Editors played Webster Hall

Last night I finally got to see Editors headline a show. After they kind of blew me away during a middle of the day set at Lollapalooza in 2006, I've wanted to see them do their thing for a full length set. Webster Hall seemed a perfect venue for the event, and luckily I was able to secure a photo pass.

I was also very excited to see the first opener last night - Ra Ra Riot. I've wanted to catch the Syracuse sextet for some time now, and I was not disappointed with the band's performance. Though I don't know much of their music, my favorite track of the night was "St. Petersburg," written by the band's late drummer John Pike. It was encouraging to see the band going strong after Pike passed on only two months ago. One thing I really loved about their sound is the use of strings: they utilize cello and violin on each song. The band formed in 2006, so they're fairly young - I'm excited to see where they might go in the coming years. Lots of talent here.

Next up was Biffy Clyro. I was not familiar with these guys at all, and after last night I wish I still wasn't familiar with them. The Glasgow trio plays a variety of styles, but would fit in much better on the Warped Tour than they did last night. It all seemed too harsh for my ears. It was loud, it was unpolished...really, I didn't see or hear much that I liked, so I stepped outside for a bit to get my bearings. I won't be looking for their music anywhere anytime soon.

Editors took the stage to a highly energetic crowd. Fresh off the release of their latest album, An End Has a Start, Tom Smith and co. had more ammo than the last time I saw them, and really, they played the best tracks they had. Overall I really dug their performance, though I didn't think they were as explosive as they were at Lolla. Also, I felt like it was pretty much the Tom Smith show. The lead singer was the only one that got attention the entire night - it was really accentuated by the fact that the lighting (which absolutely sucked from a photographer's standpoint) only really shined on him. It just felt unfair to the other extraordinarily talented members of the quartet.

Still, the Brits did their part in riling up the crowd by playing their post-punk revival hits. They played a pretty even split between An End and their debut sensation, The Back Room, but the highlight of the night was clearly "Munich." Smith's energy and Chris Urbanowicz's screaming guitar combined with the audience's unadorned love for the track was simply brilliant. I loved that moment, but I was also really excited for the encore, which included rarity "You Are Fading," their latest big single "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" and one of the tightest tracks off of The Back Room, "Fingers in the Factories."

I'd definitely recommend seeing Editors in concert - same goes for Ra Ra Riot. While their recordings have indeed found a place in my heart, the truth is that before I saw them in concert, I didn't give them much praise. See them, and you will be converted. Even if you think they are an Interpol knockoff, they do their own thing, and they do it damn well.

More photos here.

Editors setlist:
Bones
Bullets
An End Has a Start
Blood
Fall
Escape the Nest
All Sparks
When Anger Shows
Lights
The Racing Rats
Weight of the World
Munich
Open Your Arms

You Are Fading
Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors
Fingers in the Factories

[mp3] Editors - "You Are Fading" (Cuttings) | Not Available

[mp3] Editors - "The Racing Rats" (An End Has a Start) | iTunes

Ra Ra Riot


Biffy Clyro


Editors