collylogic.com - Simon Collison's weblog

Interpol, Rock City, Nottingham

20th December 2004

Isn’t it great when a band you love live up to your expectations when playing live. I’ve seen a hell of a lot of great gigs throughout 2004, but nothing matched the dark, brooding brilliance of Interpol playing to a sold-out Rock City in Nottingham last night.

Interpol

Despite a problematic hangover based on several days of excess, here’s a swiftly collaged together review for your pleasure…

After what sounded like great support from Dallas boys The Secret Machines, the assembled smart goths and knowledgeable-looking kids in knotted scarves jostled for position as the moment neared. I think Interpol last played in Nottingham back in 2002, as part of an NME tour, way down the bill. I’d been there that night, but knew little about the band, and thus paid more attention to the bar. I do remember that live, they sounded a bit clunky, and frontman Paul Banks (born in Clacton-On-Sea, fact fans) had sounded a bit gutteral. I also remembered the bass player’s Nazi chic (which he calls “Mid-century-European-military"), which was evident again tonight.

This time around, Interpol are majestic, impressively intelligent, and with recent album Antics, considerably more mature in sound. Opening with the synthy, low-paced Next Exit, then plunging into a loud-as-fuck Obstacle 1, this is a band well on top of their sound and agenda right now. The lights and dry ice never really revealed the band, keeping them fairly anonymous, with occasional glimpses of knowing guitar posturing (especially on PDA) and brief bits of banter, with the customary mention of being glad to be in “Narding-Ham” raising yet more cheers. Actually, the more I think about it, the more dynamism I remember emanating from the stage. They were really enjoying themselves up there. Certainly, Mr. Banks was enjoying a few cigarettes. It’s a while since I saw the “cig wedged in fret-board” pose. Very good.

The set list was a strong mix of key tracks from both albums, with Not Even Jail and Roland really standing out. Best of all for me was a delicious, perfect performance of Leif Erikson, with it’s soaring guitar-fiddling on the final verses that always makes me tingle.

Interpol

The only negative I can level at them was that they didn’t play genius PDA b-side The Specialist. Yes, it’s a b-side, but it’s something of a legendary tune for Interpol fans - a song more epic than Coppola directing Charlton Heston in a remake of Lord Of The Rings. Still, NYC, Slow Hands, Length Of Love and a sledgehammer rendition of Evil proved this to be a glorious set, with Interpol wealthy enough to pick and choose from their songbook as they please.

So, I’ve read that many of you bloggers dig Antics. A great number of you have shoved the album into your festive top-fives - and with good reason. Let me reassure you that live, this band are big. They’re still touring around the States and Europe in early 2005, so do yourselves a favour and bag a ticket for an intimate show before they start playing arenas.

Simon Collison published this on 20/12/04, at 2:28 PM

Comments

Bah! Wish I could’ve been there!

20/12 at 14:53 from Jon Hicks

Ahh, the jealousy burns. To be honest, I’ve been taking my time getting into Antics - I didn’t find it as immediately grabbing as their first album. However, in this last week I’ve be been feeling the need for Interpol late at night (along with the similarly wonderful Doves - who are also touring) and playing the two albums back to back has really opened me up to Antics some more. It’s found its way way onto my iPod travelling playlist too. It’s very, very good indeed.

They’re definitely on my ‘to see’ list for next year. Assuming that they don’t lock themselves away for 18 months before album #3, of course.

20/12 at 17:13 from Ben Ward

Jealousy is such a negative term, but very appropriate. I’ve been trying to see Interpol for some time now, to no avail. To bad they didn’t play the Specialist, it’s one of my favorite songs behind the New, and Obstacle 1.

22/12 at 01:43 from allgood2

Maybe I should be clear that I mean jealous in a “Bah, I wish I’d known they were touring” kind of a way, rather than a “Rah! Bloodsoaked vengence on Colly and all whom he has set eyes on” kind of jealous — just to be clear, y’know.

Anyway, I got to see the Super Furries at the Royal People’s Festival Hall a short while back, that’s enough to keep any risks of ‘real’ jealousy far, far away!

22/12 at 10:37 from Ben Ward

Ah, the Super Furries. What a band! The mark of a true SFA fan is whether they love their Welsh-language album Mwng or not. Suffice to say I love it.

Oh, and I’m delighted there’ll be no “Bloodsoaked vengeance”, Ben. Phew…

22/12 at 15:52 from Simon Collison

I’m not a bloodsoaking kind of guy, reassuringly.

While most of the SFA albums in my possession actually belong to my musically eclectic Dad (albeit as MP3, he wouldn’t have been too impressed at me ‘borrowing’ them for my University years), Mwgn is an exception and is all mine. In my opinion, it remains one of the best pop records of my lifetime.

I also possess one of the lovely numbered editions of The Man Don’t Give A Fuck (Live) on vinyl. I don’t own a record deck, so I got the CD too. That’s a blast.

Apologies to Interpol for the hijacking of their Blog-love but, come on, the Super Furries… What a band!

22/12 at 17:00 from Ben Ward

You know when you go to a gig and someone in front of you insists on talking all the way through...? Annoying isn’t it...? Well, this time I was that person, and I’m truly sorry mate.

“I’ll bring you when my lifeboat
Sails through the night
That is supposing that
You don’t sleep tonight”

22/12 at 17:15 from Simon Snorkeller

Pffft. Their April ‘05 London gig has been sold out for ages now, so as much as I’d love to see one of the very few new bands that are actually any good, opportunities are slim here in the south. So I’ll have to make do with the two albums and the extra tracks I’ve found… Although I saw some video of an in session thingy for a radio station, which was on the Antics website (v1) a while back. That was cool to see.

Still, I’m glad they were awesome. It bodes well for whenever I get to see them. (Can’t wait to see Doves again)

23/12 at 13:18 from Steev Bishop

Simon - no worries. I blocked you out in favour of the music. Besides, it’s usually me who waffles on through gigs.

Everyone else - good luck on the tickets front. Hope you get some. As for SFA - here’s hoping they do Nottingham again this year.

03/01 at 13:23 from Simon Collison

Given your respect for “Mwgn” Colly, what do you make of Gruff Rhys’ solo record? I spotted “Yr Atal Genhedlaeth” at lunchtime and picked up a copy, fearing it might be gone forever by next week.

I’m only half-way through, but so far it sounds like a nice compliment to the earlier masterpiece.

28/01 at 02:02 from Ben Ward

Ah, someone was telling me about Gruff’s record yesterday - definitely gonna seek it out. He’s got a great voice, but as I love SFA lyrics, I can’t help feeling I’m missing out on some more nuggets when it’s all in Welsh. Still, I do indeed love Mwng.

28/01 at 15:55 from Simon Collison

Do you know how old Paul Banks is?

26/06 at 22:02 from Carr

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