Franz Ferdinand Manchester Academy 22nd March 2014

Franz Ferdinand Manchester Academy 22.03.2014

 

It has been nearly 5 years since I last saw Glasgow's favourite sons 'Franz Ferdinand'  live they blew me away, so as soon as I heard they were touring for album 'Right Time, Right Words, Right Action' ,I was one of the first secure my place in attendance.

 

 

Today is a godawful day,it's grey it's damp and is constantly threatening hailstones, I spend much of my time keeping tabs on the queue and ensuring I'm first in at 7pm,this afternoon I'm amongst 2 good friends of mine who attended the imfamous Pulp homecoming show in Sheffield in 2012 and last year at Suede at the very same venue we are standing outside now.The 3 of us are under an umberella,and I had no idea a pic was sent of us crafty 'Kelsey' sent it to Alex Kaprano's Twitter page my mate got a reply saying  'yes the weather is awful' .

 

 

Tonight is of course completely sold out,there is only 1 support band who hail from Leeds 'The Eagulls' a punk band, lead singer looks very pale and thin even though he sports a jumper and jeans ,he reminds me of a young 'Bez' he looks like he's not of this world as he oscillates his head round in a bizarre fashion,t heir sound is very much driven by 70's Punk they are quite entertaining noteably Bass Player and Drummer both good musicians live and I heard they are also supporting 'Manic Street Preachers' on their upcoming tour so catch them there.

 

By 9ish the stage is getting set for the main act,there are a lot of eager fans shouting  and getting animated,the set looks great with towers of white amps/speakers different sizes, the drums have an 'Evil Eye' drawing on the skins.The big projection screen about the stage set centered with animated shapes,and the bands mics are ready for them to step onto the stage.

The band take to the stage dressed in matching Grey White and Black custom made Shirt and Trousers and pick up their pace immediately with 'Bullet' the crowd goes wild 'Manchester' has missed the band because 5 years is a long time for any band to be away but tonight on first track it feels like they haven't been away.

 

They play a lot of their new album material which included 'Love Illumination','Fresh Strawberries' and the extremely catchy 'Evil Eye' from 'Right Words,Right Action'.
 

 

There is hysteria as a lot of girls mainly girls being shoved into the back of me at the front its gone nuts everyone want's to get closer to 'Alex' who is bouncing about the stage with energy of a teenager kicking his legs up, leaping up in the air it's clear 'Franz are still an amazing band live ,'Nick McCarthy' is epic on Rhythm Guitar as he edges to front of stage guitar held up high getting the crowd excited ,'Bob' is on Bass Guitar to the left he revels in the moments when the crowd go crazy and he smiles in appreciation,Drummer 'Paul' prefers to stay out of the limelight on his drumkit at the back til he's needed of course.

 

I'm wedged into the barrier and loving it as people are being thrown round the venue all about me, I'm still  dancing waving my arms about as they play 'Dark Of The Matinee' and 'Michael' and then the superb 'Do You Wanna' from the Second album 'You Could Have It So Much Better' this ensures Manchester is screaming for more and boy are we!! 'Alex' could not get a word in between songs for our loud cheers and screams ,and you just had to be there when they played 'Take Me Out' oh my god it went nuts, everyone was singing the words back to the band and 'Alex' put the mic out into the crowd interacting with us .

 

There were a few of my fav album tracks tonight 'The Fallen' was played, its awesome and there is so much energy involved  a 'Franz' gig wouldn't be complete without that song glad it was kept in, and we were treated to an oldie 'Walk Away' which is a very much 'Shadows' influenced sound, Tonight I do feel we have gone back to the 60's hysteria of that era,I don't know any current bands that make you feel like you are in a time machine actually in another era 'Franz' have that power.

