Editors, The National - Brixton Academy, London - Tuesday 30th May 2006

Three nights at Brixton seemed like a complete impossibility for Editors less than a year ago. But, with a well-promoted album, containing enough indie anthems to make a splash, they find themselves selling out 3 consecutive nights. When this happens to bands like Editors - and even more to bands like Hard Fi and Kaiser Chiefs, all after just one album, it does make you think that live music in the UK has changed into a business that can shift almost as many gig tickets as records, and probably for more money all in all.

The support band tonight were The National, a band I had heard of, but not heard much music from. A perfect support band for Editors, they played a long set full of slow-burning, broody, anthemic tunes. Reminiscent of Joy Division, the set was quite samey, but the "same" was pretty good. The songs take a long time to build up, then seem to explode into a riot of noise towards the end - just the way these things should be.

Editors came on stage pretty late for a Brixton gig, with a minimal stage set. The crowd for this was an older one, few people going completely mad at the front. For a "sold out" gig, this was one of the emptier ones, with no touts outside even, suggesting that maybe 3 nights is the limit for Editors. The set was very no-nonsense, little banter with the crowd between songs, but all of the familiar album tracks came out one by one - with some b-sides and new songs thrown in.

Behind me at the gig was a complete idiot, who obviously doesn't do many of these things - he was yelling "whoa" at the top of his loud voice relentlessly, even during songs. Unfortunately, you do find these people occasionally, even his girlfriend was not too keen on him.

Since I first saw this band back in December, I had wanted a repeat visit. This was a great gig, and the climax to a fantastic few months for Editors, but I couldn't help feeling that this might be their peak. It is hard to see how they will sell out bigger venues, although they will do well at the festivals later in the year.