Show Review: Interpol

Four-piece indie rock band Interpol walked on stage Monday night with an air of confidence, and if the reception of the crowd was any indication, that confidence was well earned. Each member was met with a roaring welcome from the sold out crowd at Newport Music Hall, setting the tone for an energetic and memorable evening.

Opening for Interpol was Hundred Waters, a band from Gainesville, Florida, featuring Nicole Miglis on lead vocals, keys, and flute. The group became known in 2012 after the release of their first, self-titled album and their partnership with Skrillex’s OWSLA record label. The band delivered haunting vocals amidst stirring, flashing lights and surrounded by a mist of fog. Overall, their electro-acoustic pop and guitar-synth orchestrations were well received by the crowd, who seemed to be captivated by their vocals and light show.

Interpol took the stage shortly after, with all the members dressed sharply in suits and met with an overwhelming applause. The band, originally from New York City, included lead vocalist Paul Banks, guitarist Daniel Kessler, drummer Sam Fogarino and bassist Brad Truax. They opened the show with “Say Hello to the Angels,” a song off of their debut album from 2002, Turn On The Bright Lights, then transitioning into “My Blue Supreme” and “Anywhere,” tracks from their most recent 2014 album, El Pintor. This album title means “the painter” in Spanish, and is also an anagram of Interpol.

The band went on to play one of their most popular songs off of their well-known 2004 album Antics, “Evil,” which was received with much enthusiasm. You could tell from the crowd’s admiring cheers just how long Interpol’s fans have been around and in support of the band. Although the show mostly featured songs off of El Pintor, the band included many fan favorites off of their older albums, such as “PDA” and “NYC,” to which everyone knew the words and was singing along. The band also included “Rest My Chemistry,” into their set list, a song off of their third studio album Our Love To Admire.

The show itself contained an aesthetically pleasing light show, changing the stage from red, to blue and green as well as a fog that seeped its way into the crowd. The backdrop was simple, featuring the album artwork of El Pintor of two hands touching, which began to distort as the show progressed.

All in all, it was an impressive show. From my experience, I believe Interpol sounds very good live, each song sounding possibly better than its recorded counterpart. Every track swept the crowd along with considerable energy and enthusiasm, sounding like the work of a band revitalized. Overall it seems as though Interpol has made a comeback from their glory days and is here to stay.