Live Review: Franz Ferdinand - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London 05/03/2025
Franz Ferdinand dazzle with their irresistible indie disco at Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
Opening in swaggering style for Franz Ferdinand, The Great Leslie have a jaunty punk edge that opens the night in a suitably high energy fashion for Franz Ferdinand. Main support Master Peace brings his upbeat blend of rap to a hyped up crowd as he really keeps the party started with his set.
For twenty years Franz Ferdinand have inspired a cult following with their flamboyant indie pop anthems. The flamboyant, ever effervescent, gregarious Glaswegians bring their new album ‘The Human Fear’ to the second of two sold out nights at Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Their Strokes- esque lo - fi sound on their latest single ‘Audacious’ perfectly compliment the indie disco signature hits from their early back catalogue. In an interview with NME last year, lead singer Alex Kapranos.
Speaking of the the band’s minimalist sound on their ‘The Human Fear’ released in January this year, Kapranos says their latest single ‘Audacious’ that “In some ways it is more audacious musically than some of the things we might have done in the past”, adding eloquently that despite their new sound, they still distinctively the Franz Ferdinand fans know and love:: “Musically there are things that haven’t happened in Franz Ferdinand songs before - but online that at the same time you’re thinking: “Damn , that’s unmistakably Franz Ferdinand. To me, that’s the Holy Grail - to do something new but absolutely be unquestionably yourself”.
Early favourites like ‘The Dark of the Matinee’ remind us of Franz Ferdinand’s ability to write indie dance gems that set the indie world alright on their self titled dbiy album. The ludicrously catchy ‘Do You Want To’ still sounds impeccably timeless to this day even though it’ first came out some fifteen years ago. ‘No You Girls’ and ‘Ulysses’ sound phenomenal, the gradual but devastating build up to an explosive climax that has the crowd in raptures. Mid way through the set Kapranos quips in his deadpan Glaswegian drool: “We’re going to play a bunch of songs tonight and this is one of them”. The nonchalant delivery of ‘Walk Away’ epitomise the art school cool of the bands’s sound that sets them sport of from the rest.
‘Michael’’ is another masterpiece in how to throw an earthshaking indie shindig. By this point driving the crowd to near hysteria. Seminal indie dances floor filler ‘Take Me Oiut’ is simply sublime, it’s teasingly long introduction evening a huge sense of anticipation in as crowd surfers wildly soar above the heads and beer glasses are held aloft in sheer ecstasy. In one a few interactions with the crowd ad they fire through their arsenal of hits, Alex Kapranos jokes: “This guy keeps taking a picture of of my feet. I like a good pair of shoes as much as the next man but uh yeah anyway let’s move on”.
First song of the encore ‘Jaqueline’ starts of with a tantalising introduction that showcases the vocal dexterity of their incredible showman tonight. ‘This Fire’ sends the crowd completely wild. As name describe so perfectly: “The ‘Tale Me Out’ stars mission to to make you shake your tush with an arch and arty aesthetic set them a apart from the pool of watery Carling that surrounded them. It’s was a display of bravado without overbearing machismo”. Shattering Shepherd’s Bush Empire tonight. Franz Ferdinand show us how indie art pop is done - and that show no signs of slowing down.
Words by Brendan Sharp
