Give Me Franz or Give Me Death [Cab]
April 11, 2006
I’m uncool. Apparently, it’s uncool to dance at concerts in DC, though bobbing one’s head, slightly, seems acceptable. I, however, simply could not stand still during Franz Ferdinand’s exceptional set, and didn’t. FF performed first in the double bill with Death Cab for Cutie on Tuesday night at D.A.R Constitution Hall. Franz, the four post-punk lads from Scotland, rocked hard throughout their long set with zealous energy.
Fans of their debut album were not disappointed. They performed a good number of songs from it, including such rockin’ tracks as “Dark of the Matinee,” “Darts of Pleasure,” “Come On Home” “40 Feet,” and “Jacqueline” which were positively explosive live. Midway through, they performed “Take Me Out,” the hit that quickly found its way to numerous TV commercials and sports stadiums with its infectious, driving beat.
The band never relented and energetically performed several tracks from their second album, You Could Have it So Much Better with Me, including the electric Do-Do-Do-Do-“Do You Want To?” and “The Fallen.” They adeptly transformed the Beatles-esque ballad “Eleanor Put Your Puts On” into a booty-shakin’ rock song. And, they did an extended version of the already funky “Outsiders” with three of them pounding the drum kit to close the song.
Their sound instinctively moves one to dance, but not this crowd. On the floor, most folks were standing and, at times, clapped and cheered. But this clearly was a very young, overmedicated, OC-watching crowd waiting patiently, and politely, for Death Cab to take the stage. I sat behind a tall bloke whose hair resembled Howard Jones, circa 1984, surrounded by a slew of semi-comatose people on all sides and wanted to scream “What’s wrong with you people? Dance!!!” FF remained in high spirits despite their modest reception and closed the show, as they usually do, with “This Fire” as the 3,700 attendees became that much closer to their Death Cab deliverance.
After getting all riled up from Franz, the very mellow and melancholy Seattle-based Death Cab for Cutie took the stage. They’re an excellent, tight band but almost too mellow to follow such a raucous opener as Franz. Their melodies are haunting and somber. And, somehow, folks were dancing to this. Go figure.
They opened the show with “Different Names for the Same Thing,” off their 2005 album Plans, their first on a major label, Atlantic Records, after nearly a decade on a Seattle indie label. Live, lead singer Ben Gibbard sounds like a cross between the singers from Pet Shop Boys and Anything Box, with a little Lightning Seeds thrown in. Death Cab’s introspective lyrics speak to a generation. Add in their shoegazer sound and one is left introspective, in a trance.
Perhaps the juxtaposition of these bands wasn’t so unusual. Franz brings joyful anticipation and reminds us “It’s so much better on holiday” whereas Death Cab simply brings us back to reality.
Recommended Beverage to go with this Show:
McEwan’s Scotch Ale (coz “if it’s not Scottish, it’s crap!”
McEwan’s Scotch Ale (coz “if it’s not Scottish, it’s crap!”
or, in honor of the Seattle-based Death Cab,
Starbuck’s coffee with lots of cream
I’m uncool. Apparently, it’s uncool to dance at concerts in DC, though bobbing one’s head, slightly, seems acceptable. I, however, simply could not stand still during Franz Ferdinand’s exceptional set, and didn’t. FF performed first in the double bill with Death Cab for Cutie on Tuesday night at D.A.R Constitution Hall. Franz, the four post-punk lads from Scotland, rocked hard throughout their long set with zealous energy.
Fans of their debut album were not disappointed. They performed a good number of songs from it, including such rockin’ tracks as “Dark of the Matinee,” “Darts of Pleasure,” “Come On Home” “40 Feet,” and “Jacqueline” which were positively explosive live. Midway through, they performed “Take Me Out,” the hit that quickly found its way to numerous TV commercials and sports stadiums with its infectious, driving beat.
The band never relented and energetically performed several tracks from their second album, You Could Have it So Much Better with Me, including the electric Do-Do-Do-Do-“Do You Want To?” and “The Fallen.” They adeptly transformed the Beatles-esque ballad “Eleanor Put Your Puts On” into a booty-shakin’ rock song. And, they did an extended version of the already funky “Outsiders” with three of them pounding the drum kit to close the song.
Their sound instinctively moves one to dance, but not this crowd. On the floor, most folks were standing and, at times, clapped and cheered. But this clearly was a very young, overmedicated, OC-watching crowd waiting patiently, and politely, for Death Cab to take the stage. I sat behind a tall bloke whose hair resembled Howard Jones, circa 1984, surrounded by a slew of semi-comatose people on all sides and wanted to scream “What’s wrong with you people? Dance!!!” FF remained in high spirits despite their modest reception and closed the show, as they usually do, with “This Fire” as the 3,700 attendees became that much closer to their Death Cab deliverance.
After getting all riled up from Franz, the very mellow and melancholy Seattle-based Death Cab for Cutie took the stage. They’re an excellent, tight band but almost too mellow to follow such a raucous opener as Franz. Their melodies are haunting and somber. And, somehow, folks were dancing to this. Go figure.
They opened the show with “Different Names for the Same Thing,” off their 2005 album Plans, their first on a major label, Atlantic Records, after nearly a decade on a Seattle indie label. Live, lead singer Ben Gibbard sounds like a cross between the singers from Pet Shop Boys and Anything Box, with a little Lightning Seeds thrown in. Death Cab’s introspective lyrics speak to a generation. Add in their shoegazer sound and one is left introspective, in a trance.
Perhaps the juxtaposition of these bands wasn’t so unusual. Franz brings joyful anticipation and reminds us “It’s so much better on holiday” whereas Death Cab simply brings us back to reality.
posted by Dana @ 4:18 PM
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