d better go. See you in Florida.

Pete

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=100

[busybeeburns]

http://www.coldplaying.com/images/magicballoxfam.jpg

22:45, 6th November 2008. Orlando, Amway Arena. The arena empties out. Orlando Magic 98 - 88 Philadelpiha 76ers. The court in the center is shiny. Smooth under all those squeeking sneakers. Giant figures leave the court. Sweatbands are off to be rung out. Cheerleaders bound off, with white toothed smiles across their faces. Scoreboard is flashing. Disco ball is rotating. Magic’s mascot is circulating. TV crew are out doing reviews of the game for the audience at home. Charles Barkley (NBA, Suns & Sixers legend, who also used to slam dunks on my Super Nintendo in his spare time), packs his papers court-side to leave (or at least I think it was him..).

10:45, 7th November 2008. Orlando, Amway Arena. Is this the same arena? Squeeking floor nowhere to be seen. No hoops. No mascot. No crowd to cheerlead. Instead - cases. Lots of cases. Cables hanging from points high in the arena. Catwalks *(under construction). Amp stacks waiting to be lifted. Forklifts beeping. Bags full of butterfly confetti. Roadies dressed in black (beards across their faces).

22:45, 7th November 2008. As if by (Orlando) magic.. the stage is being torn down again. Coldplay have left the building.. just as those giants did. Butterflies, plastic cups and popcorn cartons are being swept. Floor chairs removed. Cables are being tied. Trucks are reversing in, being filled, and bolted shut. Oxfam volunteers gather around the last table standing. More than 550 people signed up tonight with Oxfam America. One more Coldplay show. Hundreds more Oxfammers out there. Maybe some of them will be back soon as volunteers themselves. No hand-clappers needed tonight. No cheerleaders required. Jonny, Will, Chris and Guy took the stage for ’Yellow’, clad in personalised Orlando Magic basketball tops. That was the closest we got to the night before. Those were thrown to the crowd. And we were back to a Coldplay show.

Amazing how these tours roll on. We are now back on the bus, waiting for our 5am bus call. One of the lighting guys just got on the bus.

“What’s happening in the world at large?”

“Oh, you know, just enjoying my morning in the parking lot.. in.. wherever it is we are..”

See you in the next place. Pete.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=101

[Carlaatje]

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=102

new bloggie!!

De-ja-voo in Atlanta.
November 11th, 2008 / No Comments » / by plusby

Right. Time to catch up. Access to the internet on tour is never as easy as it is, when switching on a computer, in the ‘comfort’ of an office block or internet cafe. Wireless internet is set up in tour production and management offices. This usually leads to a line of roadies sitting on road cases outside, or sitting on the floor around the production team. In these concrete block buildings.. that signal doesn’t travel too far. Crew rooms are usually slightly less equipped for internet, as they are for showers and couches. Ocassionally, like today. There is a crew office. Today, it sits at the back of Production. It’s a tiny little room, which randomly has mean-looking cartoon characters, wielding hockey sticks and perched on basketballs, painted on the walls. It’s a strange little place. The tour buses have a handy intermittent internet connection too. It does not cease to amaze me, that I can send an email to my friends back home in England, from a tour bus, moving along Atlanta streets to a venue.

We’re back in Atlanta’s Phillips Arena. De-ja-voo. We walked in saying “Good to see you you again” to the venue staff, as if we had worked with them for years. This is the second show of two in this building. Two shows in Florida were sandwiched in between. Last stop was Ft. Lauderdale. As a British guy used to rain and frost in November.. it was a strange experience to be outside in a t-shirt before the bus left Florida at 2am.. It turned out to be a long ride from there to Atlanta. 15 hours later, we rolled up at the hotel last night.

I wanted to talk about our amazing volunteers. Each city Coldplay goes to, a different group of Oxfam volunteers are always there. Every day, I head outside to meet them. There is always a group patiently waiting, ready to work hard for Oxfam for a few hours before they go in to see the Coldplay show. I have met all sorts of people, with all sorts of stories. It has to be one of the best parts of this job. So many of our volunteers here, tell of how they first heard about Oxfam from a Coldplay album sleeve, or shout out from the stage. One volunteer in Ft. Lauderdale summed up the feeling well..

“I wanted to do what I can to help overcome poverty around the world, and I get to see a great Coldplay show, for free. What could be better?”.

