“If something has to change, then it always does,” sings Tom Smith, with the same gloomy resignation he first revealed in 2005 with Editors’ debut single, Bullets. A decade on, the band have weathered the departure of a founder member and evolved their sound from post-punk indie disco to U2-aping stadium rock and, with new album In Dreams, early-80s electronica.
It’s a mutation that suits them, the brooding strains of No Harm lapping against Smith’s distinctive baritone. When he flies into a falsetto, the effect is hypnotic – until a crackle of electricity shrieks from the speakers and breaks the spell.
From then on, song after song is crippled by bad sound. The epic ardour of Sugar is deprived of its claustrophobia, the bite of Blood disappears and Salvation, a vociferous call to arms, turns into a plea for help. An End Has a Start survives unscathed only thanks to the passion of the audience, who sing, dance and punch the air.
For their part, Editors work hard and play on. The sound problems abate long enough for a seemingly unaware Smith to perform a powerful acoustic version of Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors, but an hour into the set, the interference stops the show and the band leave the stage.
Repeated attempts to resume follow, culminating with Smith writing what is presumably an apology on the back of set list and holding it up to the crowd. Despite some momentary booing, however, the audience stay put and supportive of the band, who are greeted like heroes after a delay of almost 30 minutes. The shortened but problem-free set conjures up a charged atmosphere, with a blistering Munich and torrid Papillon given added impetus while offering a bittersweet glimpse of what should have been. Smith, meanwhile, is apologetic, predictably gloomy and ultimately resigned. “We’ve had nightmares about this situation happening,” he says. “Ten years in, it happened.”
- At Pyramids Centre, Portsmouth, 15 October. Box office: 023-9279 9977. Then touring.
