American Indie-rock band “Interpol” performed at Manchester’s Albert Hall to promote their fifth and latest studio album: El Pintor.
Interpol played for two nights running at London’s Roundhouse before this gig , but they seemed pretty hyped up to be playing at our beautiful Albert Hall. Tweeting during their sound check: “Playing Albert Hall in Manchester tonight. What a beauty”
The band from New York, who are no strangers to Manchester, gigging in our wonderful city around 10 times since forming in 1997. The band are greeted to the stage by ‘die hard fans’ with huge Interpol banners. Kicking off their hour and a half set with ‘Say Hello to the Angels’ – it’s certainly a blast from the past!
Usually delightfully, dour frontman Paul Banks thanking the “ladies and gentleman” of the audience throughout the gig, and politely naming each track as they go. Ninth track in, the crowd clapping all the way through the intro to ‘Lights’ the track that really gets a mosh going, just as it finishes a fan shouts to the band “Manchester Loves Interpol” and we do, we really do.
Just before leaving the stage for their FIRST encore, they rock out ‘Slow Hands’ a track off their first album in 2004, which ironically got the crowd the most excited!
Returning to the stage, the band break into a Pixies track! Teasing the crowd, Banks shouts “Now for one of ours….” then rocking into ‘All the Rage Back Home’, ‘NYC’ followed by ‘PDA’ which the crowd went crazy for, whilst keyboard player Brandon Curtis sits back, enjoying sipping on his beer.
Walking off the stage Banks shouts “Thank you’ you Mancunians”. As we are reaching for our jackets ready to leave, they hit us with a SECOND encore which is a lovely surprise! Finally ending on the beautiful ‘Leif Erikson’
It’s always a pleasure to see a gig at the Albert hall, but this really was special, a rock band with so much energy on stage in the setting of an old restored chapel, with quality sound and lighting, and most of all an incredible crowd! As the band tweeted, post gig: “Manchester! You got it going on. You guys were incredible last night!!!!” And so were you Interpol!