I wanted to share this link with you, from one of our volunteers in Philly a little over a week ago. His name is Logan Deck, and he made this video. Thanks Logan.

YouTube - Oxfam International

[busybeeburns]

thanks! :D

[The Joker]

i'm logan deck :)

[busybeeburns]

cool thanks for the video! :D

[busybeeburns]

I’m huddled in a corner behind one of the Oxfam pop-up banners by our table at the entrance to the arena. If I look up, I can see three of Oxfam’s volunteers enthusiastically passing out free badges and signing up Coldplay fans to the Oxfam America mailing list. Here come 5 more fans ready to sign on the sheets. It’s great to listen to some of the little things that happen at the stall..

“When I say ‘Cold’ .. you say ‘Play’ .. Cold - Play. Cold - Play!

When I say ‘Ox’ .. you say ‘Fam’. Ox - Fam! Ox - Fam!”

I haven’t heard that one before. But that’s the beauty of doing this in so many different places. In the background, I can hear ‘Sleepercar’ finishing up on-stage. There’s just 40 minutes until the main attraction hits the stage. These arenas are strange places to work. So hollow during most of the day.. slowly building up a buzz as the sound checks get started, and the hazers keep spraying.. but when the doors open, it’s like working in a busy mall or station. Thousands of people wander about, filling the place up. Some wander aimlessly .. wondering where to buy a pretzel.. eyes glazed.. others stare at the merchandise for a silly amount of time. Some stop by our booth and sign up. Some rush to their seat and wait patiently, not daring to move, in case they miss something. Then there are the ones that miss all that and run in right before the set and skip the aimless/purposeful wandering.

They all have a couple of things in common. They all love Coldplay, and they all have the power to make a difference to the world. Oxfam does amazing work to overcome poverty. We are here to help people see how they can help. How their actions collectively can save lives. The more people who get involved, the more Oxfam can do.

I just have to say.. there’s a bit of competition going on. The stall next to ours is renting out binoculars for those people in the noseblead seats (*the ones up high). Seriously. Ours is a way more exciting stall. No offense.

Anyway, back to the show. I have to run and get the volunteers tickets, so i’d better go. Hoping for a smooth trip tonight.. Atlanta - Kansas City. Wow. We’re covering some ground.

Back in production.. 10 minutes to stage time. I can hear Chris Martin in the next room warming up his voice..

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=103

[Carlaatje]

i'm logan deck :)

nice video :)

[The Joker]

thank you :]

[busybeeburns]

Destination Kansas City. We rolled up at the Sprint Center, Kansas City today. Some of these arenas have quite grand and strange designs. This one struck me that if you shone some flashlights on it, it would become a crystal ball. At the moment though, it just looks a bit like a glittering fruit bowl you might find in a certain Swedish megastore..

It was another mammoth drive yesterday. I sympathise for the truck and bus drivers when we do long-hauls like that. It’s an incredible country to tour. You drive for as long as it would take to cross the whole of some large countries, just to get to the next city. Weird when you start to see 7 or 8 hours as a ’short drive’.

Today we are on the first of 2 in a row. We have 9 more shows out here before we tread back across the pond. Strange to think that Coldplay have only done one show so far in their home country.. When we have done over 50 already this year.

Back in Atlanta, we had a great night with Oxfam. The volunteer group really stuck together and worked as a team. All of them seeming over the moon to be helping Oxfam and eagerly anticipating their free Coldplay show. They all got the chance to see Chris Martin perform ‘Green Eyes’ for the first time in the whole tour. A good treat for their efforts. I think there is a chance of some more set changes soon with the release of ‘Prospekts March’.

So what inspires us to get involved? Coldplay have certainly inspired thousands, possibly millions of people to get involved with Oxfam’s work to overcome poverty. I wonder how many more bars of Fairtrade chocolate have been eaten, since the start of the Make Trade Fair Campaign. How many people have switched to Fairtrade coffee. How many people have helped train a teacher through an Oxfam Unwrapped gift.

I have been inspired by all sorts of things. Seeing people come together to call for change. Listening to Eddie Izzard narrate a recycling advert. Adding my face to the Control Arms ‘Million Faces’ petition. Seeing over 101’000 people at UK festivals in 2007, sign up to an Oxfam campaign to combat Climate Change. Running marathons surrounded by people raising money for charity by running 26.2 miles. Listening to family and friends debating presidential candidates. Working in rural Madagascar, to help build school benches and collecting drinking water from rivers. Whatever inspires us, whether it be a symbol on a piano on a Coldplay stage, seeing an advert on TV, talking to a relative, joining a petition online, speaking to an Oxfam campaigner.. Small actions change lives. Be moved. Be involved. Because you’ve got power, and it’s time for justice.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=104

[xxKels]

Thanks Ian!

