February 16, 2006

Franz Ferdinand Bring Flamboyancy, Rock 'n' roll, And Unpredictability To Singapore

By How Kay Lii

We really really want to -- watch Franz Ferdinand live in action tonight. Yes, the Scottish sensations are finally here for a one-night-only gig at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Frontman Alexander Kapranos said, "We felt we kinda missed out the last time, with the first record. There were a lot of places we didn't get to."

"So we feel like a visit here is long overdue."

Having just arrived from a sold-out concert in Hong Kong, the band (named after an assasinated archduke of Austria) is more than ready to live up to the reputation that precedes them. They have been nominated for numerous awards in the "Live Act" category and their shows are known to be adrenaline pumping and even outrageous at times.

When asked what could be expected of them at the Singapore gig, guitarist Nicholas McCarthy deadpanned, "Flamboyancy, rock 'n' roll, and unpredictability."

With two albums under their belt reaching Gold status in Singapore, FF, as fondly nicknamed by their fans, are fast becoming household names even with the very young.

When a reporter remarked that he knew an eight-year-old boy who would be in attendance for the gig, Alex smiled widely and said, "We're totally flattered. I do think it's a genuinely wonderful thing if little kids can appreciate your music because little kids have no concept of what's cool and what's not cool. They just know a good song. If they like it they'll dance to it."

"When you see even a toddler dancing to your music, you know you're doing something right."

The band was in a good mood was apparent during the press conference, where reporters, photographers, managers, and even the band, burst out laughing many a time, tickled by the questions and answers exchanged between media and rock band.

When one reporter asked if they could tell something about each other that nobody knew about, all four members simultaneously went, "Nooo..." much to the amusement of everyone in the room.

"You trying to split us up?" Alex asked, pretending to be horrified.

And when another reporter asked, "What's one opportunity or situation you won't walk away from?" Bob Hardy (bassist) replied almost immediately, "Free bars."

With such good-natured humor and the promise of an electrifying show (plus their spiffy dress sense of course), we dare say we couldn't have it much better.