All photos by Radiosjohn
This is a collection of fan footage that was collected from the following sources who shot the set on camcorder, and recorded the audio to tape:-
Streetspirit
Rushed
Radiosjohn
MLK (audio)
It was put together by Streetspirit and given away for free to fans at the time with the condition that it was never sold. With that in mind, I'm happy to be able to offer this for all now to stream and listen to until your eyes/ears get sore. Many, many thanks to you Streetspirit and to your 3 accomplices for assembling the material back in the day. It still looks and sounds wonderful, and I felt like after 12 years it was time to make it available to a wider audience once more ;)
In 2008, Editors were acting as an opening band for a little band from Athens, Georgia. The question "Do you want to be the support band for R.E.M.?" probably didn't even get answered, given that they were no doubt already packed and at the airport with boarding passes in clenched fists screaming "Let's go, already!", before that inquiry had been fully finished. R.E.M. were, after all, Mr Smith's musical heroes for years with him frequently citing Murmur as his favourite album in past interviews. So the opportunity to spend some time out on the road without the foul pressures of headlining a show, and in the company of musicians you really admire, must have been a real treat. There's also the added bonus of being able to complete your set and then head back out to watch the main act. You get to attend an amazing gig and all you have to do is step out onstage and run through 9 of your own songs beforehand.
The only glaring flaw in the plan meant that they had the joy of playing their music in daylight (eek!) inside vast arenas that were not yet full, to crowds that were sympathetic if they were lucky but blasé/borderline disinterested if not. A little while ago I posted a video that is without a doubt the best live, full band electric version of Smokers that Editors have ever done at Oxegen Festival the same year. Perversely, the one from this show may be the most sedate and restrained one they ever did. I even checked out the infamous large-scale group standing and staring contest that was Maxidrom 2016 gig to see if that was more understated, but this one takes it. The importance of the interplay between the band and crowd is perfectly illustrated if you compare Smokers at Oxegen 2008 and this one. Remarkably, only 10 days separate the two. You'll probably find yourself as unnerved as I was, when Tom sings "I can't believe you, if I can't hear you..." as you prepare your adrenal glands for his inevitable jump-up from the piano to go nutty. It's a wait that will end in disappointment, unfortunately. That's not to say that the band aren't trying, not at all, it's just that the subtle cues to let them know how they're doing and encourage them further aren't there because of the lack of rapport with the people watching.
Let it not be overlooked, however, that as small and slightly distant as the audience were for this one there were still Editors fans in among them. People who bought the ticket and went out to support the support act, which is a rare and beautiful thing indeed. Watching it back now, it's still a strange sight seeing them with all the main act's equipment behind them as they get dwarfed by banks of amplifiers, having to do their thing in an uncharacteristically restricted space. How far they've come.
Kudos to all of you who were there and for anyone that missed it, here's the full set. Enjoy the music ;)
1 Bones - download here
2 Racing Rats - download here
3 An End Has A Start - download here
4 Escape The Nest - download here
5 You Are Fading - download here
6 Bullets - download here
7 Open Up - download here
8 Fingers In The Factories - download here
9 Smokers - download here
All in a zip - download here
Bonus Material - MLK Recording
Here's a fantastic audience
recording of the show that was made by MLK (thank you!). The files are being shared in their
original FLAC format, in accordance with the taper's wishes.
FLACS
01. Bones - download here
02. Racing Rats - download here
03. An End Has A Start - download here
04. Escape The Nest - download here
05. You Are Fading - download here
06. Bullets - download here
07. Open Up - download here
08. Fingers In The Factories - download here
09. Smokers - download here
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