[busybeeburns]

It must be such a strange thing to be in that position. I’m sure most of you have been at a concert before, where the lead singer stops between songs to talk to the crowd. Due to the buzz of 15′000 (or however many thousand people), and the fuzz of a microphone.. it can all become a bit of a blur. Now Chris Martin is a very clearly spoken fella. I understand the things he says from stage, a whole lot better than some artists I have seen slurring into the mic. No slurring for Coldplay at all. Still. I never catch it all. It always amuses me when a singer stops to speak and everyone just cheers anyway. When they stop talking, it’s like the crowd collectively thinks (*oh.. erm.. it’s our turn to say something.. umm.. what should we say?.. umm.. WHOOOP! YEAH! (or just a general screaming noise of appreciation). You know who you are. I’m not saying I mind it. Quite the opposite. I mean it’s not like the band can stop the momentum and have a talking shop about how everyone is finding it so far.. no round tables, no half time analysis. No time for discussions in the Coldplay show. So no wonder, the general feeling of

“Yes. We’re fine thanks. Doing great. Loving it in fact.” (becomes a general roaring cheering noise. I doubt the band mind that at all. In fact. It’s probably exactly what they are looking for.

It does just make me wonder, whether a singer could try to mumble something random and see if people were listening.. like.. “does everyone here hate giraffes?” Would they still get a cheer? I hope not. Surely at least some people would be exaggerating by cheering. Crikey. I’m going way off track. Apologies for my ramble.

Coldplay just played ‘Green Eyes’ again followed by ‘Postcards from far away’. Two nights in a row. It seems to be going down well. They also stuck in ‘Glass of Water’ from ‘Prospekts March’ earlier, for what I think was the first time, since Albert Hammond Jr joined them for it in Belgium. It’s a great song. I hope we will be hearing more of it from now on. The cheering continues right now. They just finished off ‘Viva’ and ‘Lost!’ and are now heading out to the ‘C-stage’ to change where the lucky front row seat holders are. Just for a little while.

I met a great bunch of people tonight. The crowd coming through. A couple of very kind Coldplayers. 18 awesome volunteers from the Oxfam Kansas City Action group. It’s a first experience of volunteering for a lot of them. They kept going to the end. So great to meet so many people keen to make a difference with their Thursday night. Wait a minute.. is it Thursday? I’ve forgotten. That’s not good. Tour days blurring into one again. Travel days disappearing before my eyes..

It’s a starting point for so many fans. The first chance to learn what Oxfam actually stands for. What we do. Why we’re here. That’s so valuable. Hopefully it will grow into so much more. When people are done cheering from the seats, hopefully they will go home and sign petitions, donate, buy a goat, drink some tea.. Fairtrade of course.

From Pete. (Oxfam Coordinator. Blogger. Roadie #31. Person who likes giraffes.)

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=105

[melanieau]

Awww, gotta love Pete.

[the.hardest.part]

Awww. Thanks for the shout out Pete!

[busybeeburns]

It is cold. My hands are feeling all crinkly. I went outside in a t-shirt earlier and regretted it. We are a long way from the Florida sun that shone on our tour buses a few days ago. The confetti canons have just blown butterflies over a crowd of 14’500.. From where I’m sitting, at the Oxfam stall, I can see a few of them fluttering down, when someone opens the curtain to go through to their seat. When it’s closed, I just see the glow of the lights, in time with Will Champion’s kick pedal foot.

Our amazing group of volunteers will be back from their amazing seats, any second now. They all sat together behind the mix desk tonight. I’m sure the show, and sound there, was the best anywhere in the arena. Great seats..

Great effort with the campaigning too. Over 630 more people signed up to find out more about how they can join Oxfam in fighting poverty, and countless more who will maybe see the Oxfam sphere or click a mouse button and read online. Even more great.. is the actions they can all take now - signing a petition to call for health and education for all, or by setting up a college group to become more active in fighting poverty..

