Fan Blog 13/03/08 - Doncaster

Looking out the hotel window this morning, the area that last night was full with the tour buses and trucks and a hive of active due to the load out, is now empty. The only evidence of last nights gig is the garbage truck feasting on the pile of rubbish bags like some trash devouring monster.

No doubt the crew are already parked up beside the Apollo in Manchester ahead of tonight’s gig. Some may be sleeping; others may be already unloading the gear. We, of course will catch them up later for what will be our last gig before heading back up north to Edinburgh. But there are more important matters at hand first, namely the Haribo shop in Pontefract. Which, we are currently heading to, and then on to the Trafford Centre for a bit more of retail therapy.

Coming off the back of the Birmingham gig. The Dome provided an up close and intimate experience for both the band and the crowd. Basically it was a gig in a gym hall that was narrower than it was wide. Think, American college movie on prom night, and you will get the idea of the dimensions. Gone was the high stage (the front barrier was taller than it) and the huge gap between the band and the front row. The light rigging that usually sits just behind Ed was now strung up above the projector screen instead of below it and with fewer lights attached. 

We interrupt this blog to bring you a weather update….. Hail stones and sunshine.

Needless to say the gig was fabby. Both crowd and band were buzzing like a really really hyper buzzy thing that had just been given a shot of an extra strong buzz pick me up. Maybe it was the day off that gave the band time to recharge after giving their all four nights in a row or maybe it was the hyper crowd, helped in their jumping up and down by the wooden floor, that lead to such a powerful and electric gig. 

For me it was all those things and more. What such a small venue did was to dilute the usual boundaries between band and crowd and force us together within the confines of its small space. They were right there in front of us and we, the sweaty screaming crowd, were right there, in their faces. There was nowhere to hide for either side. Each feeding of the others energy and passion and inspiring both to give even more (which we both did). And if both parties wanted to do so, they could reach out and touch one another. And as it turned out someone on our side broke ranks and made it on to their terrain during Smokers. Thankfully he was happy to have a quick boogie before being escorted away.

Other things of note on the night were Tom standing aloft his piano only twice. Maybe he was worried about banging his head (yes that semi-pun is intended) on the low ceiling. The projector wasn’t used as much as is had been. Must confess the old couple dancing amongst the glitter balls and lights was missed during Push Your Head Towards The Air as it lends a nice warm fuzzy feeling to the song. And of course there were the most pullouts I have seen on the tour so far.

So on to Manchester.

Gary

5:42 AM - 8 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Fan Blog 06/03/08 - Glasgow

Months of waiting had came to an end finally entered through the doors of Glasgow Carling Academy after waiting impatiently for an hour or so in the rain outside. Amazingly, me and a few friends were the first people to enter the venue and we were downstairs standing. Quickly we made our way to the barriers and waited for the gig to start. It wasn't that long until the first supporting act came on. They were called "Broken records". I think they were a band from Edinburgh. and they were really good. Sounded slightly like arcade fire, with a twist as they had a violin player in the band. They placed their set and the second supporting act came on. They were called "Make model". They were very good also, with clever guitar riffs and great drum beats, however nothing compared to editors, who came on next. Everyone waited with their eyes fixed on stage waiting for them to come on. Eventually, the band walked on stage casually. The crowd cheered and clapped as editors walked on stage. Suprisingly, editors started with camera, from the back room. They croud sang with Tom as he played the opening synthesizer; it was a fantastic response! without introduction, or even a 10 second break between songs, the bass drum boomed as Editors burst into an end has a start. The crowd went crazy! Editors then went to play a few favorites from the back room, including, "All sparks", "Blood", "Lights" and "Bullets". All of which was a complete riot. Tom Smith was a possessed man as he leaned over the front of the stage during blood and even walked on top of the piano a few times. I struggled to capture pictures that were not blurry as he was moving around so much - he was so lively.
Editors then played push your head towards the air. It got a fantastic reception, and most people in the crowd knew all the words and sang along with tom. Russell Leech played the piano at this point and tom played an acoustic guitar. It was truly amazing. Editors also played "Smokers outside the hospital doors" and "Escape the nest" as well as "Bones" which all were absolutely unbelievable. As Tom leaned over the stage people reached out their arms trying to make contact with him as he was making the crowd go wild.
The editors then walked off stage..... but that wasn't for long as there was an encore. There were an uproar as editors walked back on stage and the roars got louder as tom played the first chords of the racing rats on the piano. Editors also played lullaby, a song by the cure. Which, they claimed, was the first time they played it live. Next they played a five-ten minute jamming session, which was also good and they finished with fingers in the factories which sent the crowds jumping uncontrollably. Editors walked off stage and they left the audience looking at each other in astonishment. What a performance.

