An El Pasoan’s prayers were answered after she met Coldplay frontman Chris Martin ahead of the band’s pair of sold-out performances at the Sun Bowl last week.
Elia Gomez and her eight-year-old son, Sebastian, patiently waited near the Plaza Hotel in Downtown El Paso on June 13, hoping to get a glimpse of Coldplay members before the band would take the stage in the Sun City as part of their “Music of Spheres” tour.
“I thought it was impossible to meet him, but it was one of the biggest dreams I ever had,” Gomez said.
When Gomez learned the band would be making a tour stop in her hometown, she began to pray she would somehow come across Martin, and even created a vision board with a photo of the vocalist, wishing to someday turn her dream into reality.
“I believe we can manifest things,” Gomez said. “I believe that our words are very powerful.”
On the day of Coldplay’s first performance in El Paso, Gomez ventured to the heart of the city, along with her son and mother, anticipating that the band would be staying Downtown. After a few hours, she spotted Martin racing out of the back of the Plaza Hotel and making his way toward a black SUV, accompanied by security.
At first, Gomez said security officers did not allow the fans to get close, but Martin spotted the family and made his way toward them, ultimately stopping for a few minutes to take several photos and selfies.
“My son was just staring at him because he loves Coldplay,” Gomez said. “While we were taking the picture, the way my son was looking at him and he (Martin) was looking at my son — I just feel like there was a connection.”
The moment was incredibly special for the mother and son.
During their most difficult times in life, Gomez explained, it was Martin’s voice that healed her heart and helped her overcome pain, she said. The positive, radiant energy he carries onstage is the same offstage.
“He was the only thing that would keep me going,” Gomez said. “Coldplay would make me very emotional. He’s the person I found healing in. He has that same energy that you see in concerts. He was so humble. He has such a beautiful light to him.”
While the moment is a bit of a blur for Gomez — she said she was too excited and nervous to remember it all — she is still reeling from the experience of meeting someone who has helped her overcome the hardest moments in her life.
“My heart is so full of happiness right now,” Gomez said. “I am so happy I got to experience that. I’m still in disbelief and in shock.”
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: ‘He was so humble’: Dream realized as fan meets Coldplay frontman before Sun Bowl show
Reporting by Natassia Paloma, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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