Long time no blog! I have been pretty busy lately, and of course with only the best of things. Last week was concert week for me, and here I be...blogging to you...about the rockige.
Post 1: Franz Ferdinand -Pontiac, MI May 3, 2009
Finally arriving to Clutch Cargo's in Pontiac, I couldn't help but notice the place was..well...small. Much smaller than I had anticipated, but this just made the show seem more intamite which automatically means amazingness. We arrived, ate, parked, and waited in line a few hours before doors opened on a mild, sunny evening. While waiting, I noticed a little guy on cruthes talking to someone by the tour buses. I think I was the only one to spot Nick McCarthy. Not too long after Nick went back inside, Paul Thomson came out to help load some equipment in...again...no one turned.
Being this was my first time seeing Franz in concert, I really had no idea what to expect. Having seen The Killers before, I felt concerts were a huge deal. Everyone knew everyone in the band, and would sworm if they came ou pre-gig. But with Franz, their "biggness" hasn't hit as hard here in the U.S. If that was Brandon Flowers or Ronnie Vannucci out there (which I don't ever see them hulling their own eqiptment into their gig), not a person would still be in line (probably not even for Alex Kapranos, acually...). Reason one why I fell in love with Franz that night.
Doors finally opened, and after mazing around the damn venue, we found our spot along the barrier, which is the only place I can really stand. Even the songs playing before the opening band showed up were getting me to move. Reason number 2.
Finally we see 4 average looking skinny guys almost stuble onto the stage. They call themeselves Born Ruffians , and have a Dylan/Stills way about them. The drummer is the first to speak, and is the most animate along with the bass player the entire set. Their music was fairly uplifting and almost..summery..which I didn't mind at all. The lead singer was clearly out on his own somewhere, but maybe that's what make's his presentation so unique. Regardless, the bass drum got us all hopping, and the bass player got us all smiling. Though I think it is a little early in their career to tell certain people to not pay attention to their song because it's dedicated to VIP's only...I let it go. For now..sort of...whatever.
Finally, they sound as though they are going to introduce a "featurer", in which I automatically thought of Paul. And I was right. Paul Thomson joined the group for a song, and my lord does that man know how to drum that shit! Amazing. I was PUMPED for Franz now.
The wait between bands was hardly a wait at all, and before we knew it, Alex Kapranoes, Nick McCarthy, Bob Hardy, and Paul Thomson took their spots on the tiny stage. The lights flashed, and already you could tell they meant to have fun. They opened with The Fallen from their sophomore album, You Could Have It So Much Better, and the crowd was immediatly into it.
Alex is quite the energetic front man, doing signature jumps and sexy eyes for the crowd the entire time. Nick was limited to a chair due to a broken foot, but still managed to extend his energy to us. Bob played the bass as though it were a part of his breathing cycle and Paul was easily visible, rockin the drums as only he knows how. Songs like Take Me Out and Uylesses of course got the higest reaction, but it was the less known songs that really gave me the chills. Everyone was singing along, and even Alex smiled numerous times at his audience.
The epic drumming session after Outsiders was no less than perefect. Though we sort of sucked at audience participation, we eventually got the hang of when to properly sing "lalalala lalalala" for 40'. Many songs were prolonged and at times made up on the spot, such as This Fire, which made you ean forward in your spot in anticipation as to what would come next. The guys never fell short of amazing, and it was the most fun I have had in a concert yet.
It was a small venue, but it made for a great time. I never stopped dancing, and willfully layed Alex's guitar when he reached it out for us to play. They all smiled and laughed, and I felt as though they were just a couple of fun guys doing what they love...and well.
After the show we waited to meet the guys. It took a while, but finally they came out. We waited by the busses since they were practically surrounded by a lot of people. We saw Paul on the other side, had a little chat, and then found Nick. Bob left too quickly, and then Alex came out. Everyone had gone by the time we got up to him, which was perfect for me. They all really loved our comments and really seemed to enjoy themselves--even just signing autographs and taking pictures.
I.
Love.
This.
Band.
The whole way home my boyfriend and I couldn't stop replaying the show. We talked about how enegrgetic they were, how amazing they sound live, and the fun we had dancing and singing like MAD! It was a GREAT experience...
only it will be until 2010 until I see them again...la sigh.
Maybe I will have to buy Green Day tickets (barf) just to see them open...
