This was Editors' 20 minute set at Primo Maggio Roma, on the 1st May 2017 and we have some bad news first. There's some sound issues at the start when the stage is revolving to reveal the band, and Mr Smith's synth almost seems like it's unplugged during Papillon. Also, there's a sound present on the stream that sounds like someone flicking a cigarette lighter repeatedly. If another copy from a better source ever surfaces, you'll see it here.
This gig is a bit of a weird one, if I'm honest and I think that a few factors surrounding their set contributed. It was their first performance since September of 2016, and from watching the rest of the acts here it really does feel like a conveyor-belt approach at this festival. One artist steps offstage and the next is put in place almost immediately. Quick, quick, quick. It seemed very impersonal. Add to that the fact that they have a rigid 20 minute slot to occupy in front of a crowd that are being slowly and deliberately soaked by a downpour of Italian rain. There just didn't seem to be any time to connect or build the momentum you normally get in a full concert by the band, and so the energy between performer and crowd got dissipated in the precipitation. Both parties seem like they're victims of circumstances beyond their control. This is extremely unusual because Italy has some of the most passionate, devoted fans outside of Belgium (hello Italian Pop Kids!).
The four songs that were chosen were absolutely the right call, because for them to have road tested any new material at that time would have been an exercise in utter futility. It's hard to excite a group of people whose collective thought as they listen is probably "There's water running down the back of my neck, and my feet are swampy. This, I do not like".
If you treat this as a warm-up show for the 2017 festival campaign then it's a lot easier to enjoy. I'm not saying it's bad, not at all, just that Editors set the standard for their live shows so high that it's immediately obvious when anything falls below it, for whatever reason. Still worth a look, enjoy the music ;)
The Setlist
Intro
Sugar
A Ton of Love
Racing Rats
Papillon
Bonus Materials
This is an interview that was held over from the Primo Maggio Festival which took place on the 1st May and broadcast on RAI Radio 2 on the 29th May 2017. It means we had to wait almost a full month just to get a chance to listen and considering the scope and relevancy of the content, it's extremely puzzling. Wouldn't it have made more sense to air this on the day of the show? I'm an Editors fan, dammit! I'm used to everything that happens with this band occurring according to a regular and timely schedule. Oh, wait a second....
It's funny hearing them being promised a "hot crowd" for the show that night, because it turned out to be a bit of a weird one.
During the show there were 3 tracks played, Life is a Fear, Smokers and Papillon but in keeping with not sharing their recordings for free, I've edited them out of the broadcast. So if you're in the mood for almost 20 minutes of Editors related chatter, you're in the right place. Enjoy ;)
Ahead of their festival slot at Primo Maggio Roma, this was Mr Smith and King Leetch in a very brief interview taken from the official festival website. They only had 20 minutes of stage time which was terrible news for us fans that had waited since September of 2016 to see them playing live again. In combat-sports terms this is the equivalent of them being given a "tune-up" fight, an easy gig to help them re-acclimatise to performing live again. Unfortunately though, in the end, it turned out to be a bit of an uphill battle.
stream it here
Next up are two men who both possess strong, powerful beard game beckoning you to come and take some snaps to post on Instagram using the official Primo Maggio Rom hashtag #1M2017.
stream it here
This is an ident for the Primo Maggio Festival that Editors did during rehearsals for the show. The original video was portrait so I changed it to landscape, just prevent any neck injuries for you folks using computer monitors or televisions. I'm a thoughtful cat.
stream it here
stream it here
stream it here
Lastly, this is some bonus footage of the band soundchecking at the festival, taking a run through Sugar. Can you hear Mr Smith? No, you cannot. Check 1,2,3...
stream it here
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
