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Interpol and Bloc Party live in Sydney – review and photos

November 28, 2023

A hush falls throughout the Hordern Pavilion. The room is almost half full by the time Dust takes to the stage, where the lads from Newcastle, Australia – were able to introduce their raw, abrasive sound to the fans of Bloc Party and Interpol – an audience that resonates well with atmospheric post-punk. With some spoken words across songs, you can see the playful, jaggedy influences of post-punk bands like Fontaines DC and Idles, alongside highly unique ambient electronics and free jazz elements, creating a truly distinct sonic identity.

With their spoken admiration for electronic music, you can see how Dust implores the same ability of electronica to create chaos alongside moments of tranquillity. Having just got back from a European tour, including notable festivals, Dust’s trajectory from local acclaim to international stages seems both rapid and well-deserved. Gabe Stove’s magnetic stage presence and the band’s contagious energy left an indelible mark, signalling their ascent in the scene.

Like the flip of a switch, the Hordern is at capacity, and the audience sways in anticipation for Bloc Party – undoubtedly one of the most influential UK rock/indie bands of the naughties, who both Paramore and Genesis Owusu have given credit to for their musical influences, and whom they have both toured with internationally in recent years. They dive right into a set that skillfully balances their newer material with the classics.

Kele Okereke’s impassioned delivery and guitarist Russell Lissack’s dynamic riffs remind the crowd why they adore the sounds of this band, but it’s drummer Louise Bartle who emerges as the rhythmic powerhouse, navigating the band through the surging energy of tracks like ‘In Situ’ and ‘You Should Know The Truth.’ The performance reached its pinnacle with unexpected highlights, like a cover of Paul Kelly’s ‘Dumb Things’ seamlessly transitioning into the explosive ‘Song For Clay (Disappear Here)’ and the timeless ‘Banquet.’

As the stage transformed, Interpol emerged in the gloomy atmospheric glow and begin with ‘Untitled’ from Turn On the Bright Lights, a song written specifically to open the band’s live shows with stunning riffs that feel purposefully grounding and harrowing all at once. Lead singer/guitarist Paul Julian Banks then leads the audience through a set that traverses their discography, from ‘Take You On A Cruise’ and ‘Into The Night.’

The brooding intensity of ‘Obstacle 1’ and the mesmerising ‘Pioneer To The Falls’ gained newfound power coupled with intense strobe lighting and washes of red. Interpol’s consistency and commitment to their aesthetic after all these years still shines through, and as the night comes to a close – their performance reaches its zenith with electrifying renditions of ‘Slow Hands’ and ‘Evil.’ The audience, immersed in the band’s noir majesty, responded with roars of approval.

Bloc Party’s surging energy and Interpol’s nocturnal atmospheres truly converged, creating a space where nostalgia and contemporary resonance coexisted. For the fans, it was more than a gig; it was a testament to the timelessness of music that transcends eras, a celebration of the enduring connection between artist and audience. In a world of music that constantly evolves, this co-headline tour of Bloc Party and Interpol served as a musical beacon, reminding us that some songs, some moments, are simply timeless.

Words by Chloe Davis-Powell. Photos by Adam Davis-Powell.