Date: October 17th 2005
Despite the fact that the Theater at Madison Square Garden contains mostly tiered seating, and Franz Ferdinand are supposed to be a band that has not yet ‘cracked’ America, the stands – and not to mention the floor – are full of boisterous attendees ready to dance their hearts out. If you’d started queuing before noon, you’d want to dance, too.
The opening strains of ‘Jacqueline’, regardless that they’re soft and melancholy, bring forth a thunderous welcome which manages to shake the very stage on which the band are performing. They rip through ‘Do You Want To?’ and must be well chuffed that most of the front row breaks out in to the song’s signature dance towards the end. On tonight’s evidence, the band aren’t posing as cooler than they are; Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy pull out all the stops, hot-blooded and so cheeky that there are excited screams for more, whilst bassist Bob Hardy coyly looks on. ‘Matinée’ is so well-received that it’s impossible to call them a one-hit wonder (in America, at least).
There is a great mix of old and new, and the 90-minute set feels like little over five minutes. It is a pleasure to witness the New York crowd moving and singing along to every song. ‘Walk Away’ sees drumming machine Paul Thomson step up gingerly to play guitar – it’s a slow burner, the slowest of the lot. ‘Evil And A Heathen’ is glorious as are the officially dubbed ‘Evil Twins’ in the front (one’s t-shirt says “I’m Evil”, the other “I’m A Heathen”). There’s even a man in a kilt running around. As one of the closing songs, ‘Outsiders’ is a track better seen than heard. It’s a spectacle to see three drummers battering away at one poor kit.
When the boys approach the stage for their trademark bow, all dignity is lost as those further back try to scramble over those in the front in order to grasp a hand, a finger, anything. A brave soul dives headfirst over the barricade to catch a drumstick. All in all, it’s a miracle that the roof didn’t collapse.
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Gallery: Franz Ferdinand – October 17th 2005
Previously published on This Is Fake DIY.
Tags: franz ferdinand, Live, Review