Saw Snow Patrol, OK Go and Silversun Pickups last night at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
I was worried about the big venue (capacity 7,000) swallowing Snow Patrol up, but they suprisingly sounded worthy of such a big venue.
Silversun Pickups started the show and I'm giving you all a heads up - if you were going to the show to mostly see them, don't. They started early so I missed the first few songs (tix and web site said 8, we got there at 7:55 and they were 2-3 songs into their set) so get there early. They were met with genuine disinterest from the scores of teenie girls who were at the show, and in such a large venue it made it impossible to connect with them. They played most of their debut - some good some bad. Little Lover So Polite sounded good, Future Foe Scenarios started like a train wreck but finished well, and of course Lazy Eye was great. All in all a disappointment, but probably not their fault. I'm looking forward to seeing them in a smaller venue.
OK Go sounded terrible. At first I thought it was just because the venue was too big, but the truth is after hearing Snow Patrol, the venue was too big for them. They seemed to be having fun and were entertaining at times, but for the most part I found them bland. They need treadmills and silly dance tricks to be really entertaining, or maybe just a smaller venue. The jury is still out.
Snow Patrol were much more polished then the first time I saw them, and while this hurts their intimate numbers, it works for the rest - especially most of the first album. They played a long set (seemed like they played everything) and then a three song encore, but not once did I feel like they're dragging this out. The set list was pretty close to other set lists I've seen and it was pretty enjoyable show. They are what they are, and if you go to see them for some earth shaking, it's not going to happen. But if you want to be entertained, few things are as easily entertaining as cheesey brit pop. Gary still maintains a great stage presence (although you should brush up on your N. Irish/Scottish) and does his silly spastic movements that the girls love. He definitely entertains the teenie girls. I won't ruin all the surprises, but Betty, this is your big chance. Learn all the lyrics to Set the Fire to the Third Bar and stand in the front. Be sure to tell Gary you can sing! The lighting was simple but did it's job of not making them look small on such a big stage. A nice ending to a show that was otherwise disappointing after the first two bands.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/jacquisadler/SP/Bournemouth26Nov2006/26Nov06-BIC-P-012a.jpg" alt=" - " />
(Not from last night's show, but seems close enough)