- Liam Diamond

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Fan Blog 28/02/08 - Belfast
Category: Blogging

What an incredible night!  8 10 pm and the 'doors' finally opened!  Both the excitement and the anticipation of a night to remember were tangible in and around the vicinity of Mandela Hall.  From my excellent viewpoint of 'centre stage upper level', I could feel, see and hear the excitement rising – 'It's just like a Liverpool football match' exclaimed the highly excited young student behind me as members of the audience began to chant in anticipation of the pleasures awaiting them.  Finally, Mobius Band arrived on stage … their six 'performances' ensured that the audience was suitably 'warmed' ready for the highly awaited and longed for Editors!  Was Russell really watching Mobius perform from amidst the thronging crowd … or was it his twin brother???

Finally E D I T OR S arrived to huge applause and a little liquid refreshment in the form of a few beers thrown at the stage – great dodging Chris!  The sounds of the longed for Camera (Forum members knew that this was imminent) filled the air with an eerie expectation and the audience went wild with a mixture of excitement and pure unadulterated joy. 

Our lads rose to the challenge of performing on a small stage and seemed to be aware of and responded enthusiastically to the amusing and fanatical antics of a few members of their audience. 

Highlights of the evening included magnificent renditions of Bones, Munich and Smokers … Smokers was so incredible that I could not prevent the tears from streaming down my cheeks!

E D I T OR S – one huge request – please, please continue to 'perform' in small venues like Mandela Hall because we love and need to be close enough to see the sweat dripping from your faces!!!!

Mary F

xx

6:19 AM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Limited edition single release

Push Your Head Towards The Air will be released on 3rd March and limited to 500 copies of each format, complete with a sticker sheet inside the sleeve.

It will be available on 2-Track CD, Maxi CD and as a 7" Vinyl, as well as a download on 2nd March.

You can pre-order all 3 formats for a bundle deal price of £5 from here.

10:06 AM - 8 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Fan Blog 21/02/08 - New York

Naysayers would call the line up of Editors / Hot Hot Heat / Louis XIV a bunch of former buzz bands trying to break it back into the business. Fans would call it a bunch of former buzz bands still holding strong and holding their own. After last nights performance by all three acts at New York City's Terminal 5, all the naysayers can quickly shut their mouths.
2004 buzz band Louis XIV opened the show and played NYC for the first time three years. Singer Jason Hill was probably one of the most frightened front man I have ever seen, full knowing that a New York crowd will make or break his career and could ruin the bands re surging hype. Jason Hill and his band mates have nothing to fear, opening the show and raising the bar on a tight set playing songs from their debut The Best Little Secrets Are Kept and their latest Slick Dogs and Ponies (Due at end of month). This is a band who I never really cared for, but after displaying fantastic musicianship, energy and performance, I can understand why people take to them. What they lack on an album, they make up for live. After raising the bar and foreshadowing what was to come, Louis XIV made room for the rest of the nights acts to take the torch even further.
2003 buzz band Canada's Hot Hot Heat, ignited the stage and looked like they have so much fun doing what they do. Really getting the crowd involved and dancing away with their hybrid of new wave-rock-electro, they did not disappoint. Playing all of their hits, including "Bandages," "No Not Now," "Middle of Nowhere," and "Goodnight, Goodnight." Their catalogue of hits and songs you have defiantly herd before-but never knew who sang them, made their set all the more enjoyable. With Hot Hot Heat, once again the bar was raised.
2006 buzzers and headliners Editors had a heavy weight to lift with openers as fantastic as Louis XIV and Hot Hot Heat. Birmingham England's pride hit the stage with their sound resembling a better version of Interpol and displaying a heavy influence from fellow UK acts such as Coldplay, Joy Division and Duran Duran. Singer Tom Smith played his guitar and jumped around on stage, banging his piano as if he was Chris Martin on crack. Smith's deep brash voice is one of the key elements to the bands sound and he never missed a beat. Playing a majority of songs off 2007's An End Has A Start, Editors barnstormed a dance heavy set and looked as if they had no signs of stopping. I can understand now, why in the past 12 months they have played New York City a total of three times (excluding last night) and all three times there shows sell out so fast. Last night at Terminal 5 was no exception.