The crowd are cheering for the encore now. I think the arena is going to be filled with a certain colour very soon. Some of these people leaving early to beat the traffic will probably run back inside too when they hear it start. Seems like the band have had a great time tonight. Loving every minute of this tour which winds it’s way across America once more.

Peoples footsteps are already dragging those poor butterflies out onto the street. They really do get everywhere.

Here come the masses.. Leaving the venue like it’s on fire. It never ceases to amaze me how fast these places empty.. I don’t just mean the crowd either. 14’500 fans. 4 band members. Band party. 55 crew. 12 trucks (and all their contents). 5 tour buses (and all their roadies). Venue staff.. Security.. Load out has already begun inside. Up here.. It’s a bit like a busy road or a flooding stream. I mean, if you stop, you have to work pretty hard at not looking like a salmon..

I’m going to go with the flow tonight. Hop on the bus. 12 hours later.. Fingers crossed.. We will be in Oklahoma City. Never been there on a Saturday. There’s a first time for everything.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=106

[melanieau]

Today is Pete's birthday!

Happy Birthday, Pete!



Hope you get a record number of signatures tonight in OKC as a present!

[The Joker]

happy bday pete! :)

[Christa42]

Happy Birthday to You Pete! Enjoy the day.

[Carlaatje]

Happy birthday Pete!! have a great one... :)

[EnglishSilk]

Happy Birthday, Pete,

It was lovely meeting you last night!

Thank you for all your dedicated work through Oxfam and keeping the cause alive!

-Karen
(bless you for forwarding my note ; )

[busybeeburns]

Here’s one I prepared earlier, from ‘OK’ City.
Good old fashioned pen and paper. How refreshing it can be. I’m scribbling away in the dark, next to stage right ‘guitar world’. Writing on the back of a Coldplay setlist, and leaning on an Oxfam ’Health and Education FOR ALL’ campaign booklet, on top of a road case..

I just saw Chris Martin run out to the front of the Coldplay stage, to bounce with the packed audience to ‘Viva La Vida’. There was a deafening roar when those strings kicked in. Now, if I look to my left, up the steps, there is Jonny, Will and Guy, starting up the thundering beat of ‘Lost!’. Two of the roadies just walked past me, carrying a small flight of stairs.. I guess the band will be leaving the stage soon, for an arena tour, here in Oklahoma City. Now the screaming begins, as they make their way through a mixture of bemused and excited fans. Here come those roadies again, with that flight of stairs.

The wonders of pen and paper, go way beyond my blog. Earlier, hundreds more Coldplay fans, penned their names, and gave their voices, to finding out what they can do to help fight poverty, with Oxfam. It’s a simple format. Marks of ink. But it’s a start. A way to get involved. To do what you can, at a concert - as part of this amazing night. Well over 50′000 people have done just that, on this tour so far. There were also a few hundred in Rotterdam, who typed their names to join Oxfam Novib’s ‘Hug-a-nurse’ campaign, on high-tech computers.

Jonny’s guitar tech, just wandered past me, with his ‘Politik’ guitar. It’s a quiet part of the set for him. He’s now disappeared back into the dark underworld of guitars beneath the stage. The band just rushed past me through the corridor, flanked by security, on their way back to the OK City stage. This road case i’m perched on, is shaking with the vibrations of the ‘Viva’ remix beat. I’d better get off it, before ‘Politik’ starts!

The local crew, are already congregating backstage, ready to transform the venue and remove all these cases. They are all signing in, one-by-one, with pen and paper, of course. There’s that ‘Politik’ drum beat.. I’m off back upstairs to the Oxfam booth, to check we have enough pens..

Two other pen and paper incidents I should mention. Someone made an amazing cheque donation to Oxfam tonight.. and Karen gave me a hand-written note on the corner of her Coldplay banner, to give to the band, to thank them for playing ’The Hardest Part’ for her.

After the show, I celebrated the night, by exploring OK City with ’Team Jenn’ from the Oxfam group. They did a great job organising the volunteers tonight. So it’s only right to celebrate. So there you have it. The only problem with blogging on a piece of paper first, is that it causes a delay. But if you’re happy to wait.. then that’s ‘OK’.

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=107

[EnglishSilk]

Thanks , Ian!!!

