Photos and review by Jennie Book
@jenniebookphotography

Gary Lightbody, Snow Patrol’s frontman, is a chatty, fun, and down to earth performer who early in the evening at The Fox in Oakland on March 24^th, made mention of the fact that, due to some unseasonable Northern California weather, this day was the first time he’d been warm in months. He then took that warmth and spread it out over the crowd during the next hour and a half, giving all of us a set filled with songs old and new, with plenty of opportunities for fans to sing lyrics back to him in a full venue singalong that was clearly meaningful to everyone.

The band kicked off the 17 song set with “Take Back The City” and moved through tracks like “Called Out in the Dark” and “Crack the Shutters.” Beautiful visuals filled the back of the stage for “The Lightning Strike (What If This Storm Ends?)” which for me was a definite highlight of the night. Lightbody talked about how he sometimes physically falls down on stage and we shouldn’t be alarmed if it were to happen, and was quick to smile and engage the folks against the barricade, and during “Make This Go On Forever” dropped to his knees in front of Johnny McDaid playing keys and sang while spotlit, which was moving and dramatic. Towards the end of the main set before the encore, “Chasing Cars” began and everyone lost their minds. Released in 2006 and more than just a radio hit, there’s a reason it was the most played song of the decade in the 2000s, and it was beautiful hearing it live.

When Lightbody introduced the band, which included fellow Northern Irishmen Nathan Connolly on guitar and McDaid on keys and guitar, plus Ben Epstein on bass and backing vocals and Ash Soan on drums, it was revealed that McDaid was playing both his instruments with two broken hands. The show must go on! He didn’t miss a note.

The evening wrapped up with “What If This Is All the Love You Ever Get?” and “Just Say Yes,” after which the devoted crowd spilled out onto the sidewalk to get their late night vendor hot dogs, happy to have spent a great evening of music with such a fun and talented band.

For all the latest news, merch, and info, check out www.snowpatrol.com.