Concert Review: Interpol (Sep 3 2022, Asheville NC)
It’s been 20 years since Interpol released their celebrated debut Turn On The Bright Lights, an album that came at a time when the indie music scene in New York was booming and entering a new sonic era alongside bands like The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and LCD Soundsystem. Now, in 2022, Interpol have released and are touring on their 7th studio album, The Other Side of Make-Believe. Interpol have historically had a proclivity to lean into their dark, moody, post-punk concept, to the point of boxing themselves in and investing so deeply in their sound that it becomes harder to branch out.
Interpol at Rabbit Rabbit. Photo by Dave Baker
At their September 3rd show at Asheville’s (still relatively new) outdoor venue, Rabbit Rabbit, this commitment to their sound could be heard. Though The Other Side of Make Believe does take some calculated risks, this album largely draws on the sound we’ve come to expect from Interpol, with tight rhythms, heavy basslines, and Paul Banks’ deep voice creating an unmistakable sonic atmosphere. The upside? If you stopped paying attention for a moment you might mistake a new song for an old favorite. While fans of their early 2000s albums may have been disappointed by the lack of older material (they only played two tracks off of their 2002 debut TOTBL), they still managed to move the crowd.
Interpol’s set beginning as the skies were darkening was fitting and helpful for the entire experience, as the lights did some heavy lifting on the visuals front. As a big fan of Interpol myself (primarily logging my active hours as a fan between the years 2002-2007), I still found this an enjoyable show and one I am glad to have seen. — Annelise Kopp
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.