Interpol at The Greek

Interpol at The Greek
by Dileep Rao

Interpol are a band that many have derided as Joy Division Redux or Joy Division Lite. I would remind such critics that either epithet is a true compliment, as it seems clear that Joy Division left before their work was done and transformed themselves into something quite different: New Order.

Interpol are a very capable band whose music is dense and deeply orchestrated for a rock outfit. Their show at the Greek was efficient without too much chatter and made their way crisply through their material from both their debut album Turn on the Bright Lights and their latest offering Antics. Interpol frontman Paul Banks is physically still, eschewing the physical thrashing about that most modern lead singers substitute for actual singing. Banks has forward baritone that is deeply present and powerfully ambiguous. On Tuesday night his voices sounded a bit tired, maybe pushed but, to his credit, he didn’t chicken out of two encores. On their newer material, the band experimented with some atonal jams and rock outs but never to the extent of indulging themselves.

Interpol’s music, it must be said, on first blush may sound repetitive to the untrained ear; many of the riffs do seem similar and the rhythms are shifty in patterns one thinks are the same. But this is deeply deceptive because the music shifts in very precise meters, changing from droning organs to snap tight multi-threaded guitar riffs with surprising alacrity. This quintet is rock solid and seems to prize the timing and execution of their songs as much as the elasticity that rock is often over-indulged in.

Songs that are now indie standards like "PDA" and "Obstacle 2" were played with gangbuster powerhouse chord sequences. New songs like "Slow Hands" and "Public Pervert" had all the crescendos and cascading beauty the band is well known for. There were moments during "Evil" when Mr. Banks voice sounded a bit raw, but it fit the moment. The beauty of the guitars as he sang, "But hey who’s on trial?” spoke volumes about what makes Interpol so much better than most indie rock bands—they are exceptional musicians with great melodies and complex songs that relate more truthful and resonant truths than the simplistic styles favored by so many now.

Dileep can be reached at dileep@babblog.com.