Interpol
Live at Velvet - Rimini (02/12/2004 )

Here we are, I cross the threshold of Velvet's parking lot with my group of music-loving friends and it feels like Woodstock, an immense expanse of cars carpets the large parking lot... surprised by such a sight, I enter the club and the first impression does not disappoint expectations.
While the opening band, the Block Party (not bad for the multi-ethnic guys who pound away and spare no effort on their instruments, with the energy and adrenaline characteristic of bands that have yet to break through) have already started their performance, I take the opportunity to grab a blonde (beer, of course, never sex before heading into the fray...) and find myself a decent spot.
Here we go, the lights go down and like at an official funeral, Interpol appears, the quartet dressed strictly in black with ties and hats à la Jonatan from the Gf for Paul.
We start with "Next Exit" and immediately the audience draws close around the four New Yorkers who, in about an hour and a half of session, performed practically their entire repertoire with a punctual alternation of tracks between the album being promoted (Antics) and their debut one. Indeed, after breaking the ice and with a thank you that will be repeated at the end of each piece in response to the audience's applause, Paul kicks off with "Say Hello To The Angels" and the chemistry will continue until the end...

Neglecting the meticulous tracklist, I would prefer to mention the group's almost studio-like performance, from Paul's imposed, distant, and melancholic voice to the fast and relentless beat of the rhythm section, where the ad hoc work of the guitars with their elementary riffs blends with the voice into a single entity as in "PDA", not forgetting Dengler's present and driving bass throughout the performance and Fogarino's impeccable drumming.
The schizophrenic "Obstacle1" with Banks' Morrysian (DOORS) voice was beautiful, and outside the group's dark atmosphere, the brand new "Slow Hands" and magic moment with the ballad "C'Mere".

The concert is over, and I'm left with an excellent impression also because I expected such a performance, precise, punctual, never over the top where everything flows from start to finish like in a theatrical script, except for a final distortion almost to highlight the exception that proves the rule.
The guys reiterated all their potentials and even if it is easy to associate them with bands like Joy Division, Cure and whoever you wish, in my humble opinion they seem to have great pragmatism and an innate ability to create riffs always capable of giving the right color to each track.
A demerit note for the lighting system which must have been cursed by all camcorder and cell phone owners, which at times even prevented the naked eye from seeing the drummer (was there?) or the bassist, and so on.
If I had to sum it all up to a grade, I'd give a nice four.
See you soon on stage.