Franz Ferdinand, Live @ Ogden Theater, Denver, 4.22.09

Photos by Merry Swankster Last week Franz Ferdinand brought their brand of stylized rock to Denver for a show at Colfax's Ogden Theater. The stopover was part of the trek of reverse Coachella pilgrims swinging through Colorado from the California desert. The boys from Glasgow played from a setlist of music spanning all three albums and placed the heaviest emphasis on the bookends of their CV. All but four songs from their blockbuster self titled debut were played, half the songs from this year's Tonight: Franz Ferdinand and only four from 2006's You Could Have It So Much Better. Not sure what you can read from a single night's set, but that ratio seems pretty in line for constituting a successful night. The Scottish lads toyed with subtle stabs at new interpretations for some of their older, more established material. So subtle that I wondered if it was indistinct for most people in the audience. Results of the new arrangements, much like the bands albums, where a mixed bag. As much as I hate to knock a band when flirting with new ways of refreshing older tracks, for the sake of honest relaying, I can't deny my underwhelmed feelings. On "The Fallen"'s coal-tinted glasses view of dystopian messiahs the band took to an odd swinging cadence. Singer Alex Kapranos handled the lyrics with a corny and somewhat uninterested, almost ironic flow that sounded like bad retirement home entertainment - or a man bored with his own music. However, and this is a big however, even as I interpreted a possible new rendering of one of their most lyrically interesting songs as boredom, the showy part of this and other lackluster songs in the beginning of the set were mostly saved by the energetic pace of the men onstage (save for the banged up keyboardist anchored on a chair). The more straightforward takes worked better. On new songs like the upbeat "Bite Hard" it was the unmeddled approach that hit right on the money. Similarly, the band tore the place up on the relative oldie, "40'". Starting off with a breezy loungy vibe - think the hipper room with better music abutting the aforenamed old folks home - before turning down a glass road of face-melting, psychedelic jammyness. Which brings to mind Franz's other stimulating elements of the live show. In past reviews I've not hidden my sincere appreciation for actual perceptible imagery while enjoying a rock show. It's something that is almost always complementary and yet still surprises me how too often bands overlook the creative possibilities of dressing up a feast for eyes. I also understand how such offerings may not change fans' preferences either way, but I'm willing to bet my money that a full spectrum of galvanizing triggers beats a bare stage when compared in a vacuum. Franz Ferdinand has always been a band that comfortably combines arty sensibilities into what they are about. For this tour the entire rear of the stage holds a giant rectangular video screen made up of approximately 2' square cubes 14 across by 6 vertical. Its most memorable use came during the last song of the main set, the underrated "Outsiders". Real time projections of the band were shown filtered with neon edged, pencil sketch effects. Definitely interesting even amidst the familiarity of the production (to anyone who has ever played around with Photoshop filters anyway). As I've seen them do before for a grand culmination of the show, the entire band congregated over the drums to wail on the kit for a frenzied end. Much to the delight of the crowd, the hobbling rhythm guitarist/keyboardist tossed his crutches and somehow held his balance during the excitement. Encores then kicked off with the terrific pounding of "Ulysses", an invigorated "Darts of Pleasure", the superb post-punk revival/electro twofer that is "Lucid Dreams", and finally an explosive show closer - "Fire". A solid night for all involved, but only the first course for the lady and I. Set on making the most of a bounty of music traversing Colorado, we hightailed it out of the theater during the closing notes before heading for a 30 mile drive to Boulder for an altogether different experience. Next: The Kills sexy intensity is cut short, but even in compacted form leaves a lasting impression.