Editors & Hot Hot Heat & Louis XIV @ Terminal 5: The Triad

As expected, Editors performed a flawless, energetic and inspiring 70-minute set last night at New York's Terminal 5. In spite of my initial trepidations about entering the cavernous venue, the British four-piece truly commanded the 3000-capacity space. Highlights of the show included an astounding 'Lights', a ferocious take on 'The Racing Rats', and perhaps their most passionate song to date, (the set-opening) 'Bones'. Having seen Editors in a variety of different places (Warsaw, Webster Hall & The Cornerstone Offices to name a few), I can honestly say that their strongest gig to date would easily be awarded to their Terminal 5 debut. Tremendously sensational, endlessly rousing.

Learn more about Editors at their official MySpace page. More photos below.







Setlist: Bones. All Sparks. An End Has A Start. Bullets. Escape The Nest. The Weight Of The World. Lights. Blood. When Anger Shows. You Are Fading. The Racing Rats. Munich... Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors. Fingers In The Factories.

MP3: Editors - The Racing Rats [alt link]

The last two times I saw Hot Hot Heat were when Canadian band was promoting their breakthrough LP, Make Up The Breakdown, back in 2003 at DC's 9:30 Club and at Brooklyn's Siren Festival, later that summer. While both of those early performances were equally daft and brilliant, last night's show was undoubtedly subpar. Thankfully, the band did manage to hurl 'Bandages', 'Talk To Me, Dance With Me' & 'No, Not Now' into the mix but sadly, it could not jumpstart the devastatingly dry set. Here's hoping it was just an 'off' evening for the boys. Visit Hot Hot Heat at their MySpace page.

MP3: Hot Hot Heat - Bandages (via Crispy Tomato)

Opening the triple bill was San Diego's very own, Louis XIV. Following a well-received tour with The Killers (Hot Fuss era), I was eager to check out the '70s-influenced quartet. For forty minutes the band stormed through tracks from their debut LP, as well as tunes from their forthcoming record, Slick Dogs And Ponies, (out on January 29th). Unlike so many others acts with a similar vintage-yet-modern sound, Louis XIV manages to pull their shtick off with virtually no pretension whatsoever. Additionally, the band's ability to capture the attention of the healthy crowd, despite their ridiculously early set time, is a feat within itself. Learn more about Louis XIV here at the band's MySpace page.

MP3: Louis XIV - Finding Out True Love Is Blind (via Swalrus)