First and foremost, many thanks to friend of the Archive Sanne for sharing this recording. If you consider yourself to be an Editors fan, let me introduce you to the concept of there being levels to this game. Sure, you can buy the records and go to the shows, but what if you could persuade Tom Smith to draw you, say, a radio? What if you were then to commit that sketch to your forearm as a tattoo in the name of permanent fandom? Not only that, you'd get Frank Carter of Gallows to put it on your skin? Levels, people.
Sanne was there on the night Tom and Nic played Amsterdam, 11th April 2026 and this is what she heard. You'll notice there are a few minor bumps and bruises along the way sound wise but, for me anyway, that's all part of the fun in listening to bootlegs. Their studio-based cousins are there forever. This is all about capturing elusive fragments of history before they evaporate. Thanks again, Sanne.
A mobile phone goes off during the Deep Dive which, given their prevalence in modern culture, I'm shocked hasn't happened at some point already. We've had people sneezing, beer bottles going rogue and house lights randomly coming on but no mobile phone incidents. Weirdness. In amongst the banter from the stage there's a lovely, brief little anecdote about the sound guy for this show relating to the venue itself. There's also a very, very rare "Tom changes his mind about swearing" instance right before Lights of New York City. On recent nights he's been a little more direct about what he and Nic will be doing once the last two songs have been played, but not this time.
The story of Editors just would be consistent if there wasn't some ambivalence about their future intentions. Just before The Hills We Died Upon we get a status update from Tom about the new record. We know that this song is going to be on Editors' 8th album...or do we? Unlike gigs prior to this one, where it was stated that it would be on the record, here it is allocated the label of "probably". Yes sir, nothing says certainty like ambiguity.
New, from the people who brought you "maybe" and "perhaps" comes the stunning new fragrance, "PROBABLY". Now you too can smell like you just aren't sure. Damn you Mr Smith!
We know that these shows are intimate, but it's still striking how imposing the ambient silence in the room is. During Endings are Breaking my Heart, for example, it sounds like they're playing alone in a rehearsal room. It also makes the set feel as though it's been designed and directed in an incredibly bespoke, personal way to an audience of one. I don't know if that's how it felt if you were in attendance, but taken as a second hand consideration after the fact, it still possesses that magic.
The overriding question is, after listening, did you fall in love with Nic Willes? Come on, be honest...
Enjoy the music ;)
Bonus Material - The Weight (video)
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love ;) x
