British Summer Time @Hyde Park - July 7, 2018

 

Editors were on first after we arrived at 4pm and we missed the first couple of songs as we tried to secure the first-come first-serve access wristbands for the fenced area in front of the stage.

Once in, I was pleased to see that singer Tom Smith was much more animated than how I remember him from 2008. He moved from keyboard to guitar to microphone, sometimes quirkily twisting his body to the music and making use of the extended stage sides to get closer to the whole audience. His red-check trucker hat and scraggly beard was a slight shock, as I think of him in a tailored suit, but the performance is far more important and that was great.

 

The sound at the Great Oak Stage was good for all the bands, and I particularly enjoyed hearing Munich and The Racing Rats live again. (I was still lined up during Smokers).

Setlist

Hallelujah (So Low)
Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors
Blood
Munich
Violence
No Harm
The Racing Rats
Papillon
Magazine

The Twilight Sad

First time seeing this Scottish band. They came to my attention following the sad death of Frightened Rabbit singer, Scott Hutchison. The bands have a long history being on the same early label and collaborating on things, so when I saw they performed a cover of a FRabbit song at a recent performance, I knew I didn't want to miss it if they did it again. I wasn't disappointed, as they closed their short set with Keep Yourself Warm. Never seeing a FRabbit concert, I was grateful to at least see one of their songs live and was moved by the tribute and the added lines at the end: "it's not the answer."

It's a very fitting song for Twilight Sad to cover, seeing as how singer James Graham provided extra vocals on this song for the live album Quietly Now, recorded in Glasgow in 2008.

Setlist
Last January
Don't Move
The Arbor
VTr
There's a Girl in the Corner
And She Would Darken the Memory
Keep Yourself Warm (FRabbit cover)


Interpol

I also saw Interpol live in 2008, at an outdoor festival as well. I don't think their performance has varied much since then, and (unlike Editors) was a bit disappointed that it was a similarly rather dull performance. Still, they played lots of their songs that I like and the sound was good, so I still enjoyed it.

Setlist
Not Even Jail
All the Rage Back Home
Take You on a Cruise
Obstacle 1
Rest My Chemistry
The Rover
Length of Love
Roland
Lights
Success
The New
Evil
Slow Hands

The Cure

One of the major highlights of this time seeing The Cure live was that they played Killing An Arab. This song has been omitted as too controversial for years, but was an early fave of mine from the Standing on a Beach album, and being a fan of existentialist fiction and Camus' The Stranger.

Robert Smith was gracious and endearing as he chatted to the fans between songs. He was obviously touched that this was their 40th Anniversary concert, and seemed humble and grateful for such a lengthy run.

The visuals behind the band, were good, especially after the sun set, and worked well in the vastness and open air of the festival setting. They made good use of splicing live camera shots into the effects. The sound was one of the better I've heard for open air, which I think must be so tricky. The fans were obviously international with many accents and languages and ages around us represented, but all seeming thrilled to be there.

The setlist had lots of well-known favourites in there. I remember from my first Cure concert being amazed at how long the set was - 33 songs. Although this was close at 29 songs, I never felt like it was going on too long.

Setlist
Plainsong
Pictures of You
High
A Night Like This
The Walk
The End of the World
Lovesong
Push
In Between Days
Just Like Heaven
If Only Tonight We Could Sleep
Play for Today
A Forest
Shake Dog Shake
Burn
Fascination Street
Never Enough
From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
Disintegration
Encore
Lullaby
The Caterpillar
Friday I'm in Love
Close to Me
Why Can't I Be You?
Boys Don't Cry
Jumping Someone Else's Train
Grinding Halt
10:15 Saturday Night
Killing An Arab

Editors/Hot Hot Heat @ The Commodore Ballroom - Feb 5, 2008

A little thrown off by an earlier start time due to it being a weekday show, the three band lineup, and a friend who needed a smoke or two before the show, I managed to miss the openers, Louis XIV. I’d been really looking forward to seeing them, but will soon be able to rectify this when they come back to town on March 28.
The first thing I noticed when Hot Hot Heat took the stage is the new lighting system at the Commodore. Vibrant colours light the stage and the musicians from a myriad of spotlights adding to the spectacle of the performances and the mood of each song played.
Hot Hot Heat are immediately energetic despite the initially tame crowd. Originally from Victoria, but now based in Vancouver, they are currently recording an album in town, and the singer tells us they're happy to be home.
Steve Bays warns us that his doctor advised him to take two weeks off for his voice, but he declares "we wouldn't let Vancouver down!" Despite the good intentions, his voice does sound weak at times and even fades away to nothing at others. Hot Hot Heat cut their set short, but have still managed to get the fans warmed up.



Hot Hot Heat's approximate Setlist:
Dirty Mouth
Harmonicas and Tambourines
Oh, Godamnit
No, Not Now
Middle of Nowhere
Goodnight, Goodnight
Bandages
My Best Friend
Talk to Me, Dance with Me


I never got around to writing a review on the Editors (this is added in 2018). My memory is of a pretty dull show, but enjoyable music. I believe they were wearing suits, which has changed over the years. There wasn't much audience interaction or showmanship. But the lights and sound were good as this was the Commodore. I recall loving hearing the Editors music live and that it was very faithful to the recorded versions.

Setlist (very partial):
Smokers Outside the Hospital Dorrs
The Racing Rats
An End Has a Start
Munich