Review: Interpol at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne, January 4th, 2019
Back in August of 2018, Interpol unleashed their sixth studio album, Marauder.
Their first record since 2014’s El Pintor, fans were hoping that this album might see the band’s first return to the country since a one-off Splendour In The Grass performance back in 2014.
Thankfully, their prayers were answered last year with the group joining the bill for the 2018/19 Falls Festival lineup, while also announcing a couple of sideshows for their latest trip down under.
Check out Interpol’s ”Number 10′:
With temperatures reaching upwards of 40 degrees on Friday, dedicated Interpol fans braved the heat to head out to see one of New York City’s finest groups. Thankfully, the temperature had cooled somewhat by the time that these fans arrived at the beachside venue of St Kilda’s Palais Theatre.
Before long, Perth’s Psychedelic Porn Crumpets had taken to the stage, hell-bent on pumping up the crowd with their pounding, feedback-drenched set.
Kicking things off with ‘Surf’s Up’, the band’s powerful riffs and vocals were matched with angular rhythms and grooves, delivering a psychedelic sound that more than lived up to their name.
With tracks bleeding into each other somewhat, the group continued on, showcasing their stunning compositional skills, mixing blues-inspired riffs with their desire to deliver one of the most raucous shows going around.
After dropping tracks like ‘Gurzle’ and ‘Marmalade March’ into the mix, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets closed out their set with a mesmerising performance of ‘Cornflake’.
Stylistically resembling some of the sounds on Interpol’s Marauder, the group managed to end their set on a high, whilst perfectly segueing fans into the evening’s main event.
Check out Psychedelic Porn Crumpets’ ‘Cornflake’:
As showtime rolled around, the lights dimmed, leaving most of the venue in total darkness. Before long, a soft blue light bathed the stage, as the familiar introduction of ‘Pioneer To The Falls’ ebbed through the PA.
Soon enough, the iconic voice of Interpol frontman Paul Banks met our ears, with a mirror ball helping to envelope the Palais Theatre in bright light, revealing the band’s sharp black outfits.
After no time at all, this atmospheric mix of sounds came to a powerful halt, with drummer Sam Fogarino closing out the track with the most ferocious sounds you’ll hear anywhere.
As the group them kicked off with the 2004 classic ‘C’Mere’, it became clear that an Interpol show is not one that you’re there to solely hear, but rather to see and experience, allowing the phenomenal light show to help you get lost in the mix.
After running through stunning renditions of ‘If You Really Love Nothing’ and ‘Public Pervert’, the group took us back to the early days, dusting off 2002’s ‘Roland’. Considering that the 15th anniversary of the band’s debut Turn On The Bright Lights never made it to Australia in 2017, it was clear that fans had been hanging out for some cuts from their first full-length.
Thankfully, this was soon followed up with a trio of early tracks, as Interpol powered into amazing performances of ‘Say Hello To The Angels’, fan-favourite ‘NYC’, and diverting from their usual setlist to dig up the classic ‘Leif Erikson’.
Check out Interpol’s ”NYC’:
Jumping back to some of their newer work, Interpol threw down performances of ‘The Rover’ and ‘Number 10’, with the audience often finding themselves transfixed on the endearing dance moves of guitarist Daniel Kessler.
After a bit of a false start on ‘NYSMAW’ (“That’s a new one we’re working on, it’s very short,” Paul Banks joked to the crowd), the group closed out their main set with a few fan favourites, including ‘The New’, and 2004’s brilliant ‘Slow Hands’.
Taking their leave from the stage for a brief period, the chants of a frenzied audience soon proved more than enough to bring the band back for a three-song encore.
Wordlessly taking their positions once more, the group powered through versions of ‘Not Even Jail’, ‘Evil’, and ‘Obstacle 1′, before bidding us all farewell, and disappearing into the night.
While a first-time viewer of an Interpol gig might be put off by the band’s lack of interaction with the audience, or their tendency to allow their presence to take a backseat to the visual journey of light and smoke, it’s exactly this stunning experience that makes their performances so good.
Taking themselves out of the equation somewhat, we’re left to bask in the gorgeous baritone of Paul Banks’ voice, the acclaimed riffs and melodies of Daniel Kessler, and the stunning drumming of Sam Fogarino.
Together, they deliver a show so enigmatic, immersive, and brilliant that it always leaves us wanting more, knowing that if it indeed takes them another four years to return, it will undoubtedly be worth the wait.
Interpol are set to perform in Sydney on January 5th, before wrapping up their Aussie tour at the Fremantle Falls Festival on January 6th. Check out all the details below.
Check out Interpol’s ‘The Rover’:
Interpol Australian Tour 2019
Saturday, January 5th
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney, NSW
Also appearing at the Falls Festival
Sunday, January 6th, 2019
Fremantle Oval, Fremantle, WA
Interpol @ Palais Theatre, Melbourne 4/1/18 Setlist
‘Pioneer To The Falls’
‘C’Mere’
‘If You Really Love Nothing’
‘Public Pervert’
‘Roland’
‘Complications’
‘Say Hello To The Angels’
’NYC’
‘Leif Erikson’
‘The Rover’
‘Number 10’
‘Rest My Chemistry’
‘NYSMAW’
‘All The Rage Back Home’
‘The New’
‘Slow Hands’
Encore:
‘Not Even Jail’
‘Evil’
‘Obstacle 1’
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets @ Palais Theatre, Melbourne 4/1/18 Setlist
‘Surf’s Up’
‘Found God In A Tomato’
‘Gurzle’
‘Marmalade March’
‘Social Candy’
‘Cornflake’
