I'd been waiting to see this gig for months. I had to swap a couple of shifts at work but it was worth it. Glasgows adopted sons played a blinder of a show at the soul-less aircraft hanger that is the SECC.
This is the third time that I have seen Franz Ferdinand. I first saw them at Tin the Park in 2004 where they delivered a euphoric homecoming mid-afternoon set on the back of the early success of their debut album. Grown neds were crying. I saw them again in November of 2004 in Leicester at the De Monfort hall (which is a nice venue by the way). Again they rocked hard.
I feel oblidged to name drop a bit here. I have had some personal interaction with Alex. Back in 1995 he used to book bands at the 13th note in Glasgow when he used the name Alex Huntley. He booked my band a couple of times and told us that we were 'a bit ropey'. Faint praise indeed. Thankfully he has lost the quiff he sported back then and Franz Ferdinand are much, much better than the blisters or the karelia.
Anyway it was a diverse crowd on this icy cold night in the SECC. Teeny boppers rubbed shoulders with rock grandads. Neds were present in their buckfast soaked glory. It was a sold out show.
The support bands sucked. The editors (one of the supports) sucked in a coldplay like manner. They had a digital delay pedal and they were not afraid to use it.
The Franz boys saved the night. In the past they have been described as formulaic. It has been said that all their songs sound the same. Tonight they let the music breathe.
The massive commercial success of the band has afforded them a light-show that would not be available to most indie-rock bands. A video screen showed black and white images of the band on stage while clips from their music videos accompanied individual songs. Highly designed banners featuring images of the band hung behind the massive stage. The images were mechanised and changed between songs.
The guitar rock was loud and it was good. Most of the songs were dedicated to friends in the audience and exposition on lyrical texts was delivered. The band seemed glad to be in Gladgow. Indeed the lyrics to Michael were changed to 'Glasgow on your beautiful dance floor...'. The set ended with 2 extra drummers joining in on 40 feet.
It was a good night. I went home happy. The SECC still sux though.
Funk
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