Spring is for Concerts 

15 Apr 2012

Spring is for concerts

That's a famous quote, eh?

Actually, it's not. While "Spring is for" turns up something like 2.3 billion results on the Google, "Spring is for concerts" turns up two. And, coincidentally, one of those results happens to refer to a different stop on of a tour that spawned this post.

Did that make sense?

Regardless of the nonsensicalness of the previous couple of sentences, I've seen a bunch of shows this spring (both with and without my wonderful girlfriend). Much of that has been documented on ye old Twitter and previously on ye old blog.

But, we lucked into some good seats to a couple of really great shows, and felt that it deserved a bit of verbage.

A little over a week ago, I saw Nada Surf play for the fifth or sixth time. As always, they were just fantastic. There are bands that just know how to play to a crowd and they connect in that way where it's not just the music, but you feel like you're actually hanging out with a big group of people and experiencing something unique (even if it's quite likely they pull off the same schtick in every city). Nada Surf is always like that.

This time did feel a bit more unique, as they covered a tune by The Gravel Pit (a Boston band they toured with back in the day), which probably doesn't happen everywhere (though, judging by setlists, at least happened in New York as well.)

About a week later, the girlfriend and I went to see Snow Patrol. There's a bit of backstory here. This was sort of our "bonding" band, as 2005-era Snow Patrol was a perfect bridge band between poppier music and "indie rock." So, they're kind of a foundation for our relationship.

Go us.

A few years back, we got ok seats to see Snow Patrol open for U2 at Gillette Stadium. We left super early so we could get to our seats and catch the opener. What could go wrong?

3.5 hours of traffic (on what should be a 40 minute drive) got us to the arena in time to have Snow Patrol leave the stage.

Perfect.

Cut to a couple of months ago. Snow Patrol sold out The Orpheum, but I found some "obstructed view" seats on StubHub.

Turns out, we were obstructed by the stage. Probably the best seats I've ever had for a "big" show. And, with the exception of not playing "Spitting Games", Snow Patrol were another band that made a big, likely routine for them, show feel somewhat unique and intimate.

Being in the front row didn't hurt.