Photo by JD
A month with only 7 live engagements but there were some very important ones among them. Their latest Belgian Homecoming saw them playing at Werchter Classic, with their constant allies Studio Brussel coming up with the goodies for us again. The fact that it was on partisan soil as well as in the company of a lineup that the band had a hand in constructing made for a very good evening of moodcore. However, the one show that will probably be most consistently referred to by the band themselves in terms of the memories it provided is one that wasn't bootlegged or broadcast at all. They played Hyde Park with The Cure on the 7th July at the personal behest of Captain Bob. It had been apparent through his Instagram posts prior to the gig that Elliott was a really big Cure fan, and so this must have been such a wonderful opportunity to actually hang out with a hero. By the looks of things, he didn't leave the day disappointed.
July 2018 was an anniversary of the formation of the National Health Service here in the UK, and it caused me to undergo a severe reality check. Having been born into an age when it was already up and running, I suppose I've always had the incorrect assumption that the NHS has just always been there. The truth is that it's technically still in its infancy, really, having only been around for 70 years. To celebrate this, a group of singers and celebs got together to record a charity cover of "With a Little Help from my Friends" by The Beatles, and Mr Smith was listed in their number. Here's the full list of contributors:-
Alexandra Burke
Ali Campbell and Astro from UB40
Aston Merrygold
Beverley Knight
Blue
Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook, Simon Hanson from Squeeze
Coleen Nolan
Danny Jones
Dennis Greaves, Mark Feltham and Ben Willis from Nine Below Zero
Engelbert Humperdinck
Gabrielle
Gary Stringer from Reef
Guy Garvey
HRVY
Jack and Tim, Britain’s Got Talent
Louisa Johnson
Marina and the Diamonds
Mark King
Myleene Klass
Nile Rodgers
Rick Astley
Seal
Tom Smith from Editors
Tony Hadley
Una Healy
Please don't misunderstand me on this because I'm not saying what I'm going to say next disrespectfully, but...
I cannot hear Tom on there at all.
I'm not saying he isn't there, that's not my point, I'm just proposing that in true Editors style he's been pushed back into the margins while taking part in a UK event. I've searched the video for footage of him; not there. I've listened to the tune several times and again, I can't pick him out. Seal is on the track and although he isn't in the promotional film, you know you're hearing him. I don't doubt that Tom had a hand in the recording, I just feel like his involvement wasn't really capitalised upon. They were clearly looking to appeal to a certain part of the listening audience by including him, so why not put him right out there and say "Here he is"? I know there's a personal bias at work here, but I'm sure you follow my logic.
Aside from the cause its championing, one thing that makes this a worthwhile event for me is that Tom got to take part in a project with Nile Rodgers! Even if you think you haven't you've probably heard songs by Nile before. If you genuinely don't know about the man then go to wherever you listen to your music and check out these items by his band Chic immediately:-
Chic - Good Times
Chic - I Want Your Love
Chic - Le Freak
Chic - My Forbidden Lover
If your booty isn't shaking after the first few notes then it's time to put a tag on your toe and send you to the freezer.
Editors really has become a place where extra-curricular activities are starting to become the norm and that's not necessarily a bad thing. The more living they do and experiences they have means more raw material to draw and create from. Proof? As part of Editors' charitable work Tom went to a refugee camp in Fillipiada in 2016, and what he saw there became an ingredient for the song Hallelujah (So Low).
Finally, the 24th saw a re-tweet by Justin that showed that he'd been working on a script for an 8 part drama series called The Salvation. This is the final proof we needed to certify the theory that Mr Lockey is in fact a man who has learned how to live a full life (and grow a powerful beard) without any sleep. Creative? Oh yes, he is.
Enjoy the snaps and videos related to Editors for July 2018 ;)
Editors Instagram - July 2018
For all of Editors previous Instagram posts, go here.
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
