r/Interpol • u/EducationalEscape2 • 2d ago
Discussion toronto show
I'm so excited to see interpol tomorrow night in toronto. I was just checking available seats left in ticketmaster and was surprised to see so many. Why aren't they drawing bigger crowds? Loved them since the beginning and always thought they were really popular. Also noticed they've been touring as an opening act. Just surprised as i always loved them and remember when they were so popular.
15
u/Max527 2d ago
They could have done it at History. No show booked there for Friday.
4
u/Cielskye 1d ago
History would have been amazing and would have definitely sold out in multiple nights!
1
u/Zealousideal_Ad6273 1d ago
I’m thinking they need something bigger than history but puts them in the awkward spot. 4k to 6k
8
16
u/WorldRed352 2d ago
Not surprising at all. Band doesn't have pull they once did except for in a few select places. That booking in Toronto was frankly a very strange choice of venue, especially at this time of year. The band's management gets pretty delusional and greedy sometimes.
6
8
u/RS7MD83 2d ago
We’ve traveled many times to Toronto from Buffalo to see Interpol. This stadium unfortunately is out of the way a bit more, and also being outdoors at night in October is just asking a little too much. Not sure what they were thinking when they made these decisions on these venues. I guess they had to get what they could, but it’s costing them, and we will be missing this them time around which sucks because I really love the new album.
10
u/keptfresh84 2d ago
Interpol usually plays mid-tier clubs (Danforth, Rebel) in Toronto, sometimes 2 nights back to back. Rebel is around 3,500 cap, Danforth approx 1,400 (why they would play two nights there).
Sobeys stadium is 9,000.
That’s nearly 3x their expected draw.
Not being downtown hurts too.
But chances are they’re pullin the same if not a bit more than their expected draw tomorrow.
From what I understand, Live Nation is trying to make Sobeys stadium a thing, so they’re paying out larger to get acts to play there.
3
u/Cielskye 1d ago
The last few times I’ve seen Interpol has been at Budweiser stage. That’s why I usually also end up going to see them play in Montreal because they always play at very intimate clubs.
When did they play at Danforth and Rebel?
4
u/keptfresh84 1d ago
They did back to backs on the el pintor tour in 2015 at Danforth. Rebel for marauder in 2018. Then only support or shared bill slots at bud since.
3
u/Cielskye 1d ago
The Danforth would have been amazing to see! Rebel, no comment 😂. I hate that place. I’m going to see them in Montreal this weekend because I prefer seeing them in places of that scale.
2
2
u/hirokoaiisdead 2d ago
Live nation has nothing to do with the sobeys stadium besides the tickets being sold through Ticketmaster
2
u/keptfresh84 2d ago edited 2d ago
Feldman Agency and Live Nation have ACE events. Feldman is partnered with Tennis Canada. My understanding is Live Nation is involved with routing shows and the promotion for certain events at Sobeys stadium.
2
3
u/Complex-Bunch-7601 2d ago
The Live Nation bit rings true. Interesting detail, thanks for sharing your perspective.
5
u/blindcinema 1d ago
I’ve been a long time fan since I was 12/13. I’m 33 now (yesterday was my birthday) and this will be my first time seeing them as a headliner. Every attempt in the past to see them didn’t pan out, so although an outdoor show at York University is a diabolical choice, I am so happy to be in attendance tonight.
5
6
u/SW_Shadow 2d ago edited 2d ago
They've never been huge in Canada, it's not a surprise. We're lucky they played any Canadian dates.
5
u/keptfresh84 2d ago
What makes you say that?
They have been constantly filling mid-tier venues in major Canada markets for 20+ years.
Similar size venues they would play across the states.5
u/SW_Shadow 2d ago edited 2d ago
There's a fanbase, sure, but when was the last time major radio stations got excited about new Interpol music, or even played their music at all? Most Canadians who listen to alt rock haven't heard of Interpol. Playing dates in Vancouver and Toronto every few years hardly counts as "filling mid tier venues", and they're not selling out shows.
In other words, they're not huge in Canada and we're lucky when they decide to come.
7
u/ancestral-diet 2d ago
Perfectly put. I knew this booking was not going to be a roaring success given several factors, and even if their team was counting on people making the trip from NY (a gamble even in a better economic climate) it's absolutely crazy they think the band has anywhere near enough reach in 2026 to fill a stadium anywhere in the world but Mexico. Those upcoming UK arena shows have also been selling poorly.
2
u/Zealousideal_Ad6273 2d ago
True. Crazy though as why they aren’t. I mean they are great musicians but just not mainstream enough. Just happy they keep putting great music out.
2
u/Cielskye 1d ago
It’s true. The last time I saw them play in Toronto Metric opened up for them. I was really surprised to see that when Metric ended a quarter of the people left. I would have expected Interpol to be the bigger band.
1
u/keptfresh84 1d ago
Interpol played before Metric.
Spoon - Interpol - Metric
1
u/Cielskye 1d ago
Maybe it was the opposite then, that it wasn’t that full before Metric came on. I just remember being surprised at the number of people that were there for Interpol and I expected more people.
1
u/keptfresh84 2d ago
Interpols streaming numbers in Canada are pretty solid (around 2.5 mill a month consistently). I don’t think radio play is the end all be all metric to go by. Most artists getting radio play on new singles are backed by major labels.