 

'Alex' and 'Nick' use the tower by the drum to jump on and off the amps it's like they are playing an arena, and 'This Fire' yes it is going so well that tonight during 'Ulyesses' I noted 1 male crowd surfer,they played everything I wanted to hear tonight 22 songs in all including some  more from  their 'Tonight' album 'No You Girls' and 'Lucid Dreams' which see's 'Nick' using the Keyboards for that unique sound and the lights dimming for the amazing  4 man drum solo that gives West End musical 'Stomp' a run for its money I remember this totally captivated me in 2009 this show blew that out of water tonight is the best show I've seen them play without a doubt.

 

The encore consists of  'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action' and the crowd don't want them to leave but they end with an album track 'Goodbye Lovers & Friends' which is an unsual slower track to finish on but it's mesmerising.

 

To end my night on an even bigger high I notice that 'Alex' who seemed to notice me earlier (Thanks Twitter) pointing whilst he sang, outstretched his hand to me and I went to touch him thinking he wanted to shake my hand for staying front row all night and he gave me his Orange pick prompting me to take it I did and clutching it I looked up shocked I said Thank you and blew him a kiss ha OMG my life is great when it is rocking good folks!!

 

What an amazing show so many surprises and so many friends in the house tonight 2 friends from Muse's gigs were there also  it became a great reunion tonight, I should hopefully have some pics from Tonight's show to go into the gallery Soon Til the next rocking show folks.

 

 

See you all soon

LMI  x

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Out Boy Save Rock N Roll Tour Manchester Phones 4 U Arena 17.03.2014

Fall Out Boy Save Rock & Roll Tour

Manchester Phones 4 U Arena 17.03.2014

 

I'm here today to come and see a band i never thought I'd catch live,the new material is really catchy I've been singing them for months thanks to MTV Rocks playing the videos on heavy rotation,and now it's nearly showtime.

 

I arrive to a foyer of fans already scattered about there are a least 30+ fans most are already bedded down for the long wait,one guy has been here since 3.30am this morning he's saving a place fo his daughter who is at school today (wow what an amazing parent folks kudos to him for that).

 

I'm amongst die hard 'Fall Out Boy' Tour followers who were all very welcoming of a newbie.

 

Today has an even more special relevance it's 'St Patricks Day' Irelands most celebratory holiday and a great excuse for a party !!

As luck would have it just so happens I will be amongst a 'Patrick' this evening as 'Fall Out Boy's vocals/guitarist is of the same name ..spooky folks!!

 

Support tonight comes from a band from Kentucky U.S.A. called 'New Politics' an unusual rock band who sound a lot like early Noughtie's nu metal bands I won't pigeon hole them,the singer is quite entertaining as he breaks into impressive hip hop moves during the songs and he is quite a showman it seems, managing to get the crowd (even me) sing some of the adlibs back at him which was very crafty for a support band in big arena, they interacted well with the sold out Manchester crowd.

 

Unfortunately second act the more well established 'Pretty Reckless' didn't even come close to that accolaide, 'Taylor Momsen' ex 'Gossip Girl' (and ex employee of Madonna's Daughter Lola's teenage fashion clothing line 'Material Girl' in 2010 until getting the sack in 2011 for Kelly Osbourne to replace her).

 

But no matter the music what counts here right? She walk's on stage with her blond hair slightly covering her face,trying to look the epithany of Gothic chic ,a teenage rock n roll queen dressed in tight black trousers and glittery vest top adorned by of things a Gold Cross,tonight they are promoting new album 'Going To Hell', by song 3 I feel I already am there.

 

What could of been an electrifying pereformance of 'Heaven Know's' became a slow paced brooding non event for me ,she never once engaged with the audience (pointed out by a girl behind me saying to her mate "um don't think much actually ,she's not interacting with the crowd").

