It’s raining. You’re walking down the street and the sky is painted an ominous grey. The wind is chilling you down to the bone. You know you're almost home so you hold on. However, by a stroke of luck, the sun begins to poke its head through the dreary clouds. So I know you’re asking, "wtf?" Is this a music blog or a weather observation? Calm yourself. It’s simply a metaphor for the feeling that overcomes you when you listen to the New York-based Interpol. For a land baked in sunshine and sand, Interpol’s impending performance at the Marquee on Feb. 5 will provide a delicious antithesis to Arizonan surroundings. With their danceable rhythms and dark overtones, Interpol has a dark sparkle that appeals to many. Originally formed in 1997, their debut album “Turn On the Bright Lights” sparked a renewed interest into the dark disposition of the post-punk era. Their newest self-titled release was distributed last year, and this tour is in direct relation to the new album. Their new album is definitely a demonstration of their evolution as a band, and while obviously different than its predecessors, is a concept album that still holds Interpol’s unique dark glamour. Take a listen to “Barricade” to see what I mean (and also to see the image of lead singer Paul Banks on [ahem] interesting places):
Opening for Interpol is a fairly new ensemble, School Of Seven Bells. If Interpol was the rainy day, School of Seven Bells produce the daydreams that form as you gaze into the storm, seated securely in the warmth of your own home. Their newest release, “Disconnect From Desire," is a dreamy concoction that could have you floating away on a musically propelled cloud. They are a stark contrast to the dark aura that surrounds Interpol, but they provide a nice musical arrangement that is sure to impress the crowd come Saturday. Check out the ethereal sounding release from their newest endeavor, entitled “Windstorm:"
What’s sure to be a show that will take your ears on a journey to some far reaching destination, it definitely deserves to be my live music pick of the week. To prepare you for the journey, here’s one of my favorite Interpol songs off their 2004 Antics release, entitled “Evil" (complete with a singing puppet for your viewing pleasure):
Interpol and School Of Seven Bells will be performing at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe on Feb. 5.
