The past couple of weeks have not been in the least bit pleasant. A friend passed away two weeks ago and just this past Tuesday was her memorial service. It was a very rough day and night. I woke up on Wednesday morning with an email from Snow Patrol’s Tour Manager congratulating me on being chosen to be the Tour Reporter for their show in Grand Prairie, TX which to those of you not familiar with the area is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The news took me quite by surprise. With the events of the past couple of weeks the show basically snuck up on me. There it was though, something positive, something inspiring, a musical beacon of light burning its way through the fog of sadness and grief that coated my consciousness. The excitement of the news peaked within me immediately, which inevitably lead to sharing it with my family and friends. Not only was it a chance for me to combine what are the two great loves of my life – writing and music. It was also a chance to get to see two of my favorite bands going today in Silversun Pickups and Snow Patrol. Not to mention what turned out to be a chance to discover a talented and amazing band in OK Go.
When the Silversun Pickups took the stage I knew what to expect. I had started listening to this band well over a year ago and had heard them perform live via the internet on a few occasions. They certainly exceeded my high expectations. With Brian Aubert, the lead singer/guitarist providing humorous banter with the crowd delving into such subjects as hung over microphones, Willie Nelson & Dream Theater posters and even bringing up Pierce High School, which subsequently is where Jessica Simpson attended. Whether or not he knew this when he made the comment “Pierce High School sucks!” one will never know. Personally, I like to think that he did. I was rather pleased with the band’s set list. They played most of their songs from their debut LP Carnavas such as “Little Lover’s So Polite” & “Rusted Wheel” and to my pleasure went back to their first production the EP Pikul to arouse the crowd’s ears with the song that first drew me to the band “Kissing Families”. They certainly saved the best for last though when they erupted with “Lazy Eye” which certainly seemed to be the song in which the crowd that had gathered was waiting for.
OK Go’s energy seemed quite contagious from the very beginning of their set on this night as the crowd danced and shouted and grew more and more alive as they opened with their latest single “Do What You Want” and the peculiar wallpaper man dancing on the screen that hung from the rafters above them through their performance. Sadly I am not familiar enough with the band to be able to sync up many song titles with particular moments. I have however already purchased their entire collection as to not make that mistake again. The most memorable site of their set was when the arena filled up with cell phone lights and lighters to the tune of “Oh Lately It’s So Quiet”. Only after listening to the CD did I put the song and vision together but it certainly left an imprint upon my memory as blue lights swayed to the tune with a small flame from a lighter strewn about as well.
In typical Dallas fashion the arena really began to fill as Snow Patrol’s moment grew nearer and nearer. Sadly as with most events in this city the term “fashionably late” was taken to heart. It was certainly there loss though as they missed a chance to experience two wonderful acts. By this time though the pit below me was full of people who visibly grew with anticipation and the seats were filling rapidly. The arena suddenly went dark and then individual red lights began to illuminate the stage to the tune of an M83 single. Snow Patrol finally strolled onto stage, took their places, and when they burst into “Spitting Games” the main event was on and it was the beginning to truly an amazing performance.
They covered nearly the entirety of their latest LP Hands Open while harkening back to Final Straw for numerous outstanding songs as well Lead singer and self-proclaimed average guitarist Gary Lightbody’s contagious smile spread throughout the night as the band serenaded the audience with songs such as the “Chocolate” which graced the soundtrack for the film “The Last Kiss”, “How To Be Dead” with some of my all time favorite lyrics ”Dr. Jekyll is wresting Hyde, for my pride” Bright beautiful lights flashed, swirled and illuminated the stage and the fog that flooded it periodically. At one point a certain young lady’s night was made as she was selected to come up on stage and perform Martha Wainwright’s vocal harmony of the hauntingly beautiful “Set Fire To The Third Bar”. In what was revealed by Gary to be a rare revelation the young lady admitted to knowing the words but not being able to sing; having been to a karaoke bar before I can attest to the fact that her singing certainly could have been worse.
Midway through the set Snow Patrol gave the majority of the crowd what they were waiting for as their hit single “Chasing Cars” echoed throughout. It was dedicated to a couple up front who Gary had spotted kissing. The crowd sang along, joining in the vulnerability of the song and the band in its entirety really seemed to draw off of this energy. Not to be outdone, their first hit single “Run” inspired a vocal, audience participation as well. As the song closed with the music fading the theatre echoed singing along with Gary “Light up, light up, as if you have a choice. Even if you cannot hear my voice I’ll be right beside you dear”. “Run” is one of my all time favorite songs, hearing it live, singing along while in that setting was certainly moving.
The highlight of my night came in the encore. The theatre was deafening as claps and cheers echoed throughout in an audible pleading for just a few more songs. Finally emerging from the darkness an orange light shined upon the keyboard as dueling notes of keys began to play the opening of what can only be described as an amazing, glorious, perfect performance of “The Finish Line”. Watching Gary’s arms reach stretch out above him as if he were trying to find heaven only helped to inspire the awe that song produced. It is such a gorgeous song on the LP, amazingly live it becomes a masterpiece. They ended the night on a high with “Open Your Eyes” like a rock n’ roll nightcap to a wonderful night.
There are some bands that amaze you with stellar musicians. There are some whose sound is so explosive you are left awestruck. To me, Snow Patrol has always been a band who has amazed me with their music’s intimacy. It is almost as if each song was written for the soundtrack to my life. That somehow they have glanced into my soul and penned the perfect tune to coincide with each and every little moment. The most wonderful thing is that I am sure every one of their fans feels the exact same way.
This show possessed this same intimacy. The music swirled full of emotions pulling and playing upon tender heart strings. I was reminded on this night of how music can be a solace. How it can help heal. I left Nokia Theatre smiling more pure than I have in many days. I owe this to Silversun Pickups, OK Go and most of all to Snow Patrol.
Truthfully there are no words to express my joy garnished from the night. Nothing I can say will really do justice to what was experienced. So I will close with this quote from Friedrich Nietzsche as it just about says it all, – “Without music life would be a mistake.” I certainly agree.
