In This Light and on This Evening at the Commodore: The Editors
It's not always an easy ride when bands try to break it Stateside, especially for one of the biggest selling bands in the UK. The British indie band, the Editors, have released two platinum albums, been nominated for Best British Band, headlined the biggest festivals and consistently sold out venues across Europe. One could say that they are Britain's indie darlings. So, it's understandable how a band with such an impressive resume can sometimes go slightly unheard of amongst the great mass of North America - even a venue like the Commodore Ballroom could be too small for them. Last night, however, Editors proved how easy it was with a little English charm.
With the release of their third album, In This Light and on This Evening, it was the perfect time to bring their dark indie rock to North America. Opening with the album title track on a stage just as dark as their music, the band's rawer sound and new direction was evident. Songs like “Eat Raw Meat - Blood Drool,” “the Boxer,” and their newest single “You Don't Know Love” definitely showed a more experimental route for the Editors. With the heavy use of synthesizers and drum machines, the electronic sound was a recurring theme throughout. There was also a modern day Depeche Mode sound which made a lot of sense seeing as the new album was produced by Mike 'Flood' Ellis who has collaborated with bands like U2, The Killers, and of course, Depeche Mode.
With a selection of new and old, the whole set was full of their best songs. To prove why Editors are loved worldwide, “An End has a Start,” “Blood,” “The Racing Rats” and “Bullets” were performed just as intensely as when they first arrived on the music scene back in 2005. Tom Smith took centre stage while vigorously moving from piano to guitar to synths throughout the whole performance while hypnotizing us with his deep, rich, baritone vocals. Guitarist Chris Urbanowicz and bassist Russell Leetch kept to their dark corners of the stage while occasionally assisting with the drum machine and synths while drummer Edward Lay held the energy with their stomping beats.
While the crowd remained intoxicated, the encore provided the perfect antidote with “Munich,” “Papillon” and “Fingers in the Factories” that proved the Editors have finally unlocked the doors to the other half of the world.
Setlist
1. In This Light and on This Evening
2. Lights
3. An End has a Start
4. You Don't Know Love
5. Bones
6. The Boxer
7. The Big Exit
8. Blood
9. Eat Raw Meat - Blood Drool
10. The Racing Rats
11. Walk the Fleet Road
12. Like Treasure
13. Bullets
14. Smokers
15. Bricks & Mortar
(encore)
16. Munich
17. Papillon
18. Fingers in the Factories