Flying The Flag For Franz

So basically, I was watching Franz Ferdinand in concert last night, and, um, you weren't. Yay for me :)

Franz Ferdinand are one of those bands whom I've always wanted to see play live, ever since they first stormed the charts five years ago, but it's not been easy. It's not often that bands of that stature play this far north, which means trying to swing days off work and making travel and hotel arrangements to see them play in other parts of the country. Which is unfortunate, as it's quite a rigid system as far as holidays go at work. Plus of course, once they really start getting famous, the tickets tend to sell out really quickly as well... too quickly to make arrangements.

However, this tour would be different. They would be playing a date in my town! Not that I knew anything about it - but GroupieGirl did, and got me a ticket!! They'd sold out within an hour, she said - and when you remember she doesn't have a computer, this meant she had to be at the box office at 09.00 to have a chance to get it!

So, was it worth the wait? DEFINITELY! The support band weren't that bad either - an American outfit called Music Go Music. We managed to get pretty much right at the front of the crowd, though thankfully away from the mosh-pit which developed half way through - a mosh-pit? Really? Where do you think you are, at a heavy metal gig? That's what happens when you give 15 year olds strong drink I guess, bloody kids, least I knew how to behave properly at concerts back then, rant, rant.... watching them being thrown over the barriers by their mates and chucked out the gig was a laugh. Watching the fight that broke out near the end wasn't.

And before you accuse me of being a moaning old alien, let me tell you about the teenage lads near us who'd obviously spent all day making Franz Ferdinand banners on poster-sized bits of card. Very well made ones too, which they waved at the band from time to time. Now that's being passionate about your interests.

Another thing ticked off the list... and a lovely night out, thank you GroupieGirl!! Actually, she came round earlier in the day with Hallowe'en-themed Jaffa Cakes and we spent some happy hours scoffing them and sorting out her travel arrangements for two gigs she's going to later in the year - and working on another project which I'll blog about in due course. We've both got a fair amount in our diaries coming up - finishing 2009 with a bang!!

FRANZ FERDINAND - COME ON HOME
(from the album "Franz Ferdinand", 2004)