Touring in support of their current album Marauder, Interpol made The Anthem their DC stop on this leg of their US tour and brought along with them the exuberant trio Sunflower Bean.
Sunflower Bean kicked things off both steady and sharp with punctuated guitar riffs in an ode to all things rock while fitting the evening’s bill perfectly. Front woman Julia Cumming’s bright and silky vocals paired nicely with the crisp tones emanating from Nick Kivlen’s guitar. The band’s newest release, Twentytwo in Blue on NYC’s Mom+Pop label is an addictively good listen as well.
When Interpol took the stage the venue was given a whole new persona. The disco ball that hung center stage become alive with white beams of light against a blue room. Singer Paul Banks seemed to subtlety hang over the crowd in the front row as well as the band opened with older selections “Pioneer to the Falls,” and “C’mere,” before they moved to the newer track, “If You Really Love Nothing.”
Interpol sounded wonderful from top to bottom. The band seemed revitalized delivering their new material, but ironically their set list consisted of mostly earlier songs with only a few tracks from Marauder. However, I was happy to hear their new single “The Rover” live, and also “All the Rage Back Home” from 2014’s El Pintor.
Maurader is the sixth full length effort from Interpol and their first full length since 2014. The album received positive reviews from critics and—best of all—has given them a reason to tour. The band will continue their journey to South America in March and back to a few southern US states before they head to Europe in May.
Marauder is available on red and black vinyl.
SUNFLOWER BEAN
INTERPOL SETLIST
Pioneer to the Falls
C’mere
If You Really Love NothingPublic Pervert
Roland
Complications
Say Hello to the Angels
NYC
Take You on a Cruise
The Rover
Rest My Chemistry
Evil
Flight of Fancy
The New
All the Rage Back Home
Fine Mess
Slow Hands
ENCORE
Lights
Not Even Jail
Obstacle 1
