ACL Music Fest 2014 Saturday Interviews – Second Weekend

Interpol

4:30pm, Honda stage

Rumors of Interpol's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Drummer Sam Fogarino agreed.

Austin Chronicle: The new album, El Pintor, sounds a little less gloomy than the self-titled disc four years ago. Interpol sounds somehow relieved.

Sam Fogarino: Yeah I think so. I think the past couple records were really reflective of the state of the band. There really wasn't a band. Now, we've got three guys who want to be in the room together. There's no discord.

AC: Bassist Carlos D. left. Why do you think the press has been so interested in that storyline?

SF: Well, he had his own self-cultivated mythology about him, but he was also an important part of the band. He was very crucial in the arrangements of every song we've written up 'til now. When you have a really solid band and one person drops out, the band is going to move in a different direction. Think of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. At one point, you just had Crosby, Stills & Nash. It's gonna keep going without Neil Young – and Neil Young is a force of fucking nature – but it can still persist.

AC: Did the 10th anniversary of Turn On the Bright Lights take you by surprise?

SF: Yeah, I was blown away. First off, it doesn't seem like it was all that long ago, but that's what happens. It feels like 10 minutes not 10 years. I don't feel all that much different. My life changed for the better obviously, but I had kids interviewing me who were 13 when that record came out. It didn't even feel like rehashing. That record still feels relevant 10 years later. That's pretty awesome. It's something to be proud of.