As the hippest new purveyors of gloom and doom, Editors have a reputation that proceeds them. In the past year, the U.K. foursome has rocketed into platinum-selling success with “The Back Door,” a debut album that hit stateside last month. Tonight the up-and-coming quartet stops by the Bluebird Theater; Editors will close the show after co-headliners stellastar* take the stage.
Editors are regularly compared to the post-punk sounds, neo- and original, of the likes of Interpol and Joy Division, with their tremulous guitars, staccato drums and vocalist Tom Smith’s deep, clear voice singing of sad, serious stuff. But can they really be so maudlin on the heels of such immediate success?
“We just take our music very seriously,” said Smith, who credits the band’s U.K. popularity to a mixture of hard work and favorable conditions. “We’ve always been on the road, and the press has been nice to us, and it was an amazing honor to tour with Franz Ferdinand.”
But please, don’t call them nu-goth. Smith bristles at the band’s goth-and-gloom associations. “We’re not four miserable 20-somethings just standing on the stage,” he says. “The record is dark in places, but there is also optimism, romance and warmth. There is an intensity that runs through our music, and onstage it becomes a primal expression of that, with big moments and big melodies.”
The foursome is halfway through a six-week U.S. tour, hitting 40 regular gigs and a handful of in-store performances, like Thursday’s stop at Tower Records in Cherry Creek.
Smith said the band’s reception varies nightly, with small crowds in some towns not responding at all, and big crowds in other areas singing all the lyrics to their three U.K. singles.
“We are very aware that we are making our first impression on these audiences, and it’s strange coming here and being unknown,” he admits. “It’s awkward, because the record’s been out in the U.K. for a year, and songs to us are a bit old. It’s bizarre, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We wanted to focus on the U.K. first.”
U.S. fans who bought the import last year can look forward to two new songs; Editors are trying out “The Weight of the World” and “Bones” on tour, with plans to head back into the recording studio in September.
Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., 7:30 p.m., 16+, $15, Ticketweb.
Sasha helps Burridge say bye to Vinyl
Last Friday night the Basement Sessions at Vinyl nightclub (1082 Broadway) should have been called the Sauna Sessions. The A/C was out, but that didn’t keep the sweaty masses from moving to the beats that Little Mike threw down, and when guest resident Lee Burridge took over later in the night, the humidity reached saturation point. Of course, the rooftop patio provided an excellent escape for a quick dose of fresh air and top 40 remixes, but let’s hope tonight’s scene won’t bury the needle on the barometer.
Tonight is Burridge’s last set of his month-long Denver residency, part of his year-long “365” tour in which he’s taking up in cities around the globe for month-long stints. Look for a double-disc CD from the 365 tour sometime next fall, including collaborations with Little Mike and other Denver artists.
Sasha will rotate turntable duties tonight as well, which ought to make Burridge’s final performance a massive blowout. Sasha mans the decks in the main room from 10 p.m.-1 a.m., with Burridge rocking the basement simultaneously; at 1 a.m. Burridge is set to tag-team with Sasha in the main room until closing time.
Scattered Arts Collective festival
Head to the 2700 block of Larimer Street next Tuesday, and you’ll find a smorgasbord of music, art, film, and fashion. It’s the Scattered Arts Collective Underground Music Festival, with more than a dozen musical performances plus visual art, graffiti art, two fashion shows and break-dancing performances. This free block party kicks off at 8 p.m. and runs until 2 a.m., so stop by to support the arts scene.
Kat Valentine writes about night life Fridays in 7Days. Reach her at kat@kingproduction.com or call 303-820-1568.
