Snow Patrol

Tonight is a triumph of sorts. On one hand, NI's most successful band are playing the largest outdoor gig in the country's history in the town that birthed them. On the other, it unfortunately means that there are thousands of fuckwits here that seem hell-bent on ruining it for everyone (and we're not just talking about the scary, bible-tract toting Christians outside the gates). In fact, when we later vox pop the crowd, there were too many who confessed, “I don't know any Snow Patrol songs. I'm just here to get pissed.” But I digress.
In an effort to enjoy the music, Hot Press elbows its way to the front to take in the near two-hour show with the faithful. Kicking off tonight's set with 'Open Your Eyes', nerves seem to have nobbled Snow Patrol as they get off to a shaky start, but after a quick run-through of 'Take Back The City' and 'Chocolate' the lighters are aloft, the boys are starting to gel and the beaming band begin to work their magic. Admittedly, frontman Gary Lightbody still looks slightly bemused standing in front of a field of thousands, but six years on from when his group first assaulted the mainstream with breakthrough song 'Run,' his nerdiy persona just adds to his charm, and he's matured into a consummate performer. Speaking of their first big single, it's taken on a new form tonight and comes complete with a string section and a cast of 40,000 voices. Also getting the “reworked” treatment are 'Spitting Games' and 'The Planets Bend Between Us', confirming that Snow Patrol are putting their hearts into the performance rather than just phoning it in.
Set highlights include the beautiful 'You Could Be Happy' and 'Set The Fire To The Third Bar' (which sees support act Lisa Hannigan join the band onstage to assume Martha Wainwright's role) and new song 'Big Broken' goes a long way towards showing that there's more to come in Snow Patrol's much-storied career. While the gulf between both sets of fans threatens to ruin the vibe during the middle part of the show, the hardcore followers and the suited and booted picnickers at the back unite as one for the likes of 'Chasing Cars' and over-familiar as it may seem, it's hard not to be touched by the performance.
As the band bound back onstage for the encore of 'Just Say Yes' and 'You're All I Have', Lightbody (now clad in a Northern Ireland football jersey) looks particularly pleased with himself and rightly so, as his sometimes temperamental voice has been flawless in front of this record breaking crowd. Where Snow Patrol go from here is anyone's guess, but for now, we'll let them enjoy the fact that they're currently (in Northern Ireland at least) bigger than U2. Bono'd better watch his back.