The Beat Surrender

Felt a bit rough all day, barely drinking related. Not particularly keen on the Refectory as a venue. Support band Kissaway Trial didn’t capture my imagination (apart from the intro into song 2- good stuff!) and then bumped into a fellow Bradford City supporter where we discussed what has been a beyond nightmarish start to the season.

All in all what could cheer me up- one of my favourite bands??

Well as look would have it Editors bounded on stage to save me from my slump. And a band revelling in confidence they certainly are. The last time I saw these guys was in the summer of last year and as good as they undoubtedly were then there sound is now tighter, fuller and lead singer Tom Smith has evolved into a superb front man with surely one of the most distinctive and powerful voices in the industry at this current time.

Engaging the audience from the opening performance of “An End Has A Start” Smith performs arm contortions that Houdini would envy and is clearly enjoying being a rock star. Quickly moving into classics such as “Bullets” and “Blood” this band are on fine form. In my mind the word “industrial” sums up Editors when attempting to describe their sound, they manage to crack out countless tunes that sound like they could have been forged in old steel mills using a lathe, a drill and a bucketful of ability.

Some songs are sit down piano affairs that are gorgeously harmonic, others are foot stomping anthems. All are winners. Fans on the new album were rewarded with forceful performances of stand out tracks “Racing Rats” and the widely acclaimed “Smokers Outside The Hospital Door”. Traditionalists (or more specifically people who preferred the first album) were treated to efforts such as “All Sparks” and a sing a long melancholic into to “Munich”. Everyone is satisfied.

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