Coldplay played the first of three free live shows yesterday. Returning to the live scene with a set at Brixton Academy, the band now follow it up with free shows in Barcelona and New York.

Debuting songs from their new album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, singer Chris Martin was in a jovial mood according to NME: "Wasn't that a seamless crossover?" he asked the crowd of the switch between songs. "In years to come when the band split up and I'm doing a piano turn on a cross channel ferry you can say to me 'Chris I remember when you used to be a pop star, you used to do great crossovers between songs' and I'll say thank you! What a ferry journey that will be!"

Answer: Wet.

(Pics: Carsten Windhorst via Wenn)