Live Review: Interpol play one-off UK gig in London

Interpol returned to the UK for their first show in nearly two year's last night (May 15). The setting for which was current industry venue of the moment KOKO in London's Camden. First off, buying tickets for this event was harder than selling your kidney over the internet now the new Human Tissue Act has come in. And even if you did manage to, the change you'd have got back from a tout wouldn't have even been enough to afford a water to hydrate the one remaining. So how the hell did we get in? Don't ask. But lets just say I won't be on the booze for a while...

The purpose of this brief visit from Paul Banks & co was to showcase tracks from their forthcoming album 'Our Love To Admire' released on Parlophone (in the UK, Capitol in the USA) on July 9th. Frustratingly the set lasting around 70 minutes, including one encore, contained only 3 new tracks - the opener 'Pioneer To The Falls' (also track one of the album) a beautiful brooding slow burner (that will forever remind me of that moment they appeared on stage in a haze of smoke and darkness), 'Mammoth' a chimey upbeat dance number full of suspense and the storming first single 'The Heinrich Manuever'. The latter is THE perfect live track. With a chorus that is instantly recognisable, it repeats enough times that if you didn't get it the first time round you'll get it by the fifth and (most importantly) it contains a breakdown which descends into complete silence - causing the adoring audience to believe its finished, and, just at the point they really start to holler like hyenas - it comes back in - with wrecking balls bigger and harder than Muhammad Ali. The rest of the show was packed with straight down the line old classics - and although Paul's vocals were almost inaudible at times - it was a beautiful thing nonetheless.

Although this visit was long overdue, it was business as usual. Daniel maneuvered himself around the stage like a tripped out Sinatra, Carlos slung his bass around like a rather erotic weapon of mass destruction, Paul's face got lost in that gorgeous fashion mullet and Sam... well he wore a hat! However the addition of Carlos ('the victorian chemist') Dengler's rather fetching 'tach, and Paul Banks' new axes: a black Fender Jaguar and Gibson Flying V to add to the Les Paul Custom - were all exciting new additions to the Interpol aesthetic. However, the most significant musical addition being some geezer called 'Farmer Dave' who is now acting as the unofficial fifth member on keyboards. Though speaking little during the gig, Paul thanked the crowd saying that it was "great to be back in London." It was great to have you Paul! In fact it was amazing.

Interpol's setlist (KOKO, London May 15th):
'Pioneer To The Falls' (NEW SONG: from Our Love To Admire)
'Obstacle 1' (from Turn On The Bright Lights)
'NARC' (from Antics)
'Say Hello To The Angels' (from Turn On The Bright Lights)
'Take You on a Cruise' (from Antics)
'Mammoth' (NEW SONG: from Our Love To Admire)
'Slow Hands' (from Antics)
'Leif Erikson' (from Turn On The Bright Lights)
'The Heinrich Manuever' (NEW SONG: from Our Love To Admire)
'Evil' (from Antics)
'Not Even Jail' (from Antics)
'Length Of Love' (from Antics)
'Stella Was A Diver And She Was Always Down' (from Turn On The Bright Lights)
'PDA' (from Turn On The Bright Lights)

'Our Love To Admire' is not out until July 9th. But fear not beloved 'pol fans!

Stream audio:
You can stream the new single 'The Heinrich Manuever' taken from the album to your hearts delight just by clicking here.

Forthcoming:
Plus if that weren't enough - uberpingpong will be writing an in-depth, song-by-song, review of 'Our Love To Admire' shortly. Its fucking immense by the way. Watch this space.