Editors Blaze Through Show At Phoenix

I've always felt a little lukewarm about Editors.

I was ready to write them off as a one-record band for failing to properly follow up The Back Room when their last effort, An End Has A Start, was released. That happens sometimes — there are countless examples of bands who were deemed "the next big thing" by outlets like Pitchfork and NME who simply stagnated after their first hit record. But I couldn't have been more wrong about Editors.

After seeing them live at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre on Tuesday (Feb. 16) night, I must admit I'm sold once again. Hot off the release of their new album, In This Light And On This Evening, which was released in North America in January, they not only packed the venue with loyal fans, but they blew the house down.

The whole audience and venue shook hearing frontman Tom Smith croon the lyrics "I swear to God" repeatedly when they opened with the title track off the new album. Playing at full force, they didn't even need to introduce themselves; they simply started to play, and played well.

Smith is flagged for his ability to channel late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis and Interpol singer/guitarist Paul Banks — an asset that has drawn a lot of fans to the band. The crowd that was drawn to seeing Editors was as eclectic as the actual band, with audience members ranging from young hipsters to aging, new wave aficionados.  

That crowd witnessed a perfect set. Acoustically, Editors were flawless, not to mention they brought a sheer amount of energy to their show. They played some of their greatest tracks, including "Papillon" and "Eat Raw Meat=Blood Drool" and were able to do something most bands who play Toronto find impossible — get the crowd to dance. The "dark disco" title NME bestowed on them years earlier is undoubtedly true.

Editors are simply an amazing band to see live, and they have definitely bounced back from whatever sophomore slump they experienced with An End Has A Start.