Interpol live at O2 City Hall review: post-punk is far from dead

Interpol has been around for decades now, but they still captivate crowds with a blend of raw energy, pure nostalgia and dark grooves. Opening act Dust, hailing from Newcastle, Australia, set the tone for the night with their unapologetic and fresh punk-infused garage rock sound. The quintet offered a unique mix of heavy guitars, experimental jazz and electronic influences. It’s a rare sight to see a groovy saxophone player along with shredding guitars. Though sometimes barely audible, it added a cool and very unexpected twist. Their brief set was a lively nod to punk’s progressive and enduring spirit.

The atmosphere shifted to one of dark intensity as Interpol took the stage. They kicked off with all the tracks from 'Antics' in chronological order, and demonstrated how, after all these years, their sound is as precise and fresh as ever. This brooding and dark yet polished sound seems to be what has kept fans around for ages, jumping together and making the venue literally vibrate during hits like ‘Slow Hands’. Known for being a band of few words, Interpol maintained that reputation by offering a little banter between songs, otherwise letting the music speak for itself.

An unexpected but welcome move was the short interlude after the 'Antics' set. The crowd was more than ready to keep rocking as the next set featured a range of songs spanning their entire discography. They chose to start with the absolute masterpiece (and my personal favourite), that is ‘Pioneer To The Falls’. By this time, I had come to the conclusion that their studio work translates beautifully to the live stage. Particularly this song, which has so many shifting tones and a gradual build-up, resonated deeply with the crowd and made me feel all the emotions I had in me at once.

What truly added to the whole live experience was the use of strobe-like effects and flashes that contributed to the hauntingly dark aesthetic and intensified each track.

As the set progressed, Interpol’s distinctive style held steady, giving the crowd a deep dive into their powerful sound. While I love to see that they never conformed to mainstream pressures, the consistency of the tone felt almost too familiar by the end of the night. Maybe it’s just me, but it did leave me curious to see them explore new directions and layers within their already iconic and well-loved sound.

A welcome surprise, however, was the tour debut performance of ‘Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down’, a refreshing moment for long-time fans.

For a band with years under their belt, Interpol has truly mastered their signature sound and still delivers with impressive precision. Bringing older and younger generations together, they clearly prove one thing: (post-)punk is far from dead.