Snow Patrol
Biography
Featuring a fusion of several alternative stylistic touchstones, Snow Patrol's compositions combine songwriting aptitude with pop/rock's sharpest strains. Although originally from Northern Ireland, vocalist/guitarist Gary Lightbody and bassist/keyboardist Mark McClelland first teamed up in 1994 at the University of Dundee, having relocated to Scotland for college. The duo began composing music under several different band names, including Shrug and Polar Bear, before adopting the Snow Patrol moniker and enlisting Jonny Quinn to play drums in 1997. They signed with the U.K.'s Jeepster label in 1998 and released their debut album, Songs for Polar Bears, in August of that same year. The record was a large success across the U.K., where the bandmates also gained a large fan base for their live show.
The British trio graduated from school and decided to relocate from Dundee to Glasgow in late 2000. Their second full-length, When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up, was released in April 2001. Quickly thereafter, guitarist Nathan Connolly was added to the group, and Snow Patrol found themselves a deal with Polydor. Producer Chris Lord-Alge signed on for the release of Final Straw, which appeared stateside in April 2004. With the success of singles such as "Chocolate," "Run," and "Spitting Games," Final Straw sold two million copies in the band's native U.K. and became the 26th most popular British album of that year. Despite the band's growing success, founding member Mark McClelland left in March 2005, effectively downgrading Snow Patrol to a trio comprised of Lightbody, Quinn, and Connolly. Shortly thereafter, former Terra Diablo bass player Paul Wilson and touring keyboardist Tom Simpson were permanently added to the band.
An opening slot on the European leg of U2's Vertigo Tour followed in summer 2005, and Snow Patrol's fourth album, the slickly commercial Eyes Open, arrived in May 2006. One year later, with a successful run through North America under their belt and the mainstream appeal of "Chasing Cars" maintaining the band's presence on American radio, Eyes Open was certified gold in the United States. It later rose to platinum status. Snow Patrol also became the first U.K. rock act in 13 years to break into the Top Five of the Billboard singles charts, a feat they sought to revisit with the release of 2008's A Hundred Million Suns. Led by the single "Take Back the City," the album featured an emphasis on positive, romantic lyrics, something that Gary Lightbody had pointedly shunned in the past. ~ Mario Mesquita Borges & Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
"A Hundred Million Suns" What a great CD. "If There's a rocket tie me to it" and "The planets bend between us" are such good songs. F---! their all great.
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Just saw SP live, and they put on a great show! Can't wait for Just Say Yes to be on Pandora/iTun e s !
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How do I begin to explain the effect of Gary Lightbody's voice on my sences other than to say it carries me away to a wonderful place.
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I also thought they were quite impressive opening up for U2 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
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Saw them at U2 opener at Soldier Field. Had never heard of them. Best opening band I have ever seen. Very impressive. Thoughtful lyrics, well-written music, great layered arrangements played by a tight group. Looking forward to hearing more!
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Holy crap, saw them live in Minneapolis last night and they played an INCREDIBLE show. Despite some serious technical difficulties they performed superbly. Met some of them at the stage door afterward too (Gary, Paul and Tom) and they were fantasticall y patient, friendly and personable. Just makes me love the music even more.
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Dude, if you don't like the band...don't comment, there's no sense in going on to there page to insult them, unless you like to be screamed at
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not bad... they sound sorta like the strokes, but worse, and i think they have an album after 2006, like 100 million sdtars or something
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This band is way more than Chasing Cars! They have better songs, and more rock sounding, than that hit.
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I was excited, too. They're only touring with Coldplay during June, and when I found out, I thought maybe I am capable of having good luck. Absolutely amazing bands, both of them. :) There's an interview with them on Coldplay's website, by the way.
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Brilliant band! I was uber excited when I discovered they opened up at the Coldplay concert I went to.
Love the music! |
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just saw them in concert opening for coldplay and realized they were from Ireland...ma k e s em even better ;)
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In a naked slummber, you bath in the light of day, cause the daylight wants you as much as I do.
Say this to a woman and she is yours. Christina |
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No! The songs are too good!
This is an awesome band. Eyes Open is definitely their best album, and Final Straw is great too. I didn't love A Hundred Million Suns at first, but it defititely grew on me and I love the first and last tracks on that album. Love this band :) |
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Does anyone know why they called Snow Patrol? They are quite the amazing - I have a few bands last ten years jumped to my rotation and they are a big one.
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the band is amazing, you just need to find the right songs. Eyes Open and A Hundred Million Suns are their best albums, along with a few songs on Final Straw. Oh and by the way they are not emo. If you think they are then you need to check the definition of emo. |
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I LOVE ROMANTICS! AND WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT FEELING WHAT YOU FEEL DEEP DPOWN INSIDE? IT'S O.K. TO FEEL! EVEN IF YOU ARE A GUY, I THINK TRUE MATURE WOMEN LOVE A MAN WITH FEELINGS!!!! YALL ARE GREAT! CRYSTAL MARIE
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This is a band that I will never admit to liking except on Pandora. I'm sorry Snow Patrol if you are reading this, but if my friends ever found out I like you guys I would be jeered to death. This band goes beyond emo into super-emo, and everyone who likes them (like me) has to admit that deep down inside they are sappy suckers who are pathetic romantics.
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No, they suck. Whiny, slow and boring, what more could i NOT want? Any band that is compared to The Fray should be castrated. Too bad they have no testicles. What a bunch of douche-f*gs.
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