Old post - Me and Interpol

(originally posted 20.3.11)

Colston Hall, Bristol 19 March 2011

I've been going to gigs for more than 25 years but surprisingly this was the first time I'd been to the Colston Hall. The band was also a first. Interpol are a New York indie band introduced to me by Mrs Co-ordinator who has been a fan for almost ten years since their first album Turn on the Bright Lights.

They're not your average indie guitar band, they have a much fuller, more layered guitar sound and some of their songs are bleak, dark and borderline depressing. They know how to rock too though and crowd-pleasers like 'Evil', 'The Heinrich Maneuver' and 'Slow Hands' were all given an airing.

We were a bit late getting tickets for this and were sat quite well back in the balcony. It took me a while to get used to. I felt a bit removed from the action, like I was watching it on tv. Something to remember for future bookings.

Interpol were excellent. The sound was almost recording quality and Paul Banks' voice was a perfect fit with the five-piece line-up. After a near 90-minute set the band closed with 'Slow Hands' and were given a standing ovation.

If you're thinking of seeing them at any point don't expect fancy light shows, lasers, multimedia video experiences or even banter between songs. Expect great musicians performing their songs to a very high level. That's enough surely?

PostScript One - Back to the balcony business. Why do people pay £45 for a pair of tickets and then talk through the performance? You can talk later you clowns. Also, why do people leave their seats so much? So many people got up during 'My Chemistry' I wondered if I hadn't heard a fire alarm. Would you go to a play or the cinema and think 'this is a slow bit - I'll go and get a pint'?

PostScript Two - The Colston Hall security team are billed as 'Audience Safety' which I found interesting. Hats off to them though for moving a shaggy-haired headbanger out of his seat to somewhere he could pretend to play the drums out of anyone's way.

PostScript Three - The support act was Matthew Dear. If you like your music in the electro-dirge style with a lead man who sounds a bit like Ian McCulloch and takes himself nearly as seriously then they could be for you.