11.06.07
It’s not for the cock, it’s for both an end and a start.
Editors, Rock City, 25/10/07.
Although this was the first time I’d seen Editors play a headline show it was not my first experience of the Birmingham four piece live. I had seen a handful of medicore festival and support shows before 2005’s ‘The Back Room’ was released and although I always appreciated their first album I would never have never called myself a fan if it wasn’t for tonight’s epic performance.
It would be here that I’d give a mention to the performances of the evening’s opening acts, Ra Ra Riot and The Kissaway Trail, but sadly I missed them due it being an early show tonight so the students of Nottingham didn’t have to wait any later than ten to dance on a stage and neck cheeky vimtos like there’s no tomorrow. Instead I’ll let you know what I missed out on. Ra Ra Riot are a delightful New York six piece who sound like a more folky version of Los Campesinos! and really did the festival rounds this Summer. Danish act The Kissaway Trail are a far less light hearted support whose massive sound has led to many comparisons with Arcade Fire.
Somewhere between light hearted and serious lies uplifting and that’s where Editors were tonight. The live experience is full of passion and enthusiasm and whips the audience into euphoric hysteria. The drums are far more prominent live than recorded and gives songs such as ‘Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors’ more dramatic and powerful openings and the complex beats contrast wonderfully with Tom’s strong, but simple, vocals.
The band make an undramatic, silent entrance to the dimly lit stage and as the opening chords to ‘Bones’ ensue and blue light floods the stage the sell out audience are barely given a chance to acknowladge them. As soon as the bass and drums kick in though it’s clear that Editors know that they can just let their music do the talking as the crowd is instantly in their hands. They’re cheering with admiration, worshiping with their arms in the air, singing along and jumping just to get that little bit closer to their heros.
The never ending comparisons with Joy Division and Interpol could easily allow one to see Editors as having a dark and depressing sound but the songs with more somber lyrics have a wonderfully cleansing power live. As Tom softly sings about pain and heartbreak while backed by powerful, epic guitars people all around close their eyes and put their hands in the air and the ending seems to leave nothing but smiles. While the truly optimistic songs such as ‘Push Your Head Towards The Air’ put tears of joy into the eyes of those both on and off the stage. Those comparisons are still justifiable though, it’s impossible to listen to Tom’s powerful and sometimes haunting baritone vocals and not think of Ian Curtis while Ed Lays drumming is creative and complex in a similar way to Interpol Drummer Sam Fogarino.
The band play excellently together and their songs only benefit from being played live sounding immense as they fill the small, packed out rock city. Tom is also a gracious frontman telling his adoring fans ‘I can’t believe we’ve never played here before’ and calling the evening ‘a perfect end to our English leg of the tour’. He is also a fervid and impulsive performer, climbing his piano and the drums and rolling around the stage like he’s headlining the biggest festival of his life. As I watched him breathlessly grin at the end of ‘Escape The Nest’ I couldn’t help but wonder if Ian Curtis could have been capable of such a big sound and such beautiful performances if he’d got himself a nice celebrity girlfriend and just settled down. Editors make it clear tonight that moving, emotive music isn’t always born from pain and I would challenge anyone to come out of that gig without a renewed faith in love, life and, most importantly, music.
Ra Ra Riot-Ghost Under Rocks Removed
The Kissaway Trail-Smother + Evil = Hurt Removed
Editors have announced a 2008 UK tour which starts February 26th in Glasgow.
Editors-Acceptable In The 80’s (Calvin Harris Cover)
Editors-Lullaby (The Cure Cover)
Karin said,
February 1, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Have you seen The Kissaway Trail’s “La La Song” video?