Werchter Classic 14th July 2018 Studio Brussel Broadcast (audio)

And...exhale. After an entire evening of watching out for any kind of broadcast of the actual music from this festival, there had been nothing. It was making very little sense, because StuBru had been on site for the whole event.  No bueno. It wasn't looking good but they were clearly just saving all their airtime for the headliner. They were late getting onstage but they were preceded by warm up music in the form of Donna Summer and then Abba doing Gimme a Man. All was forgiven, with extra style points picked up along the way for knowing how to work the room. 

Free radio essentially means that you are usually required to take what you're given and smile at the imperfections. Please bear that in mind as you read on. 

What you're hearing here is the audio broadcast from Studio Brussel exactly as it was on the night, with any sonic flaws being in the stream itself. It's mostly when things get really loud, which results in some distortion in the mix. It unfortunately also means there's DJ chatter and idents here and there, as well as taking telephone calls from a listeners over the top of Darkness at the Door and Racing Rats. And how would you like a news break during Smokers? Well, you're getting one! It's confusing but in spite of the flow being messed with, I find it very difficult to hold a grudge against Studio Brussel because I know that they genuinely love the band. Plus, they've never come after me for sharing stuff (although I've probably just jinxed it).

I would urge you to overlook the weirdness, because I had a sneaky feeling that there was a momentum building towards this show; like all the steps prior to it were somehow propelling the band on a collision course with this one single night. Belgium loves Editors and they always seem to have a good time there. Spiritual homes and all that. Tonight was a continuation of that tradition, with the crowd being the missing piece that completed a very dark jigsaw. There seems to have been just the right amount of time spent on the road to get these songs to a place where they crackle when they're played, and managing to peak in Belgium just demonstrates their skill and timing in these matters. As if to further prove the point Tom rounded the evening off with an acoustic No Sound but the Wind...smooth.

The music is really tight, particularly the songs from VI OLENCE which appear to expand the more they're performed. Mr Smith's vocals are raspy in places which historically has usually been an indicator of the amount of effort on his part, or illness. Tonight was all about the former. Listen to him baiting the crowd during Sugar for an example, and conversely listen to them shouting "Desire" back at him during A Ton of Love. 

This incarnation of Editors was sculpted by a combination of extreme adversity and bravery on a stage at Werchter 6 years ago, and tonight they've never seemed more complete. What a band. Enjoy the music ;)

The Setlist 

Cold (with intro)

Hallelujah (So Low)

An End Has a Start

Blood

Life is a Fear

Darkness at the Door (let's talk to a listener over the top!)

Formaldehyde

Munich

Nothingness

Violence

No Harm

Sugar

Racing Rats (Another caller? Why not!)

Smokers (news break, faded out)

A Ton of Love

Ocean of Night

Papillon

Magazine

(What the hell, let's talk to one more caller)

No Sound But the Wind

stream it here

Bonus Material - Interview

Prior to their appearance at Werchter Classic here's Justin, Ed and Russell chatting with Studio Brussel. How many concerts have they played in Belgium so far? The answer lies within these flickering frames. Other topics broached include England getting beaten at football, the lineup of the festival which Editors had a hand in selecting, and the recent trip to Serbia which Ed is clearly passionate about. That's the difference between something like this where the band are clearly comfortable and understood by their hosts, and a situation like the one that happened at Openair recently where Justin was bombarded with rapid fire questions that led nowhere. Studio Brussel and Belgium in general just continues to demonstrate that they really get Editors. Enjoy the chat, and to our Lady of the Blessed Forum, hope you had an amazing time tonight down the front ;) 

stream it here

Photographs
Here's a collection of snaps taken on the night by a previous contributor to the Archive, Danny van Schendel. Many thanks to you for getting in touch and sharing the Editors love:-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dvschend/sets/72157698626167734

And if that wasn't enough for you, here's Danny's video of Tom performing NSBTW:-

No Sound but the Wind

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