 

She was too busy being sleazy with the guitar players and loving herself up and down the mic stand swishing her hair about ,expecting a mainly female audience to cheer what was she thinking ??, she notices the fact and cut's the music during one track awaiting her applause unfortunately Manchester was not fooled and it was met with a wall of stunned silence,and confused looks,the male bass player with an array of tattoos and muscles looks lost and probably wishes he was in 'Avenged Sevenfold' or any other hard Rock metal band right now,as unfortunately the act was mainly about her "Look at ME I'm famous ,appreciate me I need your attention" she  hardly even speaks and launches in 'Makes Me Wanna Die' sorry but thats just what their set had me thinking even though they played 8 songs .

 

9.15pm the time is nearly upon us, the centre stage covered by a white curtain ,lights are down to my shock the band begin with 'Phoenix' that is not what shocked me it may have been coincidence but their fashion statement was black balaclavas (quite a menacing look to kick the show off with, I'm sure you get what I'm saying, what I will say is that 'Manic St Preachers' did this before in 1994 on 'Top Of The Pops' and it was very controversial then, and still is to some people) Balaclavas off identities revealed opening finishes.

 

Next song in and you notice the stage around  the centre has a ramp like centre piece which serves a good purpose throughout the show as you will hear later on, ''Patrick' has his trademark hat on and and dressed in black with his guitar and his fellow band mate 'Teen Idol'  on Bass guitar 'Pete Wentz' located to the right also all in black , 'Pete' triggers teenage sexual armageddon in tight skinny lurex trousers , cool jacket and sneakers, playing up to the camera that is also filming Us the crowd on screen and the band on stage and pulling some rock moves.

 

Stage lit up brightly now with excitement and then it goes quiet as Patrick' walks over to the edge of the stage he ask's the crowd at the front who are screaming to shush and then ''Be Quiet" he sits down on the amp and has his guitar ready to begin an acoustic song 'Chicago Is So 2 Years Ago',a he starts the song the mic seems to go quiet.I'm not sure if my ears have burst from the heavy bass as I'm right under the speakers ,but no it's the acoustics the mic isn't working and he just carries on unaware I'm not sure, but very proffesionally done in an awkward moment for the band,they shrugged it off carried on.

 

 

'Pete' comes over to the front of stage and addresses the crowd by walking into them to the right they rush to help him clambour up  until he's visably standing up the crowd cheers him on,they play some classics that you almost forget are there somgs like 'This Ain't A Scene It's Death Arms Race' which is one my Favs and then bringing back memories 'Sugar We're Goin Down', we're treated to an amazing version of 'Beat it' which is even better Live ,cue the black balloons not massive but big enough to have game of beachball .

 

'Patrick' asks us how we are all doing and the crowd are going wild there are girls being pulled out of the crowd/moshpit fainting and looking squashed,It wasn't bad for me maybe I'm used to the crunch now.

 

In a separate part of the show the band 'Pete' and 'Patrick' go over to another stage at the back of the arena and play a couple of acoustic tracks surrounded by more adorning fans this is shown to us at the front on the main stage as the camera man zooms in on the faces towards the back of the arena, black balloons are still falling from the ceiling bouncing about the band.

 

 

After the set finished it was back to the main stage and onto another classic 'Dance Dance' the crowd get livelier for this,then one of the best moments during 'Save Rock N' Roll when 'Iggy Pop' comes onto the screen in an old interview which is proceded with images of rockstars such as 'Beatles','Stones', Elton John', 'The Who','Madonna' (I'm sure she had the biggest loudest cheer by me of course), followed by 'Nirvana' 'Courtney Love' it was great the atomosphere was electric as everyone was in that moment together .

 

 

Then it picks up pace again in the encore with 'Thanks For The Memories and another fav in fact one of my fav song' of last  year 'My Friends Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em up) which was a great end to the show it's a pity the band only waved and walked and didn't bow together at the end of the show because it was superb.

 

 

 

I had major technical problems with my 35mm camera the lens decided to jam, so I could only use it for close shots I did take some digital shots so something will go in the gallery.

 

 

 

 Til the next gig not long now..Keep The Rock 'N Roll Alive !!!

 

LMI  x