Franz Ferdinand - 6/16/2004 - Avalon, Boston, MA
There's something more than vaguely David Bowie-esq about the lead singer of Franz Ferdinand. It's the in the aura, the way he reaches his arm up, finger pointing towards the sky, and shakes his hair back. If the next word he utters were, "I'm... [pause] Too sexy for this shirt. Too sexy for this shirt." I can't really imagine any one in the room laughing.
If that isn't David Bowie-esq, I'm not sure what is.
The set isn't long. In fact I feel surprised when they announce the last song. Then again, I think there's some truth to the phrase "always leave them wanting more." Also, I'm old. I'm twenty five, elderly, and my knees get sore. I appreciate it when a show doesn't go on long enough to remind me of these things.
The show covers their whole albumn and maybe one or two songs more. Every song has an energy to it that makes pretty much everyone in the crowd bounce along-- or at least twitch a bit, in the case of those too hip to fully commit to enjoying anything.
I, however, am bouncing like a mad, giddy fool with no regard for my own dignity. There are a number of rather attractive and well dressed boys and girls around me. I try not to let this stop the dancing with abandon and it mostly works-- with the exception of an adorable individual in a polo shirt with a little green stripe on the sleeves.
If Franz Ferdinand was just a bouncy, fun, infectious collection of noise they would still have something fabulous happening. The fact that on top of this they have a lead singer with a voice vaguely reminiscent of Joy Divisions one and only, and that they can put together a lyric like "when Ivor peered above her spectacle, forgot that he had wrecked a girl" just makes the one thing even better. The world needs more of this kind of thing.
Screw the world. I want more of this type of thing.
