Editors Live @ Southampton Guildhall

February 25th 2006

Review By Amber Chapman

Opening for Editors this evening were Kubichek! a young band with promising talent. Unfortunately the sound was distorted, on this particular set. They blasted out dark guitar riffs, along with an excellent stage presence. The second band to support were The Brakes, formed from the split of British Sea Power and Electric Soft Parade they played a variation of disco and country tracks that were each in short duration.

Editors are one of those bands with a particular skill - despite depressive sounds and themes; they still manage to excite the audience. Many, bands cannot compete with this ability and get stuck in a trance of main stream rock. In the Editor's case, comparisons have been made with Interpol, Radiohead and Joy Division, to name a few. Despite lack of publicity from the start, Editors have done it themselves with style, passion for music, and… well… great songs!

After a long wait, Editors open with 'Lights'. "If fortune favours the brave I am as poor as they come," sang the front man Tom Smith in his usual eerie, low and dark voice. With Ed Lay blasting out heavy drum beats, Bassist Russell Leetch stood playing away, to himself it seemed, and not to forget guitarist Chris Urbanowicz supplying clanging lead guitar. They continued to belt out tune after tune, including B sides and tracks such as: 'Let Your Good Heart Lead You Home' and new song 'Bones'. Other songs included 'Fall', 'Bullets' and the wonderful, 'Munich' which sent the crowd wild.

Tom was in great form, addressing the crowd, and up to his usual stage antics, he could do nothing wrong. Everything was going well for Editors - great sound quality, good crowd interaction, strong set list, and genuine enjoyment, both for the band and for the crowd. They closed the impressive set with crowd sing-along 'Fingers In The Factories' - an awesome way to end the evening.

Indeed, Editors have come along way, playing bigger gigs and gaining more and more fans; hopefully they still have more talent to be seen in the future and will stay strong.