Interpol
-THE APOLLO, MANCHESTER-
Last year, New York indie-punk mavericks Interpol embarked on a sold out world tour to celebrate 15 years of their vital debut album, Turn On The Bright Lights. The trio returned home feeling refreshed and inspired by their past which very much informed the making of their sixth album. Coming in like a direct descent of their first two records, Marauder holds some of the band’s sharpest hooks to date and has become one of my most played records this year. As I look around the massive room that is the Apollo Theatre this evening, it seems many others agree Interpol have still got it. Thankfully, the crowd tonight is full of early 30’s indie goths so there is a very chill atmosphere as we eagerly await the band’s arrival on this small jaunt around the UK in support of the album.
I’ve always felt that Interpol were one of the coolest looking bands going and this thought does not fade as the band enter the stage all in crisp shirts and freshly pressed trousers. Guitarist Daniel looks particularly ace in his now iconic scruffy meets formal suit get up. And after a brief hello from frontman Paul, we are straight into the brooding guitar lines of ‘Untitled’, the opening track from their debut, an intense yet beautifully crafted track that hypnotises the audience straight away. That is something Interpol are so good at, elevating you in new sonic realms thanks to their glittering intertwining melodies matched with Paul’s smouldering vocals. I mean, ‘NYC’ is one of the most stunning pieces of indie rock going with it’s gorgeous post-rock style guitars and set to some excellent lightning work as the disco balls work overtime, this is a spine tingling moment.
The set manages to cover all of the band’s back catalogue but mainly leans on the band’s first two albums and of course their latest as we are treated to five bangers from each. The thing I notice straight away is how these songs work so well together and again you can tell that the new album was written with their earlier work freshly revisited in their minds. For example, second album track ‘C’mere’ seems to work effortlessly well into new track ‘If You Really Love Nothing’, both full of sharp guitar work and urgent drum work which is greeted to passionate head nodding across the theatre. The new songs sound as timeless as their classics, ‘Complications’ matches the hip shaking energy of previous LP smash ‘All The Rage Back Home’, while ‘The Rover’ makes me wanna jump up and down as much as the massive hit that is ‘Evil’.
Tonight, Interpol cut the shit and get stuck in to delivering the goods. The light show is frantic yet graceful, the set list is brilliantly put together with soaring rises and shimmering falls and the band never miss a beat, still smiling but taking it seriously. Interpol know they have become an indie treasure and tonight they confidently display how they are gonna keep it that way for many years to come.
Interpol: Official | Facebook | Twitter
I joined the Silent Radio family near the very start of my move to Manchester in 2012 and I'm still having the best time! During my stay here I've been in two noisy bands, had a not so noisy solo project, made a zine, started a blog and started a radio show. It's been productive to say the least and it's all been intersperse with a shit load of gig going and beer drinking. I would love it if you followed me on twitter @dr_brainless for excitable tweets about playing, watching and living new music.
