Franz Ferdinand Manchester Albert Hall 'Always Ascending' Tour 13th February 2018

Franz Ferdinand 'Always Ascending' Tour

Manchester Albert Hall

13th February 2018

 

Its been 4 years since I last seen this band play live they always go away for years to create the next album ,I've been a fan since their eponymous debut album 'Franz Ferdinand' so when I heard they were touring again I jumped at the chance to see them.

 

Their new album 'Always Ascending' out now with a more 'Pop' feel to it than an Indie one, apart from the change of look and 'Alex's newly white blonde locks a total change of the usual 'Franz' we're used to but its a combination I cant refuse.

 

 

Tonight support is from another Indie Rock Band legend he's one half of 'The Strokes' 'Albert Hammond Junior' fresh from touring with 'The Killers' on their US Tour he's here tonight to play us some new material from his Solo album to a Sold Out crowd.

 

He's actually really very good Live, his vocals with less drawl than his counterpart 'Julian Casablancas' with a more Punchy and Rocky  vocal ,a lot of people came to see him, he's got a large following as I watch him he literally bends over backwards to entertain us, no he does he's very bendy, he loves to strut his stuff with tendency to walk closer to the edge of the jutted out altar of a stage, it almost has me nervous he'll be too confident but he manages to stay up there without too much drama. 

 

 

9.15pm there's a lot of noise amongst the crowd eagerly anticipating 'Franz's great return, stage left shadowy figures take to the stage there are only 3 original members Joe, Paul and Alex , the latter of the three appears to my right and the crowd cheers, he is as tall as I remember, his White blonde hair the highlight under the stage lighting which is a Purple Haze of Dry Ice. 

 

 

They kick off with 'Paper Cages' from the new album and into a classic 'Do You Want To' which wakes the crowd up a bit during the song, 'Alex' points right at me delivering the lines leading up to the main chorus, they chose a great mixed setlist for this tour from each album, from 'Tonight' 'No You Girls', and gig simply takes off when 'Matinee' begins. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 'Manc' crowd are getting a bit lively on the barrier it gets challenging to grip on, more new tracks are of course sandwiched between, and 'Alex' stands and is in awe of our crowd , I promised that I see them down the front over social media platforms,but now they've noticed my enthusiasm specially during one of my fav tracks 'Love Illumination' from their last album 'Right Action'. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wasn't expecting 'Michael' to be on the setlist the crowd went crazy for that and that was followed by 'The Fallen' it had to be in there. The energy onstage is on a level not seen since the last tour, that you almost forget how amazing this band is live until they get onstage and turn it up loud, never is that energy more on display than when the whole band are jumping up and down in unison with 'Alex' doing his splits in the air, before the chorus for 'Take Me Out' literally brings the house down, the whole place goes nuts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They play lead single 'Feel The Love Go' during a 4 song encore, the crowd are roaring as 'Ulyesses' starts, they've captured us and don't want to let us go as 'Fire' begins the whole room is bouncing as the band finish in style, the band come over the the front of the stage and take a bow but 'Alex' has one more surprise for us "We're going to be over by the merchandise if you want any of your albums signing come over and say Hello, Thanks Manchester ".

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I did just that as I meet 'Alex' again for the first time in 9 years, I tell him what a show it was, he says to me "I seen you down the front yeah" , I tell him "Got to thank you for the pic (plectrum) you gave me after the last tour in Manchester Academy, you gave it to me at the end of the show", he smiles impressed ,I hope.

 

 

I chat to 'Paul' as I'm leaving for the door but there's no photos due to the venue  trying to get everyone through the doors, the band each signed my setlist which I got, also I met a young girl who knew I liked 'Muse' and she explained her grandad worked with Matt's dad astonished I said "No, Joe Meek your Joe Meek's Grandaughter" Yes she says I am and even better than that she knew me on Instagram and through the fact I've followed them for years who'd of thought the band influenced by Joe Meek's sound ie 'The Tornados' 60's sound etc would of caused this out of the blue meeting ,I have to dash for my train so I swapped twitter details and vamoosed . 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Time Back to the 90's 

 

Lmi xo