Snow Patrol Square Pants

Taking to the stage with a backing track, Snow Patrol instantly launched into 'Spitting Games'. Three years ago this was the song everyone screamed for on the bands' first sold-out US tour. The song that everyone sang along to and was held until further into the set. Clearly not the case anymore. Snow Patrol quickly played 'Wow' and 'Chocolate' in quick succession, before dedicating 'It's Beginning to Get Me' to the audience. With a rare day off the day before, the band went about town, shopping at local stores and lead singer Gary Lightbody's shirt alluded to and going to Kell's. This then segwayed into him dedicating the next track 'Headlights' to his mother's own brew. And then the moment most of the audience was undoubtedly looking forward to, the band played the ambiguous 'Chasing Cars' letting the audience sing the majority of the tune without lead Gary. It's amazing how Grey's Anatomy can change a band's biggest song.

While the rest of the members stayed predictably silent, Gary playfully entertained all in between several of their songs. At one point he believed that he'd heard a request from a native Glaswegian and then proceeded to provide his own impression of the accent. Later from squeals from the balcony, he took that the girls were asking him to take his pants off. That lead to a dialogue that would rival any stand-up routine-at least one from a half-funny, but endearing-to-the-point-of-making-up-for-any-shortcomings Irishman. He insisted on how skinny his legs were- detailing among other things that he uses foam and polystyrene to make them appear normal.
Gary apologized profusely at regular intervals during their hour and a half long set for Snow Patrol's repeated failure to perform in Portland, canceling their June date due to palyups and their August waterfront date due to travel restrictions that eventually left them stranded in Oslo.

Returning to rapturous feet stomping after closing their set to 'You're All I Have', they returned for a two song encore of 'Open Your Eyes'-featured in this week's edition of Grey's Anatomy and 'Tiny Little Fractures'. Gary's uncontrollable giddyness was easily viewable inside of every camera's viewfinder. Being a rare act to allow cameras into the Roseland, Snow Patrol got what they welcomed-certain instances made it seem as if every attendee had a camera in part to spontaneous flashes and that arms were raised with cameras in every direction. Surprisingly their set didn't include lead single 'Hands Open', but it's absence did not disappoint as the entire evening felt like a celebration, even bringing the balcony to stand up.