Wow!:shocked2:

The stars have never shined for me as brilliantly as they did last night in OKC:D


I am still nothing less than STUNNED:stunned:

Thank you again, our amazing Oxfam Pete!:kiss:



And again, to my DREAMWEAVERS, Kimchi:kiss: DEBS WILD:kiss: and Kels:kiss:

[Christa42]

YEEEEE HAAAAWWWWWWW!!!!!

[melanieau]

Some lucky, lucky lady is gonna snap that sweet Pete up - that is if someone hasn't already!

:heart:

[Carlaatje]

you know what they say... all the good man are either taken or gay..

[SueDeNimes]

you know what they say... all the good man are either taken or gay..
:thinking: ...true.

[Carlaatje]

Pete's up late:

Better make it quick.
November 19th, 2008 / No Comments » / by plusby

Houston, Texas. Home of one very famous and powerful man. Home of the ‘Rockets’ NBA team. I have seen a few very tall people walking around today.. Yao Ming is not small. Here we are in a huge state. 13′000 people have come to see the Coldplay show. All 26′000-or-so eyes, are now firmly fixed on the stage, on 4 guys who formed a band thousands of miles away, and wrote a song, and it was called ‘Yellow’. Probably also another 100 or so transfixed eyes are from crew members, waiting to jump in if anything goes wrong. I was just about to try to work out how many eyes might belong to people who also signed up with Oxfam tonight.. but i’m not sure my brain can do that..

The crowd are making all sorts of noises. Some of them screaming so loud, they must be sore. I didn’t think one pair of lungs could make that much noise, before I came on this tour. It’s been a great night for our Oxfam group. Loads of people have shown an interest. Feet were flooding through the doors, and heading right over to our Oxfam tables. Listening carefully.. taking it in, and then taking the pen (don’t worry i’m not going to go on about pens again - even though they are amazing).

It’s a ’short’ trip to Dallas tonight. Once the band are done, and the cases have rolled. I’ve been impressed by Houston. I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t so impressed by the Bond movie last night.. but then, I guess I knew what to expect. It’s time for ‘Politik’. Marguerite (from production), knew what to expect..

“Ooopen up your eyeees”. Like I said. They are all open, and staring at the stage. This band has got everyone’s attention. The great news, is that they are also bringing attention to poverty and to Oxfam’s work to overcome it.

[busybeeburns]

No. Not physically. That would be very silly. That’s a long old drive. Plus, let’s face it. There is not much to look at on the way. I spent much of the trip in the darkened cocoon of my bunk. The rest, faced with the slow realisation, as I peered out of the bus window, that this country is just vast. As soon as we headed out into that nothingness the day after the Dallas show.. the temperature dropped. We eventually hit the Colorado mountains on the way into Denver, and it fell again. Tumbled even. -6 last night (20 Farenheit I think.. crikey). Nothing like the heat of Dallas.

Back in Dallas, Texas, it was more like a summer’s night than a winter freeze. No scarfs required. No jackets even. I was sweltering when I donned the Oxfam jacket to go and meet the patiently waiting volunteers. It was another night of activity for them. Getting the word out there, meeting fans, explaining Oxfam’s work and getting excited about the show ahead. One of them came back afterwards, and described the concert simply as “life-changing”. There are a lot of happy fans leaving these venues once the confetti has fallen.

The same volunteer was telling me about how 1 in 3 children in her town in Texas, goes to bed hungry. It’s just two hours drive from the polished arena where the show was held. That is astonishing. I have learnt so much about this country on my trip with the tour. I am pleased to say that Oxfam also works to overcome poverty here in America too. It’s amazing how poverty can often go so unseen. This is not a poor country. But poverty exists here. It must not be ignored. Hopefully Oxfam’s presence on this tour, can help to improve awareness of poverty, and make it less invisible.

Denver is not a place I know much about. Not that I knew much about Dallas either.. I heard it’s a mile above sea level, which might explain part of that temperature tumble. I know it’s home of the Broncos too.. Today we sit in the warmth of another huge modern arena. It’s just a fairground away from that Broncos stadium, which sits under the watchful eye of those mountains. Today, this will be the home of Coldplay, and 20 Oxfam volunteers, of course.

Oh.. I just wanted to share this with you. I couldn’t help laughing earlier, when I saw the catering area being hoovered before lunch. The hoover (vacuum) was strapped to the back of a busy person, looking more like a proton pack out of Ghostbusters, than a cleaning device. I half expected Peter Venkman and Egon Spengler to appear and fight the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man..

