Interpol - Photo Gallery 4th January @ Palais Theatre, Melbourne VIC
Interpol
Palais Theatre, Melbourne VIC
January 4th, 2019
Support: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
After spending the past few days at Falls Festival Lorne, it was time for a run of summer festival sideshows, which included a headline set by NYC’s Interpol. This would be the band’s first Melbourne show in eight years, and anticipation for their appearance was at an all time high. Despite the Palais being an all-seated venue, eager fans queued for the doors to take their pick of the merch desk and grab a drink in the venues newly restored bar area.
I was lucky enough to be sitting in the second row as Perth’s Psychedelic Porn Crumpets opened the night, filling the auditorium with their fusion of psychedelic and garage rock, and drawing a large crowd during heir short set. I was impressed with their strong performance; they were confident and engaging on stage, showing their audience that they were truly excited to be sharing the Palais stage with Interpol.
Playing their first Melbourne headline show in eight years, Interpol stepped on stage to the sounds of ‘Interlude 2’, and it immediately felt like no time had passed at all. Beginning with ‘Pioneer to the Falls’, the band effortlessly played through a strong set which catered mainly to new LP Marauder and their debut record Turn On The Bright Lights. Vocalist, Paul Banks, was in great spirits tonight, his smile beaming as he introduced songs throughout the set and led the performance. While Banks has the most interaction with the audience, each member of the band compliments each other with their contribution to the overall sound. Drummer Sam Fogarino blasted through the set with unmatched ferocity, while the intricate six-string and footwork of guitarist Daniel Kessler said more than words could. It’s also worth noting that while their set was longer than their Falls Festival performance, it was different with a few songs omitted in place of others for fans who were lucky enough to attend both shows. Highlights included ‘Say Hello To The Angels’ (easily up there was one of their best), ‘Leif Erikson’, ‘Slow Hands’, ‘All The Rage Back Home’ (the only cut from El Pintor in tonight’s set) and set closer ‘Slow Hands’.
A three-part encore of ‘Not Even Jail’, ‘Evil’ and ‘Obstacle 1’ drew the night to the close, and not even Palais security could stop fans leaving their seats and filling the aisles down the front of the orchestra seating to get as close to the band as possible. With Fogarino putting his arm around Banks and introducing him to the crowd before they waved and left the stage, I felt like I had witnessed a show I would never forget. I’ve been privileged to have seen Interpol a handful of times over the years (including their 15th Anniversary Turn On The Bright Lights show in Los Angeles) but tonight was truly something magnificent. Truthfully, Interpol may have gone under the radar amongst a lot of the Australian community over the past few years but tonight’s performance to a theatre of die-hard fans truly showed their status as one of the most important musical acts of the past twenty years.
Setlist
Pioneer to the Falls
C'mere
If You Really Love Nothing
Public Pervert
Roland
Complications
Say Hello to the Angel
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
Gig Review by Luke Sutton
Photo Gallery by Holly Parker @hllyprkrphoto.
Please credit Wall of Sound and Holly Parker if you repost photos.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
Interpol
