Interpol

Tonight, I’m in Wolverhampton at the Grade II listed Civic Halls, which have recently reopened after a lengthy renovation, for the first time in a while. I am here to see Interpol perform their classic second album ‘Antics’ in full, on the occasion of its twentieth birthday. It’s a historic venue to see an historic band play an historic album. 

First though are Dust who are from Newcastle. That’s as in Newcastle, Australia. They are a five piece and with a punk saxophone and get a generous 45-minute slot. Their opener was a bit muddled opener but after that they settled down into more traditional fare with simple chords but they are into their long intros and outros. 

They also have real problems with the sound which keeps cutting out although I’m not sure they notice. Either that or they are being very professional about it all. 

 

They’re pretty good when they get down to it with some moments of brilliance in there amongst further muddles and their new single ‘New High’ was pretty catchy. 

In the setup period between the two bands they rig up a sheet up in front of the stage. They are clearly planning on hiding the band from us when they come on. Some may say it’s theatrical but it’s a ploy I’m never a fan of. I just find it annoying and it also kills the traditional between bands entertainment of watching the roadies set everything up. 

 

So we start with the band ‘hidden’ behind the sheet, turning them in to just silhouettes, but it goes on way too long and I spend the duration of the first song looking for how it’s attached and wondering how they are going to get it down again rather. When I should have been concentrating on the first song, the album opener ‘Next Exit’, which I feel it ruins. 

Thankfully as they move on to ‘Evil’ it drops and everything else is perfect and Interpol have no sound issue like the support band did. 

Antics is played in its entirety and in order. It is top notch nostalgia with riffs that take you back in time and that are delivered perfectly by Daniel Kessler’s guitar while Paul Banks‘ voice has aged as well as the venue. 

It’s an album with few, if any, weaknesses right through to 'A Time to Be So Small', a track that is often forgotten sitting at the end of the record. 

After a short break the band return to play a selection of classics from their other albums which sees significant set list variations every night. This is something they have always been every good with and it’s also nice to see a nice long set from them. That's something they've not always been so good at but it’s all ten tracks from Antics tonight and then ten tracks more in the second half.  

First up is 'Pioneer to the Falls' from the very underrated 'Our Love to Admire'. This is followed by its album mate 'No I in Threesome', a track that has been avoiding me for decades but I finally get to see them play it tonight. 

Then there's 'Obstacle 1' which is always huge and 'Lights', always epic. Then after a couple from 2014’s ‘El Pintor’, ‘My Desire’ and ‘All the Rage Back Home’, before 'Rest My Chemistry' which closes the set. 

They return for a second time which sees them surprisingly play 'Roland' to me for the first time then they end with their debut single 'PDA'. 

Historic venue, historic band. Sublime.