Live and Otherwise: Interpol Blows Into the Valley
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):