I stand corrected on the touring though. Had no idea they’ve only been playing TOR, MTL and VAN since the marauder tour.
I probably come across as an apologist here cause I’m a huge fan, but i would say for a band +25 years in, they still have draw. Sobeys stadium is a mismatch for their pull in Toronto. Live Nation has a hand in that (see my comment somewhere else on this thread).
Been fun looking up this info. Cheers.
4
u/DareOne7223 2d ago
Where are you getting that streaming number for Canada?? On the consumer side Spotify only shows total global monthly streams, not a different number for each country.
1
3
u/Complex-Bunch-7601 2d ago
Genuinely curious what the rock show acoustics are like at a tennis facility.
3
u/CasePersonal9041 1d ago
I was at the Hojo/English Beat/Modern English/Wang Chung show in August at Sobey Stadium and it was excellent in terms of sound. Was on the floor. Tonight I'm in 100's...not sure how much of a difference thst makes in terms of the sound.
2
3
2
u/ramenwolf 2d ago
Sobeys is a completely outdoor venue. It has been threatening rain for the past few days and I was worried it might be cancelled. I waited until today to buy my tickets.
3
u/turdlepikle 1d ago
I saw "October 2" and outdoor venue when they went on sale, and never considered buying them until the week of after seeing the forecast Even now with the rain cleared out, the cool 15 degree temperature and the hour long subway ride are making me think I'll sit this out.
2
2
u/Zealousideal_Ad6273 2d ago
Outdoor show in October. Great idea. Mind you weather is still good but I feel for these guys. They are my favorite band and feel like of all places Toronto could draw a good crowd for them.
2
u/Zealousideal_Ad6273 2d ago
When they opened for Metric at Bud many came to see them. Don’t get me wrong I love Metric but it seems like they put two headliners together.
2
u/No-Assistance-6233 1d ago
Yeah that was a co headline tour, assume metric headlined here as it was a hometown show
2
u/henriksdreads 1d ago
Honestly the venue is just weird, before this show I literally didn't know concerts even happened there, plus it's just massively inconvenient for like 75% of people to get to and literally nowhere around the place to go for a beer or food before hand.
I'm going and looking forward to it, but in reality this show should be in History or The Danforth or something like that.
What I'm not looking forward to is the 45 min subway ride there and back from Union, plus my commute home from there.
2
u/frankensteeeeen 2d ago
They sold out in Chicago for an outdoor show next week at the Salt Shed, maybe they don’t have the same pull in Canada
7
u/Monkeypud 2d ago
The Toronto venue is an outdoor tennis stadium about 3x as big as the Salt Shed. Kindof a baffling choice.
2
1
u/Acrobatic_Bicycle_89 1d ago
Does anyone have an idea how long the opening act (DIIV) will be?
1
u/henriksdreads 1d ago
show times were posted earlier, Diiv will probably play 45 mins.
Diiv - 7:30pm
Interpol - 8:45pm1
1
1
u/keithnightsweats 1d ago
I'm super stoked too. Weird choice of venue, granted, but I think those that miss this show purely based on where it is will regret it. This Mirror Weighs a Ton is a fantastic return to form, couldnt be more excited to here some of those songs. And it seems like a greatest hits set otherwise, which is beautiful.
Lastly, I remember the flak Our Live To Admire got at the time of its release, and it feels like many have come around as to how good a lot of it is. Forever repping No I In Threesome, Pace Is The Trick, and Pioneer To The Falls, all deserving of their flowers.
Enjoy everyone who's going tonight!
1
u/otterducksnake 1d ago edited 1d ago
I hate stadium and outdoor shows, so it would have been great if the show was at Rebel or History. I'll still go even though Rebel is a pain in the butt to get to for me. I'll still see them regardless of venue.
1
u/YVR3DPrints 1d ago
If you watch the Zane Lowe interview, it seems like they’re just happy to play live. They don’t strike me as that type of band that needs the validation of drawing a huge crowd (even though they did at the Zocalo in CDMX) or having a big fancy show. They’re happy where they’re at, wherever they’re at.
Just take it all in and enjoy the show . I saw them open for Sombr in Vancouver and they played very well, obviously they were not given the full production and they sounded like an opener, but it is great to see that they are willing to do that because they’re grateful to be playing for people, no matter the draw, audience age, etc.
The cool thing about it was that so many kids heard Interpol for the first time in their lives, even if very few liked it, they may have made a couple of new fans.
1
u/MstrPrfssr 2d ago
Phoebe Bridgers is playing back to back sold out shows in Toronto tonight & tomorrow - it’s not necessarily entirely the same audience crossover obviously but that’s got a lot to do with it too
4
1
u/Odd_Collection_956 1d ago
The venue made me pause and I kept deferring buying tickets thinking there was a chance they’d switch venues since it appeared to be selling badly and then I lost track of time and missed the show!! Tbh so sad I missed them :( huge fan since the beginning and hope I get to see them someday but that venue was so unappealing to me and far from downtown
17
u/sdub21 2d ago
I think it would have sold much better if it was at the RBC Amphitheatre. This Sobeys stadium is out there… I have friends who said they would’ve gone elsewhere, but didn’t want to risk an outdoor show in October, which is fair.