Interpol | Harro East Ballroom, Rochester

Fresh off the release of their third full-length album, Our Love to Admire, the 5-piece NYC group better known as Interpol was ready to kick off their summer tour, playing their first show since the album was released...in Rochester?? I have no idea who does their booking, but it is nice to see someone give The Flower City some attention, as the band played at the Harro East Ballroom Thursday night.

Harro East is a really nice facility, however, it was never made to hold a concert. There's nothing soft on the walls, there's long windows, and the space is almost square shaped. The sound wasn't bad as I thought it was going to be, as openers Calla took the stage to warms things up. The band's sound was simialr to that of Interpol's with more of a rock edge to it, and Aurelio Valle's vocals were indecipherable through Harro's PA system. The band was tight and kept the set short, which is what most openers should do.

Interpol built up the suspense by taking a while to get to the stage, but once they did the crowd erupted as they launched into "Pioneer to the Falls." This being their first show since the release of the album, I was worried the set would consist mostly of new songs, but the band did a great job of blending songs from all three releases, keeping in mind those who have been there since Turn on the Bright Lights.

A new experience for me occured not even three songs into the set, when as I was taking pictures for you fine folks, I was grabbed by two security guards and dragged out the side door. I was completely unaware of the no camera policy, as I didn't see the sign when I came in, and no one stopped me about it either. Pissed off, and even more so when I realized I miss "Say Hello to Angels," I reasoned with another security guard who agreed to let me back in. I quietly enjoyed the rest of the show much farther back from the stage, and without my friend Lindsay.

The band seemed much more into their performance than when I had last seen them in Niagara Falls two years ago. Then, then band could barely be seen with the sparse backlighting, lead singer Paul Banks barely uttered more than six words the entire night, most of them "thank you," and the only one who seemed to have any form of life was bassist Carlos D, as band went from one song right into another. This time around, guitarist Daniel Kessler got into it, moving around the stage, most likely to cool off a little from being in a suit on stage in the quite hot ballroom. Carlos D was into it as usual, but now sporting a new sweet 'stache. Even Banks drifted from his usual stoic position, twiddling with effects pedals and feedback. Banks also had a little more to say this time mumbling something about "Rochester" and "thank you" and "new album" in between a few songs. Could this be a new, friendlier Interpol, now being on a major label, taking time between songs to switch guitars, drum and guitar techs, and fancy lighting? Did I actually see Banks crack a smile at the end of the show? Is the band actually happy? Whatver the reason, it seems the band has actually reached some form of commerical status, with videos on MTV, and selling out shows in Rochester, New York. Well done boys, well done.

Due to the lack of pictures, here's a setlist:

Pioneer to the Falls
Obstacle 1
Narc
Say Hello to Angels
Rest My Chemistry
Mammoth
Slow Hands
Leif Erickson
Scale
The Heinrich Maneuver
Evil
Not Even Jail

Encore:
NYC
Length of Love
Stella was a Diver and She's Always Down