Franz Ferdinand
Brixton Academy, London. Photo: Nathan Barnes.
T
onight’s triumphant return to Brixton Academy proves that Franz Ferdinand’s place now is perhaps even more left-of-centre than it ever was. Tailored in matching black and white, lead by a platinum blond Alex Kapranos, they look and sound razor sharp. But though they could easily dine out on an enviable back catalogue of bangers until retirement, there’s a tightly-coiled energy tonight that suggests they’re not content to go quietly just yet. Attacking the set with a relentless sense of idiosyncratic theatricality, they’re a band slowly and expertly transitioning into elder statesmen territory; if Alex is visually channelling David Byrne tonight, then you sense that his band are headed for a similarly beloved status as Talking Heads. Maybe it’s because their breed of angular art school-isms hasn’t been done well for a good while now, but Franz Ferdinand in 2018 sound weird and wired and genuinely exciting again. Cuts from new LP ‘Always Ascending’ are riddled with that perfect mix of accessibility and oddness that made the band so intriguing from the off. They’re mixed in with a flawless run through of the hits that finds the singer leading the crowd like a compere at the world’s best Butlins. You don’t need us to hammer home just how good ‘Michael’ or ‘Ulysses’ or ‘Walk Away’ or ‘Take Me Out’ are live, but Alex still throws absolutely everything into them, flouncing and strutting across the stage, throwing his arms wide and starting unison crowd waves like it’s all brand new. This isn’t just nostalgia, Franz Ferdinand are morphing into a whole new phase. And it’s a fucking treat. (Lisa Wright)
little simz
The Roundhouse, London. Photos: James Kelly.
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or two weeks each spring, Roundhouse Rising sees some of the UK’s most exciting new acts pass through its doors. Alongside Stormzy and other famous alumni, Little Simz is one of the event’s previous guests to go on to bigger things. She first shook Rising with a huge set in 2014, before curating a whole day last year, an event she dubbed Welcome To Wonderland. Today she returns for part two, ending Roundhouse Rising 2018 with a bang. The evening is a non-stop barrage of genre-bending weirdness and hard-hitting beats. Kojey Radical, rapper and poet, showcases many different sides, throwing out sweet, tender cuts with accuracy and force. Later, New York artist Junglepussy is a complete livewire, barely pausing for breath between her songs of self-confidence and power. As is expected, Little Simz is greeted like a hero when she closes the festival in the main space. Last year’s ‘Stillness In Wonderland’ LP is a vibrant, conceptual trip, and tonight’s show is similarly fascinating. A dark, haunting journey through rap and hip hop, backed by sparkling visuals, it’s abundantly clear why Little Simz has gained the reputation she has. Curating a line-up full to the brim with fresh talent, it’s also clear that there are plenty of others waiting to follow her into Wonderland.(Will Richards)
80 diymag.com