There’s a Scottish proverb that says “Fools look to tomorrow; wise men use tonight.” If that’s the case, then Scotland’s reigning art-rock darlings Franz Ferdinand have been using Tonight for some time now.
Tonight (Sony) is the title of their latest album, released earlier this year. It's a patchwork quilt of a disc, with singer Alex Kapranos singing about heading out on the town, drinking, getting wasted, hooking up and dealing with the consequences come the morning.
Compared to their last, awkward, poppy album You Could Have it So Much Better (2005), Tonight is a louche tapestry of crunchy old-skool synths, electro noodling, African rhythms, mad tempo changes and the kind of fun, pop-rock anthems that FF have as its trademark. Listen to lead-off single “Ulysses” and the rollicking “La la la la la” chorus will burn itself into your brain forever.
As much of a mishmash the album is, though, one thing is clear: tonight, Franz Ferdinand want listeners to shake their collective ass.
Interview with Franz Ferdinand Bassist Bob Hardy
Suite101.com caught up for a Q&A with bassist Bob Hardy in St. Louis, Missouri - stop three on a million-night tour that takes the band around the globe first as Green Day’s opening act, for solo shows in Canada and the US, then back to the UK and Scotland by Christmas. So far, says Hardy, so good.
“It’s kind of a change of pace for us. We’ve done all sorts of festival dates in the UK and Europe, and now we’re doing 30 minutes, then Green Day are on, which is kind of enjoyable, really. You know, packing it all in, BAM BAM BAM and then you’re off ...and then we help do Green Day’s make up,” he says, chuckling down the line.
Touring Tonight
But isn’t it weird promoting an album that you started writing three years ago and which was released eight months ago?
“After it’s been out for more than a month, a tour stops being about promoting an album, and it’s just about going out playing. With Green Day, it’s just about playing to new people, we’re just Franz Ferdinand now.”
But Franz Ferdinand, it has to be said, is sounding a bit different these days. For fans weaned on a band that opened the chanty chorus door to Kaiser Chiefs, Maxïmo Park et al, Tonight’s funky swagger and synths may come as a surprise.
“There’s definitely a broader palate of sounds and influences on this album than the last one, and I think it reflects more satisfactorily our wider taste in music,” says Hardy. “While we have very classic tastes, the four of us get together and it’s really broad-ranging. Nick likes Arabic music and Paul likes hardcore electronica, so I think that’s come out in the music.”
Synths and Funkin’ on the Road
With the luxury of time, which the band didn’t have on its last album, what does Hardy make of Tonight? And how’ve the new songs translated for the tour?
“We’ve got a much more relaxed approach to playing the songs on this record, they can be a little bit looser and funkier, for want of a better word. The physical arrangements on stage also had to change. Alex plays synths on some songs now as well as Nick. I think Nick’s had the hardest time - he’s got to jump around a lot more. It took him a while to adapt. It got to a point where he couldn’t remember what key he should play in on what at the very beginning ...but we have a more loose and open-minded approach to what’s happening now.”
Favourite tracks to play live?
“Lucid Dreams” becomes quite a big song live, with a sort of epic, 15-minute electronic ending. It’s a band favourite, because it has that very long outro and there’s a lot of improvisation in there. It’s different every night and a bit crazy and wild, which is really enjoyable. I also like playing “Ulysses”, too.
Yeah, that is a song that, while brilliant, wedges itself inside one's head and stays stuck on repeat.
“Oh dear, yes, sorry.”
Not a problem. For Tonight, Bob, we’re going to be...dancing.
Franz Ferdinand are on tour now. Tickets for US and Canadian shows are available via LiveNation.com. For more info, visit www.franzferdinand.co.uk
Read more about Franz Ferdinand Live in Vancouver, at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park.
Mikala Taylor - Mikala Taylor is the creator/writer of BACKSTAGERIDER.COM, an editor/interactive producer, and was the former associate editor of ...
