Pinkpop 17th June 2018 (Magnix's Dutch TV Rip)

Considering the performance he just put on, he has every right to smile. Kudos, Mr Lay.

There seems to be something remarkable going on with Editors.

In the way that an athlete trains specifically in order to peak physically when the time comes to perform, this band appear to have found a similar formula that works for them. In the early days of Editors, they embarked on death-march style tours that stretched on for years and saw them out on the asphalt for weeks and months at a time. Their dance card was full and their schedule was a little wacky at times.  Who could forget the time in 2005 that they flew from a date in Germany to Nashville, played a single show and then boarded the plane the next morning to return to the UK to continue touring?

Something changed in recent years, and particularly with this current album promotional campaign. I've said it before but they really are touring smarter. They're playing their shows in bursts rather than long, tortuous stretches and it's allowing them time to recover, live as civilians again and prepare for what's next.  I think this was an excellent decision. Why am I bringing this up here? It's because for two consecutive shows all members of this band appear to genuinely be having the time of their lives. They're deep into the E6 promotional push and they still look fresh. Minor mishaps like showing gratitude to the Pinkpop crowd by thanking Pukkelpop (just before Papillon) are laughed off, and then the show goes on. Camera shots show all of the individual band members singing along with Tom as they play and there's just an air of fun about everything that can get lost in the need to meet obligations and expectations. This is a good look, I hope they maintain it indefinitely.

The setlist is different to Maifeld, which considering it was only the day before is an indicator of the dynamic nature of the current live running order. They could have played it safe, structured a concrete group of songs and stuck with them for the festival campaign but they seem to be keen to mix things up. Understandable, when you have amassed a back catalogue that spans 6 albums and all the accompanying b-sides and offshoot tracks. There's lots to choose from. So out goes Sugar, Life is a Fear and Bricks and Mortar, in come Formaldehyde and Nothingness.

This is also another daylight show but it's appropriate here because it allows us to better appreciate how the set is constructed. Watching Elliott and Ed striding onstage to play the new intro for Cold followed by the remaining three Editors and then we're off and running. You can also see the little gestures and looks between band members which are often lost beneath fluorescent lights and goth-bothering smoke machines. There's a collective good mood permeating all 5 Editors and it comes across when they play. Who'd have thought it? Happiness from such a bunch of grumpy folks. The question is, in comparative terms, was Pinkpop better than Maifeld? In this fan's opinion, it was. But not by much given the high standard of both shows. This is such a good sign for the impending stops on this festival tour. We're in for a treat, I reckon.

There is of course the lingering question of the precise nature of Mr Rezvani's presence here. He was clearly working, but on what?

Before I go I have to say that the one thing that absolutely makes this video are the crowd shots, particularly the guy with the beard who vogues like his life depends upon it when the camera hits him. Sir, you just won the internet. Enjoy the music ;)

stream it here

MP3s
01. Cold (with intro) - download here
02. Hallelujah (So Low) - download here
03. Smokers - download here
04. An End Has A Start - download here
05. Formaldehyde - download here
06. Blood - download here
07. Darkness At The Door - download here
08. Munich - download here
09. Nothingness - download here
10. Violence - download here
11. No Harm - download here
12. A Ton Of Love - download here
13. Ocean Of Night - download here
14. The Racing Rats - download here
15. Papillon - download here
16. Magazine - download here

All in a Zip - download here

Magnix's info file - download here

Bonus Material - NPO Interview
Here's another joint operation between the Archive and Hannah, thanks again for the assist ;)

If you're a fan of acoustic Editors, this is going to warm your jaded heart. This brief interview contains the best rendition of Papillon that this band have ever done. It's so good, Mr Smith can only express himself with a burst of hysterical laughter. Watch and melt ;)

stream it here

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