Coldplay crash the crowd at Madison Square Garden

Coldplay performed the last of their three free shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City last night (June 24), after two similar events in London and Barcelona recently.

Opening with 'Life In Technicolor', the band made their way through a 16-song set in front of the capacity crowd who scored free tickets, battling several technical difficulties along the way.

Fresh from the news that they have scored both the Number One album and single spot on the Billboard charts, singer Chris Martin modestly commented that the almost-title track from new album 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All ' "somehow made it to Number One in your country".

Martin several times made jokes about the free show, telling the crowd "There are no refunds."

In front of crowd dotted with many familiar faces including Kirsten Dunst, Albert Hammond, Jr., Helena Christensen and Charlize Theron, the band performed a number of songs from 'Viva La Vida..', as well as older favourites including 'In My Place', 'Clocks' and 'Trouble'.

From messed-up lyrics to problematic equipment, the band’s difficulties added to the stripped-down feeling of raw authenticity that saw them perform on catwalks extending both sides of the enormous stage.

Attempting to perform new track 'Chinese Sleep Chant', an issue with Jonny Buckland's guitar promoted a frustrated Martin to say: "Fuck it, let's cancel the gig. This is embarrassing. Let's go home. We come over here, we steal your women and we can't even play one song."

Later, accompanied by several security personnel, the band literally walked off stage into the 10,000 strong crowd to the back of the arena, where they performed two acoustic songs - 'Yellow' and
'Death Will Never Conquer', on which drummer Will Champion took on vocal duties.

Returning to the stage for 'Fix You' and final track 'Lovers In Japan', the band opted out of an encore, with the show clocking in at just 70 minutes.

Coldplay played:

'Life in Technicolor'
'Violet Hill'
'Clocks'
'In My Place'
'Viva La Vida'
'Chinese Sleep Chant'
'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face'
'42'
'Square One'
'Trouble'
'Lost!'
'Strawberry Swing'
'Yellow'
'Death Will Never Conquer'
'Fix You'
'Lovers in Japan'

--By our New York staff.
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Coldplay tickets:

• Sep 12, 2009 15:00 at Lancashire C.c.c., Old Trafford - Buy from Seetickets
• Sep 16, 2009 16:00 at Hampden Park, Glasgow - Buy from Seetickets

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