Coldplay Roadshow

Mixed reactions from support acts.

27 April 2009 - In the run up to Coldplay’s North American tour 6 Music has been getting the verdict from the bands who have been asked to join them.

Up and coming teenage bluegrass collective Kitty, Daisy and Lewis are one of the surprise acts on the bill while Australian new comers Howling Bells have also been booked. Elbow are another of the bands handpicked by Chris Martin and co. to join them at various points on the tour.

We caught up with Howling Bells who were thrilled to be part of this rock and roll extravaganza:

“It was like having been asked for your hand in marriage,” said bassist Brendan.

“You just say ‘yes’ because it’s a very suitable handsome man, Coldplay.”

Howling Bells will join Coldplay between the 15^th and 21^st of May but Brendan said they were looking forward to touring in such a huge and diverse country:

“I guess they only take four support bands throughout their American tour so we’re excited, and America is such a vast playground really. It’s so different from one area to the next and the scene just so dramatically - the people and everything.”

And there was no doubting the fact Howling Bells took it as a great honour to be asked:

“They ask and they get to pick who they want because they’re Coldplay, they’re pretty much like God. With Bono they could be God officially.”

“They ask and they get to pick who they want because they’re Coldplay, they’re pretty much like God. With Bono they could be God officially.” Brendan - Howling Bells.

Kitty, Daisy and Lewis on the other hand were not quite so star struck:

“I’ve never heard one of their records,” said Lewis.

“If you said name a Coldplay record I wouldn’t be able to. I guess when we get out there I’ll hear all of it but I’m saving it for then.”

Lewis may well be clueless when it comes to Britain’s biggest band but that hasn’t stopped Chris Martin championing the relatively unknown skiffle inspired three piece.

“Apparently Chris Martin did an NME interview saying we were really great and told people to check us out,” Kitty explained.

She seemed a little more aware of the magnitude of the offer:

“It’s pretty amazing that they’d ask us to do that. It’s quite scary because we’ve never played in venues that size before they’ll be like huge arenas.”




Elizabeth Alker