Sunday, September 09, 2007

Fragmented recollections

So I saw Snow Patrol on Friday.. And they were absolutely fabulous! Beyond fabulous. I love their music. Love it. They have to be one of my favourite bands. The two bands that came on before were good. They had a good sound, but nobody knew the words, so their art kind of fell of deaf ears.

Snow Patrol themselves were brilliant. They didn't have the big performance with dancers and special effects that some other musicians have. They didn't need it. From the first sound of the guitar, it was clear. The music was perfect. If it didn't surround you and run riot through your soul, you could easily think that they were faking it.

I swear the base in Splitting Games made me come.

When they did chasing cars, it was one of life's truly beautiful moments. I like that song. But its definitely not one of my favourites. But being there, in that moment, surrounded by the crowd singing along perfectly... The emotion in that song was truly amazing. You were there, in that moment, where the song was created. You were there, with your SO, bittersweet that your moment of perfection is going to end.

I've never been to a concert before. But I'm glad I waited. Acer Arena was packed to the ceiling. And it by the end everybody was on their feet, singing and carrying on. 21,000 people, all a part of the music. All happy to be emotionally manipulated by the art of a few people. I want to go back and do it all again.

And now... now they sound flat. Their albums are so moderated and even. Listening to the recording that was made on the night as I blog and it still sends shivers up my spine. It will be a while before I can listen to their albums without feeling let down.

Don't get me wrong. Albums = fantastic. Live = out of this world.

19 comments:

Steph said...

Nothing beats live performances, just the atmosphere alone is worth bottling.

MissE said...

Hey Phishez,

I'm really glad that your first concert experience was such a high. Mine was all the way back in 1989 in Canberra - and the sad thing is I can't remember if it was Boom Crash Opera or nineteen27 who played. I do remember being utterly thrilled at 14 to be out with my friends to listen to live music for the first time. There is nothing quite like good live music... mind you, there's nothing quite like bad live music either.

Spiky Zora Jones said...

YO...phish, hey yeah, Live is always the best. I actually like live CDs the best too. I've been to lots of concerts and plays in the Southern Cal area. Anything LIVE totally rocks.
You know in the Staple Center in L.A. you have to get good seats otherwise you can't see and the sound is crappy. It's great for Lakers basketball games but for concerts...it sucks, unless you have close up almost on stage seats or you're part of the band.

Babes...have you ever heard Orson? They're an L.A. band. I love "No Tomorrow." That is my song...for now, next week who knows. Check out the vid on YouTube.
Ciao babes.

Unknown said...

I've, too, found live preferable to record music. Except, perhaps, when you're stuck in lousy seats at the concert, so far away that you may as well be listening in your car in the parking lot.

Josh said...

Live music as you have just found out is an amazing thing.

For pure entertainment and crowd interaction U2 and Robbie Williams have been my best stadium concerts.

Anonymous said...

OH my GOD Misse, we might have been at the same concert! the only one I've ever been to is Boom Crash Opera in 1989 - least I think it was them and not WaWaNee? I dunno, they all so freaking tragic.

Phish, I am off to download their stuff, I only know their one hit but will go and hear more...I like them a lot.

Laura said...

I love me some Snow Patrol, I saw them in Dublin and they were amazing.

The T-Dude said...

There is nothing like live...for some acts. I saw Morrissey a few months ago and he is awesome in concert. Band tight, crowd right on, perfect. Many years ago I saw Pink Floyd, again perfect combination of technology and sound. But I saw Gwen Stephani and Black Eyed Peas and they were awful. Bad sound, bad show. Some bands are better live, some not.

sharnee said...

Im glad you liked a live show (I was kind of surprised you'd never been to one before) - you should check out the "Reindeer Section" which is made up of a few dif bands, Snow Patrol included. Very beautiful.
21,000 is a lot of people though, if you go to one with a few hundred then its much more intimate. xx

Josh said...

Sounds like they put on a good show. I'm relatively unacquainted with live music, other than recordings of live concerts... Well, live music by famous bands/performers, anyway.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater said...

Your first concert at age 24? Wow.

I hope you start going to a bunch now!

Have you listened any stuff by The Reindeer Section? I think the dude from Snow Patrol is in that band too.

fingers said...

I fucking hate Sea Patrol.
Same shitty cast, same shitty stories, same shitty hype.
It's just Blue Heelers on a boat...

Keshi said...

I've seen REM live..that was my BEST.

Keshi.

Ms Smack said...

Sea Patrol is a tv series, no? Snow Patrol is a band.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but did Fingers just sound like my NANNA?

xx

Cinema Minima said...

Live music can be pretty ordinary, but it can also be one of the most profound cultural experiences too. Sounds like it was a particularly good for you.

Ms Smack said...

KENNETH! I love the Reindeer Section!

Memphis said...

"I swear the base in Splitting Games made me come."

Shit! All those years I wasted learning guitar and now I find out that the bass is where it's at! WTF?!

I love "Chasing Cars". I bought their CD just for that song.

Anonymous said...

I heart me some Snow Patrol.

:-)

phishez said...

Steph - 'bottled atmosphere'. You could sell that as a perfume.

MissE - oooh. 80's music. I'm sure you enjoyed it!

SZJ - Haven't heard of Orson. Will have to check them out.

Nick - I swear even the cars in the parking lot would have heard it.

Josh - I wanted to go see u2 when they were in town. I'm still kicking myself that I missed it.

Betty - they're worth the bandwidth.

Oestre - aren't they just? That would have been amazing. Home crowd.

T - Snow Patrol is definitely one to see live.

Sharnee - Big, but none of it was lost.

Josh - Go get your gay arse to a concert stat!

Kenneth - Yeah, I'm kinda slow that way.

Fingers - Sea Patrol is more expensive than blue heelers.

Keshi - oooh. They would be awesome.

Smack - he sounds like my dad.

TMAP - It was better than sex. That said, it's been a while.

Steve - time to redirect those energies methinks.

Kelly - I seriously heart them too.