Date: June 13th 2007

The venue is so small that Alex Kapranos happily informs us that he can speak and be heard without his microphone – by way of demonstration – and he isn’t lying. This is the third and last of the ’secret shows’ that the band are playing in order to road test some new songs before their appearance at Bannaroo festival. And for those who have been queuing since the early hours, the anticipation is unbearable.

Like in the days of old, the evening kicks off with ‘Jacqueline’ and escalates from there. Favourites such as ‘Dark Of The Matinée’ and ‘The Fallen’ have the front lines hopping, but distressingly – except for a few stray pockets of people – the crowd lacks in energy usually seen at a Franz Ferdinand show. It may be the work of age restriction, an abundance of industry types or just too many jaded New Yorkers that are often seen plaguing the smaller venues. But being good showmen, the band keep the hits coming, and those who came to enjoy a show get their money’s worth.

Out of the five new selections, ‘Favourite Lie’, with a bass beat that makes hips swivel compulsively and a lyric that may or may not be “sex is a sweaty job”, and ‘Turn It On’, the oft mentioned but never heard song scrapped from sessions for the second album, are the clear favourites. The new tunes are still damn catchy and now they come with even more synths and keyboard work to accentuate the guitars. Think ‘Outsiders’, but screechier. For the encore a bottle of Scotch makes its rounds, there are “beautiful boys [and girls] on a beautiful dancefloor”, and the stage gets invaded, rounding off the night.

Having been absent for over a year from these shores, this show does wonders to renew the spirits and dedication of their fans. And though it is not legendary, it’s more than memorable for its quirkiness.

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Gallery: Franz Ferdinand – June 13th 2007

Previously published on This Is Fake DIY.

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.