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=109

[Texasluvsjonny]

Who ya gonna call? :P Pete cracks me up.

[Texasluvsjonny]

And I warned him. Best get outside and suck up the Texas heat Pete, Denver is gonna be cold.

[melanieau]

Mystery guest blogger coming up..

Here’s one from a couple of days ago..
Waiting in the Denver arena, looking through the glass at all manner of Denver Nuggets merch. It’s going to be a good night. I can feel it. I looked out at the setting sun, through swirls of rollercoasters.. to the huge Broncos stadium, and rugged line of mountains cutting off the sun. Now that sun has gone down, the temperature is in plummet mode again. I’m going to need some gloves for that trip outdoors.. This cooler air, is a good way to acclimatise before the UK tour..
The Oxfam volunteers had free reign on a huge arena. 3 Levels towering up high. During the show, I took a seat in one of the closed off sections behind the stage. It’s an incredible sight to see all those people staring towards you, but not looking at you at all.
I wan’t to introduce our fantastic guest blogger, Soha Yassine, to the world. She will be taking the Oxfam reigns for all things Coldplay, for the final three shows in USA in 2008. Salt Lake City, Anaheim and Phoenix has a special treat. She’s an amazing person, and has been busily organising all manner of things from Boston for the whole tour for weeks. Now though, it’s her chance to get that laminate, throw her bag on the bus and be a proper roadie.. I am leaving you all in very capable hands. Good luck Soha. I will see you all in Sheffield! Homeward bound..

[Pris]

ohhhh......... Pete is leaving us!!!!! :bigcry:

[Jenjie]

only until Saturday

[busybeeburns]

Blog #1: Just in from our mystery guest blogger (Soha Yassine), who took the Oxfam reigns for the last three shows in US of 2008. 22nd November 2008. Salt Lake City. UT.

“… So come over, just be patient, and don’t worry” can be heard clearly enough that I forget for a moment that i’m standing in the middle of the concourse at Energy Solutions Arena. I take a peak inside, as the building-sized banner, that reads ‘VIVA’, drops behind Chris, Jonny, Guy, and Will. Audiences always seem to be moved by this moment, and the band does not at all seemed dwarfed by the towering banner.

Tonight Coldplay is in Salt Lake City, Utah, home of the first LDS Temple and the 2002 Olympics. When I arrived here last night to hop on the tour in place of my friend and colleague Pete, it was hard to resist reflecting on the prominent position Salt Lake City has in the mosaic of US history. Coldplay are making music history tonight by helping to bring music activism to heights Sir. Bob Geldoff could have only dreamed of in ‘85 when Live Aid drew in tens of thousands of rock and roll fans to rally around famine relief in Ethiopia. Coldplay have helped Oxfam mobilize an international resistance against hunger, poverty, and injustice. By inviting Oxfam America to tour with them, 600 volunteers have helped facilitate a global conversation about how active citizenship can eradicate poverty to over 100 thousand Coldplay fans that have sold out arenas across the US since July alone. Not bad for a quartet from London, not bad at all.

As the VIVA banner fell, another thought I couldn’t resist indulging was that it was only a handful of months ago that I was just a fan at a Coldplay concert in LA posing in front of this banner and hoping to work for Oxfam myself someday. It was the first stop of the Viva la Vida tour. When the show was over, I approached the Oxfam table that had been set up, to sing the praises of Oxfam and their Make Trade Fair campaign. I didn’t know that I was talking to Oxfam’s Senior Campaign Organizer, Brian, who urged me to look into internships at Oxfam, given my enthusiasm for their work. Two months later I was in Boston picking up where Brian and the intern before me, one Jack Carroll, had left off in running volunteer logistics for the Coldplay tour with Pete. Tonight, I’m representing the fight against hunger, poverty, and injustice on the Coldplay tour and I crack a smile as I think, “Not bad for a girl from San Gabriel, California, not bad at all.”

S

Ps. Shout out to Team Jen for coming all the way from Oklahoma City to volunteer with Oxfam tonight!

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/?p=115

[xxKels]

Go Team OKC!!:smug:

[busybeeburns]

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Blog #2: Second instalment from our guest blogger (Soha Yassine), who took the Oxfam reigns for the last three shows in US of 2008. November 25th. 2008. Anaheim. CA.

Tonight we are in the backyard of Los Angeles, Anaheim, California, which is centrally located in Orange County. A few days ago the band rocked the American Music Awards and tonight we’re in the home of the Mighty Ducks.

