"We're coming for you, Porto" - Ed's statement of intent March 2022
It's fitting that Editors own Guardian of the Beat, the man with the magic kick drum and president of the Glum Tom-Tom Club, Mr Ed Lay, is the guy chosen to kick off the promotional merry-go-round that is now officially underway for their return to live action. Here's Vanda Miranda using her small window of opportunity extremely efficiently, as she poses what must surely be the two most important questions relating to Editors right now; the first being about the new stuff. As you'll hear, Ed plays it cool and metaphorically reveals some borders while taking care not to unveil the completed portrait just yet. Possibly some new material later in the year, but nothing in time for the gig this weekend. Vanda then asks if designing a festival setlist is different to a regular show, a question which I feel was very knowingly crafted towards possibly eliciting a reveal of new music in the upcoming running order. Well done, Madame. Plot twist; Ed can drum but he also possesses some fine dance steps, as he moves around the question without really confirming or denying it and leaving everything up in the air.
One thing we do know is that there are definitely new songs somewhere. Unless Mr Smith recently ate some bad cheese before bed, then got up in a semi-nauseated and delirious state to completely wipe all the recordings from existence. As for any of these new compositions appearing on Sunday there are essentially only two answers; they will, or they won't. You would think that after being restrained by viral horrors for 2 years that the prime motivator would be to start taking Editors forward, and to advance the music? Ed mentions the long setlists of the abbreviated Black Gold hits tour (a victory lap they're still owed, in my opinion), and the desire to keep it simple when they return. So you could assume that it's going to be an audience-friendly collection of music. Assume being the operative word.
If it is true that there won't be any new material offered when they play Portugal this weekend, it's a situation that isn't without precedent. After the the 2016 - 2017 lay off between In Dream and VI OLENCE, their first gig was at Primo Maggio in Rome. They had a small slot at the festival and there were no new tracks played. The reveal didn't actually happen until 6 shows later at Southside, where Cold, Hallelujah and Magazine were included on the set. They actually opened that show with Cold, which given the mixed attentions and musical loyalties of the crowd present was a pretty gutsy move. So after a lot of waiting, we may well have to wait some more. However, before you abandon all hope...
In 2016 they played The Pulse live for the very first time, and in Portugal no less, at Queimodromo de Coimbra. So possibly unlikely, but possible nonetheless.
Enjoy the chat, and welcome back Editors. The E7 campaign started here.
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
