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03/03/2008 - Birmingham 29/02/08 Well I have made it to Saturday, the day of rest, at least for me and everyone involved on the tour. After 4 nights straight we have a night off. And I must admit, it is nice just to have some time to recharge the old batteries. I am typing this up as I wait for my wife to dry her hair, before heading out to do some retail therapy. Course I my job for today will just to be the bag carrier. It happened last night. Someone took a tumble. But the surprise is that it was not the, ever agile, Mr Smith. It was Ed. Doing his now customary ‘standing aloft his bass drum’ at the end of the show. He lost his balance and started to fall. Realising that gravity was winning the battle he tried to do a half turn and dive to make it look as though it was all part of the plan. Thankfully the smile and laughter from him that followed indicated that all that was injured was maybe a little of his pride. Course it would have to happen in front of the biggest crowd of the tour so far. 7000 sold out tickets on the floor and 4000 or so in the surrounding seats. This was my first time at the NIA and yes is it s big venue. And as a result there was a few additions to the stage. The first was a curtain of light beads strung out below the screen that lit up now and then till they turned on the projector. The next was cameras. They relayed on the stage action to the big video screens that hung either side of the stage so the people at right at the back could see more than just tiny matchstick people moving about. Height was also evident. Standing with their backs to the stage, the security guys heads didn’t even peak out above it and a few of them were 6ft plus. But the most obvious addition was space. There was oodles of it. Sure, the kit was set out in what appeared to be the usual dimensions but the extra space came either side of this and of course stretching out in front of them. And you know what.. it didn’t matter one bit. Any nerves they guys had about playing to such a big (and home town) crowd and in such a big space, very soon vanished as they all grew in confidence and stature and claimed every inch of the area around them. And in some ways it lead to a more animated performance than usual. Needless to say Tom was running and bouncing all over the place, relishing in the space that such a big stage provided. Russell was regularly seen spinning and bounding across the terrain like some bass yielding giant. Chris was the most animated I have seen him so far this tour. And of course Ed pounded away at the back, his beats sounding out a warning that this was his turf and be wary anyone foolish enough to try invade his domain. In this lies the thing that makes me a tad sad on reflection of last nights gig. They proved, if any proof were needed (Glastonbury), that they can command and master this size of venue and go on to even bigger ones. I am sure they could rock a stadium to its very core. So why I am sad?.. it is simple really. I don’t want them to play the bigger venues. They don’t need to. They could pack out smaller ones several nights on the trot. And to be honest, I think they prefer the smaller ones as well. The whole band seem to feed off the intimacy and energy the smaller venues provide. And of course in return the crowd feed of seeing the passion in their playing, the smiles on their faces, the effort and concentration oozing out of every pore as they give every note their all. This is what this band is all about. As great as their records are, Editors are a live band. A stage is where they belong and where they unleash the power and the passion they so what you to feel and be a part of. And the more focused and concentrated it is, the so much more the sweeter and rewarding it is for all concerned.
Gary
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