Pop Break Live: Interpol with Car Seat Headrest and Snail Mail at Madison Square Garden
There are some bands so engrained into their hometown that it’s hard to imagine the city without them.
Thankfully, the world, and more importantly, New York City was introduced to Interpol as part of the city’s emerging indie/alternative rock scene in the early 00s’. Since their 2002 debut, Turn On The Bright Lights (which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary), Interpol have not only been a staple of the scene, but one of the best representations of the unique music that New York has to offer. They aren’t just a band; they’re a mood crafted beautifully by guitarist Daniel Kessler’s iconic riffs, drummer Sam Fogarino’s unrelenting percussion, and Paul Banks’ haunting and inimitable vocals, (as well as, former bassist Carlos Dengler’s killer bass lines). The critically acclaimed band that got its start at small clubs in NYC is now on a world tour supporting their sixth studio album, Marauder, and the city welcomed them back with open arms on a Saturday night in one of the most iconic venues in the world, Madison Square Garden.
19-year-old indie rock singer-songwriter Lindsey Jordan solo project, Snail Mail, got the show off to an energetic start with a engaging opening jam session to warm up the crowd. She followed up with songs like Heat Wave and Pristine from her 2018 debut album, Lush.
Following Snail Mail’s impressive set was fellow Matador Records recording artist, Car Seat Headrest who with only a 4-song opening setlist proved that one day they will be back at MSG as the headlining act. They started their set with a new synth heavy 8-minute track, “Can’t Cool Me Down” followed by Twin Fantasy single “Bodys.” But it wasn’t until they played their smash single, “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales” that they atmosphere of the arena changed. We weren’t watching an opening band anymore; we were seeing the future indie/alternative music and a future headliner of that same arena. They closed their set with a rousing rendition of “Destroyed by Hippie Powers” and perfectly set the stage for the moment we were all waiting for.
When the clock struck 9:20, the lights went down, Interpol took the stage, and opened up their impressive 20-song set with “Pioneer To The Falls” off 2007’s Our Love To Admire. But it wasn’t until the opening riff from “C’mere” started that The Garden truly erupted.
The band played a career-spanning array of songs from all six of their studio albums including deep cuts from Turn Off The Bright Light like “Roland,” “Say Hello To The Angels,” “Not Even Jail,” and “Public Pervert” from 2004’s Antics. They also played a selection of songs from Marauder like “Flight of Fancy” and “Complications,” as well as singles “The Rover” and “If You Really Love Nothing.” Of course, even fans who were just there for the hits heard everything from “Evil” and “Slow Hands” to newer favorites like “All The Rage Back Home” and “Fine Mess,” which was just released a few weeks back.
