secret fireworks

photo credit: cheryl http://www.flickr.com/photos/24120498@N07/

Snow Patrol. Everyone's got an opinion on them. From the diehard fans that hold them up as a shining example of the Northern Irish music scene to those that would prefer to listen to screaming chainsaws. Personally, I'm quite a big fan- ever since I listened to Final Straw, I fell in love with the simplicity of the band. My favourite album was When It's All Over And Done We Still Have To Clear Up, which is simply a masterpiece. However, I was always disappointed with the live performances. Gary simply could not sing live, bless. However, we've been patient, and he's improved a hell of a lot.


Saturday's gig at the Odyssey was the second best I've seen in the Odyssey, and it was wonderful. First of all, the two support bands in Ed Zealous and General Fiasco were superb. Ed Zealous really got things going with their set- The Mothership was simply rocking, with wonderful interplay between the guitars and the keyboards. The riffs soar and slide, but the highlight of Ed Zealous' set would have to be due to Paul Irwin, the drummer. My goodness, I have never seen such a drummer on the local scene in this genre. The rhythms are complex and appropriate: he never showboats but he steals the spotlight constantly. The best song of the set has to be "I Will Destroy You" which thrilled and creeped the hell out of me at the same time. It sounds ominous and, well stalkerish. Think She's So Heavy by the Beatles. Minor, sharp vocals, great drumwork, just lovely. A tiny, tiny point that James McAvoy might perhaps pick up on is that while it's great to talk to the crowd, you don't have to keep asking how they all are every break between songs. But hey, he was probably nervous. A lot was asked of Ed Zealous when they were given the slot- and my god, how well did they answer.

General Fiasco were the better of the two supports- on another day, they could have been the best band in the Odyssey. They rocked the place with a ridiculously professional performance from a band that looked like playing the main venue in Northern Ireland was just a walk in the park for them. Owen's vocals, as ever, are stunning. I mean, it's rare to see a frontman that can be note perfect from start to finish and Owen is just one of these guys. As opposed to their Stiff Kitten gig it's not a wall of noise from GF tonight- the guitar lines are ringing out superbly. Something Sometime goes down very well with the crowd, and you're singing along without thinking about it.. the highlight of their set was a song that I haven't heard before- the guitar line sounds a little similar to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (always, ALWAYS a good thing) and the lyrics are imaginative and clever. These lads are more than just two song wonders.

After the numerous Blackberry ads and obligatory Kings of Leon video, Snow Patrol take to the stage with "If There's A Rocket Tie Me To It", from A Hundred Million Suns. Lightbody and company start the gig like they finish it: they're note perfect, their performance has improved dramatically and Gary's voice is superb. Simply superb. Unrecognisable from the Gary Lightbody that took to the Ulster Hall for the Final Straw homecoming in 2004. The lights show is simply a feast for the eyes, with yellow light streaming out from everywhere and gorgeous visuals for all to see. One thing that particularly makes me feel all happy inside is the reaction of the band. They look like children at Christmas. Nathan and Gary are all smiles and laughing, while Paul and Jonny can barely keep their composure. The atmosphere is amazing.

We love Snow Patrol and they're happy to see us. Gary keeps thanking us and they keep knocking out the hits. "Chocolate" and "Hands Open" are played, with Gary making a small reference to Belfast and we go crazy with delight. He said the name of our city! In a song!

The band have been touring all over the world now over the past four years and it's really starting to show. There's an air of showmanship tonight- running all over the stage, playing to the crowd, it's class. "How To Be Dead" is reinvented on stage and it's nice to hear an older tune- then Gary announces that the legend that is Richard Coburn (from Belle and Sebastian) is on stage drumming tonight. It's that kind of night- this is Snow Patrol's homecoming, and they've brought a few friends with them.

And my my, it's easy to rock the Odyssey. To bring it down a notch and play a slower song takes guts and skill, and how well did Snow Patrol pull it off. The gorgeous musicbox keyboards ring out as "You Could Be Happy" starts up, and once again, Gary's vocals are wonderful. I can't state enough the massive improvement that has taken place. Then, surprisingly early, we hear those first few chords of "Run", and we go a little beserk. Leona Lewis' version of "Run" may be moving, but it's nothing compared to 10,000 people singing in perfect harmony. It's stunning. Claps ring out around the Odyssey and it just feels so special.

