The Editors Manchester Academy 1 22.11.13

The Editors Manchester Academy  1    22.11.13

 

I have waited so long to see this band, I missed them on their debut tour in 2006 when they played a small local venue.

 

Their 1st album 'The Back Room' made the hairs on my neck stand up, the sound and lyrics were interesting intellectual Indie at its best, and as year went by so were their shows, there never seemed to be a time to see them until now, so to quote what 'Tom Smith' said to me when I told him just that "Tonights The Night Then !!".

 

Support tonight comes from 'British Sea Power' a band with a cult following of fans and a band who managed to sell out The Ritz in Manchester around a year ago.

 

Personally I never liked them, didnt see the appeal the band have 2 male singer/guitarists ,a bass player ,and drummer and a woman who played the violin (at least I think it was a violin it was small for a violin).

 

They were not an upbeat melodic band and at times this lost my attention as the songs played out, the guitarist is a bit crazy and he played up to us posing with guitarist pulling shapes and faces, just as the set was midway through the most bizarre thing happened, over to the right of the stage in front of the barrier a Huge black bear appeared it was about 8 ft tall no word of a lie (it was obviously a man in a suit of course) he was getting the crowd involved in high fiving.

 

 I was in fits of giggles it was so funny, then the singer/guitarist of the band jumped down from the stage to enact a play fight with the bear he rolled backwards on the floor guitar in hand in front of us it was entertainment at last, then another Huge White Polar Bear appeared and like true comedy play fighting with the Black Bear and proceeded to surprise the bemused crowd I thought it was 'Dom Joly' it broke the boredom nicely.

 

9pm and headline act were ready to take the stage 'Birmingham's 'The Editors' were finally here, they hit the stage with a bang with laser and strobing effects, 'Tom' stick thin standing at the mic , Justin and Russell alongside him and a guitarist  Ed the drummer toward the back of the stage set, with a Korg Keyboard at the front and a Piano placed to the left.

 

They began with 'Sugar' from the album 'Weight Of Your Love' and soon some classics one of my favourites 'Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors', 'Tom' plays a variety of guitars and is very entertaining to watch, as he climbs like an insect over the piano, they all have energy and power on stage and more importantly such power over the crowd, the atmosphere is pure Electric tonight.

Another fav from 'The Back Room' is 'All Sparks' and 'You Don't Know Love' from 'End Has A Start' then a track I have but had forgotten about now rediscovered live on stage 'Eat Raw Meat-Blood Drool', God it's amazing live and 'Tom' is a charismatic frontman ,he makes faces over the mic and at times is completely still, then coming to life with eyes on stalks twisting his arm round in contortion wrapping the mic wire round his right arm as he get's more into the performance and the crowd watch in awe!!

 

They also play a great version of their epic Indie anthem 'Munich' the crowd went mad for it as we do in Manchester !!!

Just when you think they've given everything they can they emerge for the Encore with a piano led version of 'The Racing Rats','Tom' seems enthralled at  the Manchester crowd all 2'500 of us going crazy me in the middle going  berserk it's such an amazing vibe tonight.

They played a great setlist off all four albums and ended with 'Papillion', which is stratospheric live the crowd sing along  and this version goes on for at least 8 minutes, and the band take a bow, I think they enjoyed the show as much as we did what great Friday night out.

 

You can see pics from the show at the gallery which you may notice has been renamed from 'Gigography Heaven ' to 'It's All About The Music Part 2' as it matches the blog title and can be related to easier, til the next earth shaking gig folks..

 

Bye for now!!

 

 

 

Lmi  x