Here’s an image from the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs with the palm trees shining under the California sun. This is what California looks like about 350 days of the year but not tonight- its pouring rain! Tonight the gods are preparing the weary group of roadies on my bus for the cold and fog that’s to come next week when the band heads out to England. When I helped Pete with the canvassing at the Coldplay show in Boston on the day before Halloween, Chris Martin commented during the show about how Coldplay had been in Boston twice this year, but haven’t had a single concert in their home country! The same is true for California; tonight is Coldplay’s third concert in Southern California since July!

Rain or shine our committed group of Oxfam volunteers arrives, ready to canvass the Coldplay audience. Despite Oxfam’s presence at two previous So. Cal. Coldplay concerts in the summer, fans are more eager than ever to talk to us about how they can engage in the struggle for justice. This struggle is alive and well in this part of California, where one of Oxfam’s thirteen nation-wide, volunteer-lead, “Oxfam Action Corps” have been working with other Californians to urge law makers to consider the human face of climate change. The Oxfam Action Corps, represented by Adam and Dan tonight (amongst others), are the voices of the poor all over the world here in California. Tonight, the Honda Center is Oxfam Action Corps territory.

Coldplay is one of the biggest bands in the world and tonight is another sold-out show. But with them, are some other stars, the 20 volunteers who gave their Tuesday nights to Oxfam. They missed classes, left their families, and drove in So. Cal.’s notorious traffic to spread Oxfam’s message and listen to some good music. The determination of the volunteers to engage audience members with Oxfam’s work never ceases to amaze me. Tonight, especially my girl Z, who handed out Oxfam flyers until what seemed like the very last person left the venue, made me especially proud.

It was good to be home, now off to Phoenix! S

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Blog #3: The third and final instalment from our guest blogger, Soha Yassine. Soha took the reigns for all things Oxfam, for the final 3 US shows of 2008. Phoenix was the last of these 3 shows, before the UK tour kicked off.

We arrived in Phoenix at what seemed like an ungodly hour for a tour caravan that hit the road at 1:30am. As I rolled out of my bunk in the ungraceful manner that I do every morning and headed into the venue for some much needed coffee, I stopped by the stage area. It wasn’t even noon yet and my bus-mates have the skeleton of the stage already constructed! Confetti butterflies had already littered the ground. They tend to get stuck on all of the equipment from the night before and fall off everywhere they go. They don’t bother anyone though; who can get mad at butterflies? As I stared at the butterflies in my pre-coffee state, I realized the familiar pattern of metal puzzle-pieces on the floor of the venue. This could only mean that there was an ice hockey rink beneath us and my pre-coffee-Californian-self could only think of one word: gnarly.

Later in the day I take a tour of Jobing.com Arena with the venue representative and we have a very nerdy conversation unfit for a roadie about temperature regulation of the ice as compared to the rest of the venue. That night, thousands of Coldplay fans stomped their feet to Viva la Vida above ice. Very gnarly.

Before that 17 volunteers including our lead volunteer, Abraham, who travelled to Phoenix for the concert, urged hundreds of Coldplay fans to give their voices to the fight against poverty. As I made my way around the concourse to check-in with the volunteers, one volunteer told me that she was approached by a Coldplay fan who said that as she was in line at one of the venue’s many venders, she thought to herself that the money she was about to spend would be better served by giving it to Oxfam. Although the volunteer told her that donations were not the purpose of our presence at the show, the woman insisted on donating the money to Oxfam. After she told me the story, the volunteer and I looked at the money and smiled.

Tonight’s show is bittersweet for me. On the one hand, I get to go back to So. Cal. tomorrow and spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my family and friends before flying back to Boston to resume my duties as an Oxfam intern. On the other hand, it’s Coldplay’s last show in the US and the end of my time on the road with them. My time on the road was a once in a lifetime experience. It couldn’t have happened without the guidance of my colleagues at Oxfam, the awesome crew behind the scenes, and Coldplay themselves for believing in the power of small actions.

My last night on the bus was one of interesting conversations: the merits of fiction as a literary genre, water sanitation processes in the US and UK, the state of specialized education in Western academia, and other various subjects unfit for rock and roll roadies. It was unfortunate that it wasn’t until my last night on the tour that I realized I wasn’t the only nerd on the road with Coldplay.

Peace, S

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