Every so often a band comes along and takes hold of both your ears and heart; their entire catalog consuming your soul while simultaneously strengthening its hypothetical grip on its listener over time. Such is the case for this writer with one of New York’s most treasured musical exports of the last decade: Interpol. Needless to say, when the now five-piece post-punk indie revivalists, who are on the heels of their fifth full length album El Pint0r (and second without longtime bassist Carlos Dengler), checked the city of Denver as a stop on their latest tour; The Music Ninja would surely have sent at least one willing representative. And what a delicate, mystical and inspirative performance they delivered on a most beautiful Saturday night at one of our city’s most intimate and sonically tuned venues, The Ogden Theatre.
The crepuscular ensemble strutted out one by one to the Ogden’s stage amidst a dark, smokey shroud until finally lead vocalist Paul Banks assumed his position in front of the mic stand and say “hello” much to a raucous Denver crowd’s collective ecstasy. Interpol’s chosen live visual aesthetic was akin to a film noir; with gloomy lighting and minimal visuals playing off of their unique, highly recognizable sound -while their crowds diversity (which on this night was completely sold out) never ceases to amaze. From older fans strictly of the group’s first two LP’s Turn On the Bright Lights and Antics, to younger, chic listeners of the so-called hipster persuasion and everything in between; the mass was undeniably in attendance for one reason. A rather stripped down but just as lively version of El Pintor single “My Blue Supreme” was the chosen opening vehicle for an eager audience to board before swinging it up once again for a reminiscent delivery of perhaps this writer’s single favorite Interpol tune, “Evil”. As the night wore on, Paul, Daniel, Sam, Brandon and Brad undoubtedly fell into an incendiary groove. The troupe found themselves sleekly cycling between intimate crowd favorites like “Narc”, and “NYC” as well as El Pintor fare including “Same Town, New Story”, “Everything Is Wrong”, an astounding live rendition of “My Desire” and an upstart encore performance of “All the Rage Back Home”.
While we’ve heard the division of Interpol aficionados arguing over their lack of recording polish since the departure of said Carlos D; their live show certainly carries with it the same intriguing edge on which their legions of fans built such strong opinions in the first place. All in all, it was a great performance from a band still retrotting the steps on its identity and their live show hasn’t struggled nearly to the level some critics would suggest. Don’t miss Interpol on the rest of their tour with remaining North American tour dates below, and stream the El Pintor single “Ancient Ways” above.
10-02 Dallas, TX – Southside
10-03 Houston, TX – House of Blues
10-03-05 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits
10-07 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
10-09 Memphis, TN – Minglewood Hall
10-10-12 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits
11-06 St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Landing
11-07 Orlando, FL – House of Blues
11-08 Miami, FL – Fillmore
11-10 Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
11-11 Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
11-14 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
11-15 Milwaukee, WI – The Pabst Theatre
11-17 Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
11-18 Toronto, Ontario – Kool Haus
11-20 Montreal, Quebec – Metropolis
11-21 Boston, MA – House of Blues
11-22 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
11-24 New York, NY – Terminal 5
11-29 Washington, D.C – 9:30 Club
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