Editors

EMMA LEE

UEA LCR, Norwich

Birmingham four-piece Editors proved why they have been headline news on this summer's festival circuit when they kicked off their UK tour at UEA on Monday night.

The show was opened by up-and-coming acts the Kissaway Trail and Ra Ra Riot, who hail from Denmark and New York respectively.

But it wasn't until Editors took to the stage and the urgent disco beat of An End Has a Start took over that the crowd really got going.

For several songs the band and the audience barely paused for breath.

Singer Tom Smith's lyrics ponder the darker side of life - regret, loss, rejection and lots of death - but despite that gothic shadow, their music has an uplifting quality.

Listen carefully and you'll tune into a range of influences - including Murmur-era REM and Echo and the Bunnymen.

Smith is one of the best frontmen around - his distinctive dramatic vocal style has drawn comparisons with Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis and his performance is so animated he can barely stand still for a second.

EDP competition winner Deb Robinson and her son Chris Hughes, from Wymondham, were among the crowd. As well as getting tickets for the show, they met the band and had a sneak preview of the show at their sound-check.

It was a real treat for music-mad Chris, 14, who is in a band and plays drums, guitar and bass. The band signed one of his guitars for him, chatted and posed for pictures.

Ms Robinson said: “I couldn't be more impressed with the guys. They were so nice and happy to talk. They gave Chris advice about being in a band. They were very down to earth and seemed to really appreciate how well they're doing - Ed [Lay, the band's drummer] seemed so excited they could afford to have their own caterers.”

Highlights of the set included Munich, Blood and All Sparks, older crowd pleasers taken from their debut album, the Back Room.

Despite the melancholy subject matter, most fans went home with smiles on their faces.