Careful Patterns in the Snow

Posted on September 14, 2004 at 12:01 pm | No Comments

Snow Patrol just returned to Boston for the third time this year, with a couple of acoustic appearances capped off by a sold-out show at the Paradise last night. It’s remarkable to see how much their area following has grown in seven short months. Their night at the much-smaller TT the Bears in February was far from sold-out, and another headlining gig at the Paradise in April was maybe half-full. Once again proving the power of heavy alt-rock airplay, the crowd went nuts last night when ‘Run’ started up. Could hear the guys behind me mutter “Dude, listen up… it’s that song.”

I hadn’t planned on catching them this time around… I’ve got that silly, uncontrollable tendency to stop paying attention once the masses get on board. I had such a great time at the TTs gig that I figured anything else would be a let down. This proved true when I saw S.P. play London in March… too massive, too packed, too many chatterers who only stop yapping when the single started up. (insert the UK translation of “Dude, listen up…” here.)

So seeing them twice in the past couple days was pure chance. Amie won tickets to a special acoustic set at ZuZu on Sunday afternoon. About thirty of us seated around Gary and Nathan as they played four songs from the most recent record, and one from 2001’s “When It’s All Over We Still Have To Clear Up”.

A surreal setting, a lazy Sunday afternoon with the bright, early-fall sunshine gleaming in the windows behind them. Not to mention the Central Square street wanderers standing close at their backs, freaking Gary out in a major way. “If they grab me, can someone come and get me?” he asks. Someone in the crowd responds: “Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.”, and Gary follows up with “Well, that’s the problem… so do they.”

I took the opportunity to test out my mp3 recorder and a crappy radio shack clip-on mic. Little hissy, a bit rumbly, but all in all, not bad. (anyone got any good clip-on stereo mic recommendations?) …

Snow Patrol

(gary & nathan acoustic)

at ZuZu, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Sunday afternoon, September 12th, 2004

1. Wow!

2. Chocolate

3. One Night Is Not Enough

4. Spitting Games

5. Run

Amie hadn’t seen Snow Patrol before (despite my promises of “You’d love ’em!”), and was pretty well enthralled by their acoustic action… smitten enough to get herself (+1 husband) on the guest list for the Paradise show. (Many thanks to the shall-remain-unnamed ‘FNX DJ who hooked us up with that. Much appreciated.)

So, yeah, last night the place was jam-packed… I raced over from a preview of Sky Captain (more on that later) just in time for the lucky parking spot and the first song. A great (if unsurprising) set and an enthusiastic audience, front row fans singing along with every word, Gary in a Red Sox jersey (#11 for Bill Mueller)… but it’s not like he needed that to endear himself to the Boston crowd.

Most amusing banter of the night: Boston’s been unfortunately overwhelmed with Jimmy Buffett fans, as he played two huge shows at Fenway Park over the weekend. Thousands of so-called “Parrot Heads” everywhere, filling up the bars, and their bellies with margaritas. I don’t know where Margartaville is, but it sure as hell isn’t supposed to be anywhere near the Northeast. Glad that’s over and done with. At least they’re not likely to linger around like Dead-Phish-heads do.

So, anyway, Gary’s up on stage and says something like: “It’s real good to be in Boston again… but what has happened to this town? What is it with all these people wearing parrots on their heads?! Aren’t they supposed to be worn on your shoulder? I mean, historically?”. Ah, pirate-flavored humor. Can’t beat it.

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