Photo of Interpol’s Paul Banks by Laura Jerele
When Interpol announced a North American tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their stellar sophomore album, Antics, there was no doubt in my mind I would attend the show. Sadly, there was no St. Louis date for this celebration of musical magic, so I ventured up to Chicago to catch both nights of the Antics celebration at The Salt Shed. The venue was decked out with an immersive tribute to the album with super large photographs of the band from the album era and the original album artwork spanning an entire block outside the venue for the most epic photo grabs, and more of the various artwork spread throughout the inside of the venue. The level of this collaboration was really remarkable and it felt as if the Salt Shed was decked out for all for us Interpol fans for the two-day event. And the commemorative Antics merch was pure fire!
Yeah, there’s no secret that this is my most favorite band. But that aside, I can objectively say that Antics is a perfect album from start to finish, so the chance to hear this intentional and thoughtfully laid out musical journey was something that I would not miss. Much like when they celebrated their much-acclaimed debut album, 2002’s Turn On the Bright Lights (only that was at the 15 year mark of its release), I had to venture to Los Angeles to see that. In my beloved hometown of L.A., both shows were vastly different — one intimate with tickets highly coveted for the tiny El Rey theater show, the other one a sold-out, massive outdoor crowd of over 25,000 people in downtown Los Angeles swaying and swooning to Turn On the Bright Lights.
Just like the original Antics tour, Interpol filled the venue with massive amounts of fog and very simple, dim red lights as we waited for the show to begin. The lights went even dimmer, a deeper red and then, there they were — Interpol were quietly on the stage before me and the loud roar of the entire sold-out crowd of over 3500 fans behind me sent a wall of sound towards the band. The opening track “Next Exit” (which felt like a perfect hello that picked up from where Turn on the Bright Lights left off) echoed its first notes while they were still heavily guarded in a flood of red and darkness. And with that, we were off…
Playing Antics in order, there was fabulous nostalgia for us very longtime fans and the stuff of dreams for all the youngest fans that recently discovered Interpol to hear this complete collection of work live. Antics is a triumph because the band did not fall into the dreaded sophomore slump, but instead picked up where they left off, showing growth and complexity while keeping true to their sound…but also bringing something completely new. Playing this music 20 years later, a bit older and probably much less hazy, these lads could not help but smile with the audience’s response as they laid into these ten tracks. There were moments of sheer happiness on singer Paul Banks’ face as the crowd was singing, screaming, and jumping from the start. It’s got to be one hell of a triumph knowing fans love your music with such fervor. Playing their way through Antics, the absolute highlight of the night for me was also the true turning point of the album itself — “Not Even Jail.” This song is where Antics took a turn into new depth, and you feel that in the very driving nature of the song. And you could feel that in the show as well, right after the punchy “Slow Hands,” “Not Even Jail” took the crowd somewhere damn near spiritual.
As they finished playing out the ten tracks of Antics, the band left the stage for just a moment, which was fitting to let Antics be a complete set. They quickly returned to continue to play for another hour with a setlist that was damn near dreamy! Opening with Daniel Kessler on guitar with “Pioneer to the Falls” and then right into the rarely played “No I in Threesome,” this second set was feeling like a gift! Kessler remains the most underrated guitarist in indie rock. Playing his trademark guitars, switching between the Casino and ES-330, he’s fluid and an extremely articulate player and yeah, he does it all with some sweet dance moves and footwork that is as much his hallmark as is his dapper style and smart-suit-clad guitar playing.
While the original bassist for Interpol, Carlos Dengler, has not been with the band since 2010, it is worth noting that touring bassist Brad Truax is the perfect choice to fill his shoes. Truax is a phenomenal talent, slings the bass ultra-low, and has his own dark, aloof, and mysterious vibe while never missing a single note. Yeah, he’s the perfect choice. Drummer Sam Fogarino has suffered some health issues and is recovering from spine surgery, so even though he would love to be a part of these Antics shows, healing comes first. Thanks to Chris Broome who’s been filling in, these anniversary shows can go on. Brandon Curtis (Secret Machines) tours with Interpol and has for many years on keyboards and vocals, but to me he feels very much like part of the band.
The night threw some deep cuts our way like “My Desire” from El Pintor, and bangers like “All the Rage Back Home” and “Roland” with the fabulous sped-up fadeout they created for the Turn on the Bright Lights anniversary tour that really throws the crowd into a frenzy getting faster and faster as it nears the end! Yeah sure, someone always (and I mean always) yells “Stella!” from the crowd to no avail, because that one is the utmost of Interpol’s rarities. However…on night two (wait — you didn’t think I only went for night one, did you?)…they delighted everyone by putting “Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down” into the set before the encore and the entire crowd screamed “STELLLLLA” along with Banks so loud, it made the entire band smile and I’m surprised it didn’t blow the roof right off that damn shed we were rocking in.
To end the night, “PDA” was truly the best choice for the encore, it gave us all one more chance to sing our hearts out, dance, watch Kessler take his moment at the mic for his rare turn with backup vocals, and throw our adoration towards this band that we love so much. I’ve seen this band over 40 times, in 11 different states, and I saw the Antics tour several times the first time around, and I can honestly say that Interpol never stops impressing me. They’re truly at the top of their game, grateful for their past and yet still creative masters at this elusive craft and very difficult industry. I cannot wait to see what they create next, and you can be damn sure I’ll be there to see it. | Laura Jerele
Night one setlist:
Antics:
1. Next Exit
2. Evil
3. Narc
4. Take You on a Cruise
5. Slow Hands
6. Not Even Jail
7. Public Pervert
8. C’mere
9. Length of Love
10. A Time to Be So Small
Set 2:
11. Pioneer to the Falls
12. No I in Threesome
13. The Rover
14. Rest My Chemistry
15. My Desire
16. Roland
17. Lights
18. All the Rage Back Home
19. Obstacle 1
Encore:
20. The New
21. PDA
