CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS

By Alex Kluft

Scottish Rockers Franz Ferdinand played the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, CA last night (3/29). They most recently played L.A. as part of the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas show at the KIA Forum this past December and a few songs at the iHeartRadio Theater just two days before the Wiltern. Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the band’s self titled debut album. From the group’s formation in 2002 until 2016 the lineup was lead vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Alex Kapranos, bassist Bob Hardy, drummer Paul Thomson, and guitarist/keyboardist Nick McCarthy. Following McCarthy’s departure, keyboardist Julian Corrie and guitarist Dino Bardot joined the band. The next change would come when Thomson departed and drummer Audrey Tait joined in 2021. This lineup has released one album together which came out in January this year The Human Fear. Of their six albums in their home country of Scotland, two hit number one including The Human Fear, three were number two, and one number three. 

From the 20 song setlist eight songs had come from the new album including the first song of the set “The Doctor.” The setlist also included “Everdaydreamer,” “Night Or Day,” “Hooked,” “Build It Up,” “Bar Lonely,” “Black Eyelashes,” and “The Birds” from that album. Of their earlier top 10 hits in Scotland, they performed “Take Me Out,” “The Dark of the Matinee,” “Michael,” and “Walk Away.”