Editors - Pukkelpop 17th August 2017

This show like it had a real ferocity underlying it. I don't know if it had anything to do with the news of the Barcelona/Cambrils atrocities that were unfolding that day, something which Tom references at the start of NSBTW, but it seemed like all 5 Editors were tapping into some aggression that maybe hadn't been present during some of their earlier shows on the festival campaign? The very fact that No Sound was chosen to close out the show makes me think that there was a last minute setlist alteration in light of what was going on in Spain, but obviously that's just speculation.

I don't want to labor this point regarding those horrifying events, but once again it feels like the line from Well Worn Hand is appropriate:-

I'm so sorry about what we've all become

But then on reflection, I think that for it to truly be accurate we'd have to include the people that undertake these acts among our numbers. I don't think we should. There are those of us who love music and bands, films, books, ice cream and even just the simple pleasures of interacting with other folks. Then there are terrorists. Unlike them, the only thing "we" have become is stronger and closer because of our shared loves, as well as our humanity and that's not something we should apologise for. Ever.

Back to the gig, all the elements were in place to make it a good one and so it transpired. There have been times recently, when the band really didn't seem to be feeling the older material as much as they used to. Tracks like An End Has a Start which Russell has said in interviews that he could do without playing as much. Tonight, however, they were throwing themselves into every number. Even the ones like Smokers which they've done and redone so many times sounded fresh and exciting again. I feel like they're allowing themselves to get a little bit looser in their delivery of the music; they know exactly how to play it but they're letting in little elements like guitar feedback which is enhancing the more aggressive aspects. Muscle memory has taken over the thinking part and now it's all about pushing the performance and playing as hard as possible.

On a slightly weird note, I feel like I saw Jason C in the crowd shots of Magazine. Was that you, sir? I would be checking yourself for secret tracking devices because from a crowd of 60,000 they managed to find you without any trouble. Time for you to start wearing a tin-foil hat to protect yourself from sinister mind control rays. As someone once said in A Ton of Love

I don't trust the government...

Or Pukkelpop! Enjoy the music ;)

The Setlist
Cold (with intro) 0:20
Sugar 5:35
Racing Rats 10:02
Blood 14:11
Hallelujah (So Low) 17:47
ERM=BD 21:50
Munich 26:46
An End Has a Start 30:50
Smokers 30:47
Magazine 40:10
A Ton of Love 44:25
Ocean of Night 48:32
Marching Orders 54:02
Papillon 1:01:43
No Sound but the Wind 1:09:57

For lots more to see and hear from Editors at Pukkelpop 2017, follow the link below.

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brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love ) x