Salvatore Bono

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Fan Blog 14/02/08 - Portland

After trudging through the pouring rain, I had the privilege of seeing EDITORS perform at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon on February 11.  I can't believe that this band is still playing such small venues, but I was lucky to catch them in such an intimate setting.  Seeing EDITORS live for the first time, I was blown away by their spectacular stage presence and musicianship; this is a band that you must see live in order to appreciate fully.  Tom was all over the stage (and the piano at some points), and his voice is so powerful live. 

The hour set included a good mix of songs from both albums: Munich, An End Has A Start, Blood, The Racing Rats, Bullets, All Sparks, etc.  The encore included the new single 'Push Your head Towards The Air' (Tom said it was their first time playing it live) with Tom on acoustic guitar and Russell on piano (beautiful), then You Are Fading, Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors, and Fingers In The Factories.

Even if you are only a casual fan, see EDITORS live - you will not regret it.  If I had the money, I'd fly to San Diego and Las Vegas to see their shows this coming week; they were that good. Thanks, guys, for a wonderful show, and please come back to Portland soon!!

-Lisa McCasline

7:04 AM - 11 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Fan Blog 07/02/08 - Denver

Greetings! I wasn't familiar with the Editors' music, but the band's Denver show happened to fall on my birthday, and I was familiar with the two opening acts, Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV. So I told my wife it'd be a fun way to spend my birthday. Well, we enjoyed the two openers, but the Editors blew us away. The band's sound system was so loud, it made the hairs on my arms move. But even at its most frenzied, the music was crystal-clear; every note, every beat, even Tom Smith's breaths between lines were not only distinct in the mix, but I could place them spatially. The light show was, by far, the biggest and best I've ever seen at the Ogden Theatre. And the band's style and songs were great. I went out that weekend and picked up *The Back Room* and *An End Has a Start*. Terrific stuff! Thank you, Editors, for an excellent birthday party. (I never even knew you cared!)

Delvin Neugebauer

10:15 AM - 16 Comments - 23 Kudos - Add Comment

Single pre-order information

Push Your Head Towards The Air will be released in the UK on March 3rd and will be available on CD, Maxi CD and limited edition 7" vinyl. You can pre-order all 3 formats for a bundle price of £5 from here.

Watch the video now on the website or through iLike.

2:59 AM - 8 Comments - 9 Kudos - Add Comment

Next single release

On 3rd March Editors will release their 4th single; 'Push Your Head Towards The Air', from the number one platinum selling album 'An End Has A Start'.

The release is a new mix of the album track and is live now on MySpace for you to listen to. We will bring you more information on format and pre-order details, plus of course the artwork and video shortly. 

2:56 AM - 23 Comments - 24 Kudos - Add Comment

Brits nomination

It was announced last night that Editors have been nominated in the 'Best British Group' category for this years Brit Awards.

The awards will be televised live from London's Earls Court on ITV1 at 8pm, Wednesday 20th February. For more information and to see the full list of nominations go to www.brits.co.uk.

2:55 AM - 11 Comments - 16 Kudos - Add Comment