The New Music

Interpol are one of those acts that you may never fully understand through and through, and for the most part…should likely never try. Their fairly anonymous looking presence on stage is matched steadfastly by their hollow and brooding demeanours; and I actually am a big fan. Truly, when their first record, Turn on the Bright Lights, emerged in 2002, I was in; sign me up, love it. Mistaken often as part of the dreary UK movement of the time, Interpol quite convincingly exudes a proper NYC rock persona.

Standing silhouetted against the drenching Koolhaus lights, they are a band you should have no problems listening to. Fans of the band may or may not have noticed a slight line-up change. Three quarters of the band remain the same, with the bassist Carlos D departing, allowing newcomer David Paio into the fold. The band however, seemed no worse for the wear; and perhaps just to make that point, played an exorbitant amount of material from that aforementioned debut record, which made all the waves.

Personally I found Antics and Our Love to Admire equally as impressive records, and quite often turn to them for listening pleasures still, but the die-hards will always swoon and sway over the first one; it’s simply how die-hards work. Me, I’m easy…just give me a good show and I will be kind.

Seeing as how Interpol’s material is without prejudice, dark and gloomy (for lack of describing it over the course of a 10 paragraph essay) it was surprising to see a crowd not overly saturated with emo-types and people emerging from basement apartments for the first time in weeks. Instead a healthy mish-mash of all the city’s music stereotypes and, dare I say, young professionals.

Over the years you hear all kinds of elusions to their music: a poor man’s Joy Division is by far one of my favourite misnomers. A post-pink NYC outfit like this, usually sharply dressed, does more for me then many bands will ever do. Their lyrics, albeit somewhat moody, carry an air of experience and insight. They are intelligent, but not preachy. Their music is driven, and the guitar hooks, coupled with the ever calming tones of the vocals, fit the part all too well. And on this night, the crowd was treated to a variety of cuts from across the board; at one point it seemed they were playing a track off the debut record every two songs. You can tell a band has a loyal following when newer material such as Lights receives as warm of a welcome as some of their more favoured tunes, like Evil. All in all, the show was truly a majestic foray into the band’s musical legacy, and was well worth the admission for all who attended. As a band they stand to serve their fans with inspiration and their live show fought hard to prove it.