Words: Julie Martin
Photo: Crystal Farina

Appeared:
September 19, 2007
Hard Rock Live, Orlando

Caption:  Sea of Love

The Los Angeles-based trio, Liars, started the show.  Lead vocalist, Angus Andrew, wore a white suit and played conductor during most of the set. When Andrews’ arms rose and crashed down, so did the drums. The drunken, flailing lead screeched, yelped and howled with uncanny ferocity. In the back, drummer Julian Gross accompanied guitarist Aaron Hemphill on a petite set that included a snare drum and cymbal. The highlights of their set were when they performed “Freak Out”, a subdued misnomer, followed by the first song off their recent self-titled release, “Plaster Casts of Everything.”

When lights came down, Interpol were as handsome and love forlorn as ever. In reception of bellowing admiration, Interpol began with “Next Exit” from Antics. The performance was a wonderful shuffle between all three of their albums, though notably pulled a great deal from Antics. The energy created by songs like “PDA”, “Rosemary,” and “The Heinrich Maneuver” had the crowd bouncing, dancing, and singing to every syllable. Perhaps the boys weren’t expecting to find such an adamant bunch of fans in the very center of Florida, but it is obvious in the demure smiles on Paul Banks’ face that their tunes are well loved. The material off of their new album, Our Love to Admire, struck close to the nerve in “Lighthouse”, “No I in Threesome” and “Pioneer to the Falls.” The chemistry between the members is subtle. Guitarist, Daniel Kessler, swiveled and pivoted, dancing with his guitar to Motown grooves, never once picking up his feet.  Meanwhile, on the other side of the stage, Carlos D. waltzed with a lit cigarette in mouth. The performance was implacable and hardly deviated from the recorded sound, with the exception of a drum solo.

When the first set was over, the crowd roared for an encore, chanting “encore” and “Stella”. After a brief disappearance, a smitten quartet returns with, “NYC.” Unfortunately, “Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down” is never performed.