Live music review: Interpol played first El Paso show in 20 years at Plaza Theater

(EL PASO) – Twenty years ago, New York City post-punk band Interpol released its debut album, “Turn On The Bright Lights.” And for 20 years, El Pasoans have waited patiently for the band to grace their West Texas town with a performance. The band returned September 11.

Over the years, the band has stopped in El Paso, visiting local institutions, but never have they played a note in El Paso as Interpol. (Paul Banks played the now-defunct Neon Desert Music Festival, but as a solo artist and not as Interpol.)

On Sunday night, the 20-year wait came to an end when Interpol played a sold-out show at El Paso’s Plaza Theatre. The show was a last-minute addition to their 2022 North American tour in support of their latest release, The Other Side of Make-Believe, which meant the show had no openers unlike the bulk of the current tour which features Austin act Spoon and Arctic Monkeys on the bill.

In true Interpol fashion, the band started their show promptly, with piano-driven “Toni,” (played by guitarist Daniel Kessler) from their new album, followed by “Evil.” The electricity in the theater was felt from the first note to come out of Kessler’s guitar and the crowd singing along with vocalist Paul Banks: “Rosemary! Heaven restores you in life.”

Banks, obscured by the band’s strobe lighting most of the time, was subtle in his performance, with few words except to introduce songs, his fellow band members – including Kessler, drummer Sam Fogarino and touring bassist Brad Truax – and to say “Thank you very much!”

With each hit, and with the lead of Kessler and Fogarino’s energetic performances, the band satisfied the El Paso crowd that waited eagerly to see them without having to travel hundreds of miles to do so. Each time Kessler danced near the front of the stage, audience members took to the aisles to catch a better glimpse and snap a shot with their smartphones. Each quiet moment, the crowd shouted, declaring their love for the band.

After a 1.5 hour set that thoughtfully sprinkled in songs from “Make-Believe” and more familiar tunes from their extensive catalog, including “No I In Threesome,” which Banks said they hadn’t played in a while. The rare set list track was devoured whole by the rabid El Paso fans there. Interpol thanked the crowd for attending as the show ended, waving, throwing kisses and generally being their best chingon-selves.

Before leaving the stage, Banks said, “We’ll see you again.” This El Pasoan can only hope Banks means they’re returning to El Paso much sooner than 20 years from now.

View the remaining Interpol tour dates here.

Setlist:

Toni
Evil
Fables
C’Mere
Narc
Into the Night
Pioneer
Obstacle 1
NYC
Mr Credit
Leif Erikson
Rest My Chemistry
The Rover
Passenger
Slow Hands
PDA

Encore:
Untitled
No I in Threesome
Not Even Jail

Featured photo via Interpol Facebook page. All other photos by Patrica Garcia

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