Imagine, if you will, a night spent with a group of editors.

The Bic versus Rollerball debate. The emdashes or semicolon conundrum. Brainstorming sessions for filling in the TKs. Sounds like an absolute chore. (Or a typical Tuesday morning in our offices.)

Unless, of course, the Editors in question have toured with Franz Ferdinand and gone head-to-head with Arctic Monkeys. Then the evening has an entirely different sound. Namely, a rocking one.

Editors, who hail from Birmingham (UK, not Bama), have just released The Back Room stateside. They’re already a household name across the pond, what with their dark brooding lyrics; hummingbird-fast guitar licks reminiscent of early U2 (in the Boy and October era); and lead singer Tom Smith’s sardonic, melancholy vocals that will remind you of Ian Curtis, Joy Division’s fallen singer.

These guys have already cut up the music. All you have to do is check out the final edit.

Rest assured, their notes are anything but boring.

Editors coheadline with Stellastarr on Sunday, April 16, at Metro, 3730 North Clark Street, between Grace Street and Waveland Avenue (773-549-0203 or metrochicago.com). For tickets, go to ticketmaster.com.

Photo Credit: Ami Barwell