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Interpol
Interpol seem to be a real hit and miss live band. Prior to tonight, DiS's experiences have ranged from the good (Sheffield, 2005), the bad (Leeds Festival, 2007) and the absolutely shit-awful (Hove Festival, 2007). The problem has never been the tunes - spread across three albums, they have many - but more the attitude of the guys playing them.
At Hove, particularly, they appeared utterly disinterested, and their damp squib of a performance spoke for itself. "We don't give a damn," it said, "we're getting paid to be here, and we don't care whether you like it or not." Moody, some might argue, fits with the music but an enjoyable show it does not make. There's a balance to be struck, and it's one that's eluded them in the past.
Tonight, thankfully, is different. The NYC quartet seem almost jovial, particularly guitarist Daniel Kessler - always the most animated - and Banks even smiles when eager fans beg for a rendition of 'Obstacle 2', which they duly deliver. But it's the material taken from that album, Turn On The Bright Lights, and its follow-up, Antics, that offers by far the biggest thrills this evening - and that's our only gripe.
It's not even because those songs are more familiar, or have more memories associated with them, than the stuff from third LP Our Love To Admire - in this writer's opinion, it's because those songs are just plain better. For most bands, a record like OLTA wouldn't be a disaster - and it isn't for Interpol either - but the problem it's left them with is that their latest material just doesn't excite to the same extent as the early stuff.
Even the diehards at the front seem to be treading proverbial water during the likes of 'Pioneer To The Falls' and 'Rest My Chemistry' - particularly in comparison to their reactions to 'Obstacle 1', 'Roland' and, obviously, 'Slow Hands'. The band, too, seem to exert themselves more on the older stuff - 'Not Even Jail', for instance, turns into an extended wig-out (of the good variety), while 'Evil' sees even the middle-aged Fred Perry in front of us lose himself in the music, such is its magnificence.
More of that on the fourth record, please, but, for now, chalk down another hit.
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I'm really wondering
how they're going to pull off Latitude festival. When I saw them at the Ally-pally, I thought the sound was pretty killer, but the performance could surely have been more animated. That seems to be key complaint.
Fingers crossed anyway.
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I have very fond
memories of Interpol at Koko and Astoria. Not Even Jail is awesome live. By the way, I think Ally Pally turns everyone and anyone to shit. Though equally unsure of how they will fare at Latitude.
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This was a 9
for me. Of all the times I've seen Interpol this was the most animated they've ever been. The only downside of the evening for me was that they didn't play 'Stella...' or 'Specialist' but I guess there's only so much you can do in 90 minutes. I can't wait for Latitude now after this...
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You were there?
Why didn't you say hello?
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I'm everywhere...
Gwauh Har HAr Har
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This was almost an 8
Almost.
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On the night I was thinking the same thing
but in hindsight I thought it was bloody great! Did you catch any of Ladytron? I thought they were really good as well.
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I thought
Interpol had a slow start but by the end they all looked really into it.
'The Lighthouse' was stunning!
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Yeah
They were ok-ish... the bass was ridiculously distorted, though, and not in a good way, in an 'I can't hear any of the other instruments' way.
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They seemed happy though
which is a first for Ladytron, particularly Mira.
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They sounded perfect through their own monitors
That's probably why.
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I didn't know you went Dom!
I am quite jealous. They never play Stella do they?
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They did the last time I saw them
in Hove last summer.
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Saw
them at Ally Pally - thought the performance was pretty good but that venue sucks out any soul or atmosphere you normally expect from gigs.
I agree with the reviewer about OLTA though - I thought some of it was brilliant but some of it was dull, all in all a fairly patchy work.
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I think everybody
prefers the first two albums. But funnily enough, I reckon that those two songs which were mentioned (plus The Heimlich Maneuver) are the best from the CD. Especially Pioneer To The Falls. Anyone treading proverbial water during that song is (lol opinions) wrong.
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Very good gig I thought
Agreed that Leeds 07 was pretty poor.
Not Even Jail was, as said, pretty bloody epic. I thought the gig had a really good amount of people to get a good atmosphere despite not selling out. -
I've seen them live three times
Florence, Glastonbury and the Ally Pally and I honestly couldn't tell you if they were a good live band. I was too busy having fun. (Yes, fun)
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Aye, was a cracking gig.
Must've seen them 6 times since the Fukd ID EP and they are painfully hit and miss live, but never to the point where I've been disappointed as I always felt the songs shrone through the attitude. But Sheffield was a perfect combination of allofness of attitude and performance.
Proper review here:
http://www.disposablemedia.co.uk/music/live-reviews/review-interpol-at-the-sheffield-academy-july-9/-
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yes,
have you ever written a line like "15 songs in length, the set was only felt brief"? YOU AMATEUR!
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'amateur'
fanks. I'll add that to my CV.
'Amateur contributor to Drowned in Sound comment forms'.
Nice sentence structure by the way. Shame about the shouty caps. Quite impolite.
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*sigh*
as opposed to my comments here.
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Oops
My bad.
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pah, my bad for not qualifying.
and in actual fact, I really enjoyed your piece. Certainly summed alot of what we were saying after the gig.
Though I really enjoyed the Leeds gig last year. Absolutely slaughtered, mind you.
You going to Latitude?-
cheers dude
no Latitude for me, but seeing them at Summercase that same weekend. fingers crossed!
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Summercase?
Very, very nice. Hope they'll be some sort of review or feature on here as it sounds like it's gonna be a top one. Enjoy!
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There will indeed be coverage
Enjoy Latitude, if you're going.
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aye, off to Latitude
Couldn't say no to T'interpol, Death Cab, Sigur Ros, Elbow, Crystal Castles and Foals. Next to a lake. Lovely.
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Rob- thanks for this review
It was a great wig-out; Sheffield crowds knows how to rock and of that there can be no doubt. I cannot comment about other gigs as this is only my second time seeing interpol - the other being Blackpool which was also quite lively.
I have long since learned that you cannot look to others to make it a fun gig; you must get right in there and make sure it happens for you. I was eight back from the front more or less in the middle right next to a tall lad who was determined to slam dance me and my neighbours throughout the whole set. In these circumstances there is only one thing to do and that is to show the guy how to dance properly. Its impressive stuff when the crowd get it in step. Even better is to see the band’s reaction and start to make positive comments as they did several times.
Being close to that left speaker set we did suffer from major bass distortion and flatting. On some songs I had to imagine the keyboards and on others I was glad of a rest. During ‘Rest My Chemistry’ Paul Banks was looking at us as he sang and with a look of wondering what was wrong. On another song I was convinced that they played in the wrong key, it seemed a deliberate attempt to be funereal.-
6/10
in manchester the other night really. the worst i've ever seen them. although daniel seemed to bne enjoying himself.
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As to rating 9/10 for me
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excuse me
when they are good they are very good.
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No Lief Errikson?
Bad news. :-(
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Here's another review
http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/review/interpolx14x07x08
with nice pics too!
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There were some more DiSsers there too!
I reckon we should all review the show!
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