A energetic mass danced and sang in the rain last night. Franz Ferdinand, the Scottish rockers, tore apart the night; with powerful sound and their larger than life presence. Heavy rains didnt stop the show, but seemed to fuel the fanatical gathering before the band. The lighting and stage accents were visually beautiful. To sum up the evening I would have to it was a masterfully executed display, with pure rock driven energy and sheer enjoyment had by all.
The somber mass sat in wait; the clouds above swelled with anger. People began to adjust their attire with the addition of the plastic rain poncho; a fail safe for outdoor concerts. The large crowd increased in mass quickly, as the scurrying stage help setup. Without warning the lights dropped, and cheers shot from the crowd. Franz Ferdinand took to the stage. Immediately they jumped into their set; igniting the audience with passion and enthusiasm.
From the start the interplay between the audience and the band was perfect. Feeding one another; fueling pure energy. The mass before the band leapt up and down with perfect rhythm to every song. Alex Kapranos, on lead vocals, took time right away to thank the crowd for attending in the rain. The band themselves did not pussyfoot around and by hanging back in the cover of the amphitheater. They came forth and stood before their fans; in the devious down pour. Individuals in the crowd shouted heartfelt thank yous, for this act of fan driven dedication.
The lighting was phenomenal; which is a strange statement to make about the Malkin Bowl. Franz Ferdinand truly pulled out their lighting magic and lit this performance with everything they had. Cone lights and directional strobes pointed out over the the audience. Like the hand of god they swept around; stopping on occasion on some individual, as if they had been chosen. The back of the stage was lit with deep rich colors, handing the on lookers a visual bouquet. The hanging lights were motorized and darted around with the beat of the song, adding the perfect final touch to a visual masterpiece.
High output is putting this night mildly. Franz Ferdinand puts on one of the best stage shows around. The addition of amazing lighting effects merely accentuates them, but never over powers them. Many of the songs went into 10 minutes jams, with 80s synthesizers adding a retro tweak. The band returned for a four song encore, and capped the night off on a amazing high note. One by one the members of the band left the stage, starting with Alex. Once all the members were gone, they all returned again for a hand in hand bow to a very deserving crowd.
The night was amazing, this band has upped its game since only being here last December. Since then their has obviously been the release of their latest album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand. This has pushed them into the upper echelons of current popular music. The overall feeling of the band is not one of disconnection from the audience, but quite the opposite. The entire band seemed humble about their fanatical audience, almost shocked by it. This gives for a heart felt performance and a more intimate experience for the concert goer.
I will see this act, every time they return to our fair city. I hope to see some of you readers out there, come out and join me. Watching Franz Ferdinand live is the only way to experience them, no album could ever catch the passion with which they display.
Jamie Taylor
www.concertaddicts.ca
Photographs by Cory Lam
Special thank you to Miranda at Live Nation for the media accreditation.
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Jamie Taylor – who has contributed 3308 posts for Concert Addicts.
"With a love for live music, way too much to say and inability to put down his camera , photojournalism was a logical step in his journey. Concert Addicts was born from a desire to express his opinion, share his photography, and share knowledge. Now the community is no longer his, it is ours."
