As the clock struck eight, the back doors to the Ed Sullivan Theater opened and out walked Northern Ireland's Snow Patrol. With the crowd at their feet screaming and clapping, the band were smiling from ear to ear. Before even playing a note, singer Gary Lightbody had mentioned how nervous and excited he was to play such a landmark venue with his band. For a special 45-minute taping of the acclaimed Live on Letterman web series, Snow Patrol flexed a bit of muscle and took fans in the audience and at home watching on the internet on a ride through their fantastic catalogue. Opening with "Chocolate," off their breakthrough album, Final Straw, Snow Patrol knew how to get the crowds attention straight away. Going into their latest single, "Called Out in the Dark," off their new album, Fallen Empires, which finally makes its US release on Tuesday, it became a fun alternative rock and roll show. As great as the band sounded and as fantastic as the songs are, the night belonged to Lightbody, who, like most Irishmen has an amazing knack for storytelling and keeping peoples attention. Lightbody would make jokes and do fantastic banter with the audience in between songs and then go right into business when the music had to be played. Playing a selection of songs off Fallen Empires, Final Straw, A Hundred Million Suns and Eyes Open, the band that has been making music since 1994 stuck to a safe set for their limited time. It was a set that was well worth it, including songs like "Run," "New York," "Chasing Cars" and the epic show closer, their title track, "Fallen Empires." Being the band's first and only US show right now, they have just announced a slew of dates for early spring, catch them while you can, you will not be disappointed.