The encore of "The Lightning Strike" is stunning. I talked about the feast for the eyes that was the light show, but the video for this symphony is mesmerising. It's just hypnotising as the flowers make shapes and spawn. "What If The Storm Ends?" sounds better live than it does on CD- it's the best track on A Hundred Million Suns and if this is the direction Snow Patrol is heading in, I will be a very happy man.

All in all, it is a professional and gorgeous performance. It's a shame nothing was played from the first two albums, and Gary's mic completely drowned out the harmonies- a complete crime considering the complex vocal layers that SP are famed for- but they've set the bar pretty high for any acts from here. The spotlight was literally on Mr Lightbody for the entire show and he shone. Snow Patrol pleaded for mothers and fathers of the world to be patient with their children- that patience has certainly paid off.

Labels: ed zealous, general fiasco, snow patrol

The smell of pizza fills the air as we walk into the Black Box cafe for tonight’s Unconvention showcase, featuring more than 10 local acts from across the musical spectrum upon two different stages.


Seven Summits kicked off proceedings with a simple yet gorgeous set full of beautiful harmonies. The temptation for many bands is to cover weak songwriting or a lack of talent by simply making a lot a noise but it’s clearly not the case for these guys- Rory’s voice is hauntingly beautiful at times, and the songs certainly stand out even when they’re stripped back to just an acoustic guitar and a bass. “Stairs” and “Lemonade” were just two highlights.

Robert Holmes greeted us with a dark, eerie set that immediately grabs your attention. Once again he excels in the stripped back setting- despite the commotion taking place in the cafe during his set he manages to create a wonderful atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re watching something private, something raw and emotional. The vocals don’t always ring out and it’s tough to decipher the lyrics, but that just adds to the atmosphere. A wonderful performance and certainly one to watch in the next few years.

Escape Act (or rather, the lead singer, Chris Heaney) perform a very different set compared to what we’re used to. A wonderful performance of “Sullied Behave For The Stars” starts things off and it’s clear to see that this band are getting better and better. Heaney’s voice has improved tenfold- it’s much stronger and much more consistent. The new material played promises great things: while the debut album Loosely Based On Fiction contained some brilliant songs it seems the new tunes have a bit more substance and edge.



It’s the turn of the main stage now, and the best performance of the night comes from John Shelley and the Creatures. Quite frankly, it’s stunning. There’s simply not a weak song in tonight’s set, and the performance is very polished. The songs are catchy but they’re distinctive, blending folk and indie into one delightful little package. The drumming is incredible and the vocals are superb tonight. They don’t deserve to be playing in front of relatively small crowds and if their new single “Long May You Reign” does well, they’ll be a major success. Simply the best performance at this showcase.



With that in mind, it was pretty difficult for Strait Laces to follow that performance. “Romantic Issues” is a cracking song (with one of the funkiest introductions I’ve heard in a while) but the vocals, by the singer’s admission, are a little off (apparently he’s losing his voice) and it’s the same for the rest of the set- it’s energetic and there’s a lot of things going on but the vocals just aren’t there. With that in mind, it would be a little unfair to be overly critical of Strait Laces tonight.

Colenso Parade take to the stage, dressed to the nines and immediately crack things up a notch. Every song is ridiculously catchy and poppy- a talented McFly, if you will. It’s a fairly short set but my goodness, the lads give it their all. The last song “Mr Riley” sums up the band perfectly- catchy choruses, well constructed melodies, thoughful lyrics and a hell of a lot of noise.

A Plastic Rose sit at the other end of the musical spectrum- their sound is a little bit more contemplative, a little bit more moody, but they simply rock the Black Box to its foundations. The group has matured over the past few years and it’s clear to see. “Sun’s A Shadow” is jaw droppingly amazing. The whole post rock sound works so well for the lads, and probably the most stunning moment of the night is the brief moment of silence before everything goes a little bit haywire. The incredible forthcoming single “Kids Don’t Behave Like This” wraps up the set, and it’s the end to such an wonderful intimate performance.

The sound of helicopters in the background brings Ed Zealous to the stage and from the first note to the encore song it’s a non stop rollercoaster. The melodies are so well constructed and the keyboard parts intertwine perfectly with the crashing guitars. “Pretty Face” is my highlight of the set- every word is delicately chosen, with ridiculously catchy melodies and more hooks than a cloakroom. The biggest cheers of the night ring out after the encore- a great end to a night filled with superb acts. Supporting Snow Patrol in the Odyssey may be Ed Zealous’ big break- and on tonight’s performance it’s clear to see that they deserve it.

Labels: colesco parade, ed zealous, escape act, john shelly and the creatures, robert holmes, seven summits, strait laces, unconvention