Interpol Plays Biggest Show of Its Career in Mexico City: 5 Best Moments

Before opening band Water From Your Eyes’ performance, a voice announced that there was a surprise from Interpol’s Paul Banks, as a group of mariachis took over the stage. First, “El Son de la Negra,” one of the most popular songs from the Mexican songbook, was played. Then came a mariachi version of Interpol’s “Evil,” which the audience celebrated with cheers and applause. After performing the classic “El Rey” by José Alfredo Jiménez, they played “Evil” once more to set the tone for the big show.

For just over an hour and a half, Interpol performed more than 20 songs, taking the audience on a journey through their seven studio albums, though mainly focusing on Turn on the Bright Lights (2002), Antics (2004) and Our Love to Admire (2007). Hits like “Obstacle 1,” “Rest My Chemistry,” “All the Rage Back Home,” “The Rover,” “PDA,” “Pioneer to the Falls,” and “Say Hello to the Angels” were all heard at the Zócalo.

Here is the complete setlist of the show:

1. “C’mere”
2. “Say Hello to the Angels”
3. “Narc”
4. “My Desire”
5. “Obstacle 1”
6. “Lights”
7. “Pioneer to the Falls”
8. “The Rover”
9. “All the Rage Back Home”
10. “Rest My Chemistry”
11. “PDA”
12. “Toni”
13. “Try It On”
14. “Not Even Jail”
15. “NYC”
16. “Evil
17. “Public Pervert”
18. “Slow Hands”
(Encore)
19. “Untitled”
20. “No I in Threesome”
21. “Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down”

The New York trio will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Antics with a commemorative tour that will begin in the U.K. in November. But during their performance at the Zócalo, the celebration arrived early with the inclusion of several songs from the 2004 album, such as “C’mere”, “Slow Hands”, “Narc”, “Public Pervert” and of course, “Evil”, which was undoubtedly the most cheered of the night.

The audience was appreciative that Banks interacted with them in Spanish on several occasions. “Many thanks to Mexico City for inviting us to play in this amazing, historical place with all of you. Thank you for coming, and for creating an incredible memory for us,” the singer said in perfect Español. On social media, dozens of fans praised him for the gesture and for speaking so well the language.

“Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down” marked the end of the show, and Paul Banks thanked deeply the Mexican audience, which never stopped conveying their affection for the band by applauding, cheering, and lighting their cell phones’ light, as was particularly special during the performance of “NYC” in a visually spectacular moment.

“We’ve been coming to Mexico for 20 years and you always have a very special place in our hearts,” the vocalist said amidst the euphoria of the attendees. “Words cannot express what we feel for you. Thank you for coming and for supporting us all these years. We love you.”