Written By: Derek Walker
Artists: Editors with The Antlers
Venue: Vic Theatre
Location: Chicago, IL
Date: 02/15/2010
Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood is pretty swanky, and that’s where one will find The Vic Theatre, a relatively upscale concert hall unto itself. For those unaware, which I’m guessing is roughly 98 percent of this Web site’s readership, The Vic is the place for bands too big for the local dive bars, but too small for the larger venues and stadiums — perfect for up-and-coming Brooklynites The Antlers, and one of the United Kingdom’s hottest acts, Editors.
I don’t get to many Monday shows, as Monday is a unique, almost unprecedented day for a concert. While I generally don’t work until Wednesday, I’ve always felt a disconnect with the beginning of the week. Call it a “case of the Mondays,” or just a general malaise on my behalf, but I’m used to enjoying sitting in with a cold one and watching the televised wrestling matches or “24.” So for me to step out at all is a rarity, but there are exceptions to be made for two bands of this quality performing at a venue of this atmosphere.
Being a Monday, the show started somewhat early, at 7:30 p.m. Perhaps I’m more adjusted to going out on a weekend and catching a band’s set closer to midnight to not notice. I almost wish the concert started a little later, as I got lost on my way to the theater, no thanks to Google Maps. But it was fitting, or maybe a little coincidental that the three who make up The Antlers were running a bit late themselves — they didn’t come on until around 7:50 p.m. Because of this, their set was abbreviated, and they were only given about a half-hour to run through a half-dozen or more of their stronger cuts from their critically-acclaimed 2009 record, “Hospice.”
With only two bands on the bill, as well as the early start time, I expected a little more courtesy from the venue folks. Another group, The Dig, was supposed to open, but had to cancel due to weather issues and complications with their tour van. Unlike most in attendance, though, I was there to see Peter Silberman, Michael Lerner and Darby Cicci: the three gents who make up The Antlers. However, the guys did their best with what time they were given, offering a powerful, most poignant performance. Emotion is never something that runs low for this band, as their new album demonstrates, and their stage show is equally sensational. Silberman, belting through the lyrics of “Sylvia,” stared blankly into the half-full balcony. One could tell he is a vocalist who puts his entire heart, soul and being into what he does. As an avid concert-goer and fan of the music, that is certainly an appreciable quality to possess. My only complaint is not hearing the bittersweet “Epilogue,” though it is a minor complaint at most.
The Antlers brought it Monday night and kept the crowd nice and toasty for Editors, which took things to a whole new level. After releasing its third record overseas last fall, the group has been riding a wave of momentum which culminated in a brief run of the States this month. I hadn’t had a chance to hear “In This Light and on This Evening,” which has received mostly favorable reviews, and after checking out some of the new songs live, I regret that decision. The songs I did recognize were each executed masterfully, all accompanied and fleshed-out by The Vic’s lush sound system. The lighting, disappointingly enough, left a little to be desired.
I compliment the guys behind the lighting boards, but from an amateur photographer’s perspective, the first three songs I was allowed to photograph during were marred with a sharp red hue impossible to capture digitally. Now, I’m not one to place the blame; I recognize my photo-taking ability is not ideally where I’d like it to be, but even the nice fella beside me shooting for the Associated Press had his problems. So, to those clicking through the image gallery after reading this, my apologies, as I was only able to get a handful of decent, usable shots of vocalist Tom Smith. Or, if you’re a fan of Smith’s and none of the other guys in the band, I suppose you’re in luck. Depends on your perspective, but from my literal perspective, the lighting was less than stellar — which is unfortunate, because standing back from the stage led to some impressive visuals, replete with the much-desired, epilepsy-trigger strobe effect.
Editors, the clear headliner, were given a nice 90-minute window to perform, and the band used every second of it to their advantage. With a lengthy 19-song set, which included four encores, no fan in the almost-sold-out audience left unhappy. I wish I had heard “Camera,” from the debut record, “The Back Room,” but my ears were pleased enough with what they were given. With great sound, a neat, strobe-y light show and a compassionate, mature crowd, this was one of the better concerts I’ve attended as of late. It was so good, in fact, it almost took the sting out of ponying up $20 for parking and getting lost on my way there.
Almost. Maybe if I had heard “Epilogue.”
Editors set list:
1. In This Light and on This Evening
2. Lights
3. An End Has a Start
4. You Don’t Know Love
5. Bullets
6. The Boxer
7. The Big Exit
8. Blood
9. Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool
10. The Racing Rats
11. Escape the Nest
12. Like Treasure
13. Bones
14. Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors
15. Bricks and Mortar
Encore:
16. Walk the Fleet Road
17. Munich
18. Papillion
19. Fingers in the Factories
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