March 30, 2006
Click Click: Editors @ 9:30 Club
Last night marked the second time in the last few months that I attended a Stellastarr* show at the 9:30 Club and didn't stick around for the headliners. Last October I caught great sets by Cedars and Giant Drag and last night I went solely to see the English quartet Editors.
Despite spending most of the set with my ears pinned to the front speakers in order to snap these photos, I thought their live show was much more energetic and animated than their album. A shaky version of "Lights" started the night off, but the band soon found their footing after that and ripped through most of their album Back Room along with a pair of new tracks. The set dragged a bit in the middle due to a few keyboard driven slowies, but by the time I worked my way to the back of the room for the rousing set closers "Open Your Arms" and "Fingers In The Factories," the tempo and energy level in the room were at their peak.
Vocalist Tom Smith is a weird amalgam of Fran Healy and Ted Leo that sings with Ian Curtis' voice. With their soaring guitars, Smith's deep baritone and a rock solid rhythm section that's heavy on the low end, the four members of Editors produced a huge sound that had no problem filling out the club and making heads nod. It's not hard to imagine them headlining their own DC show in the very near future. I walked in skeptical and walked away impressed.
Were you at the show? What did you think? If you missed them last night, fear not, they appear on the Conan O'Brien show tonight. There are a few more photos after the jump, to see the full set of my photos, click here.
|
So how'd you get in with a digital rebel?
You're right - that was a terrific show. I've been listening to their album for the last couple of months, but last night I remembered why I put it on repeat in the first place. I actually enjoyed the slower songs live much more than I do on the album - and I have to disagree with you on those, because I was suprised to feel my feet tapping and head nodding throughout them, even Camera, which I'm not really enamoured with on the album.
I dragged my roommate, who'd never heard the Editors before, with me and he left ready to buy the album, so I'd say it was a winner.
Stellastarr, who I was only vaguely familiar with before this week, had a good show too, but it certainly paled next to the opener. I'm pretty sure I have a girl-crush on their bassist though.
Photo pass.
So you've had two chances in the last few months to be close to Stellastarr* bassist Amanda Tannen (and a freaking photo pass for last night's show that puts you right up front) and you skipped them both times?
WTF? Tons of pictures of your cat, skipping Amanda Tannen opportunities, Morrissey obsession, Duke fan...it's all starting to come together (not that there's anything wrong with that). ;)
Great show, although I have loved Stellastarr (and their bassist) for years now so that is why I was really there, I also like Editors (although it causes me mental anguish to not say "the editors"). Great show all around - I am still surprised that there were so few people at 930 compared to the arctic monkeys show which in my opinion was nowhere near as good.
"Last night marked the second time in the last few months that I attended a Stellastarr* show at the 9:30 Club and didn't stick around for the headliners."
Funny, since last time you totally lambasted the band's show, and now you say you weren't even there for it. But then, since most of what you had to say about them was pretty questionable at best, I'm not surprised.
Marvkus, there was no photo pit at the show, I had to work my way up front like everyone else. And Annie from Giant Drag is much cuter.
Matt, I didn't write the review of the Stelastarrr** show last time. Someone else did. It's hard for me to lambast a show I didn't see. Nice try though.
Editors were excellent. Their album is quite good, but they're even better live, the songs sounding much richer in person. Great show.
(I too attended just for Editors, skipping out on stellastarr*, they bore live.)
The Giant Drag chick needs to eat about half of Five Guys's inventory before she can be cute. She looked and sounded like a 9th grader at the Stellastarr* show (though she did put on a really good show).