Franz Ferdinand • Telescreens • March 31, 2025 • The Complex
Reviewed and Photographed by Morgan Newbold
Early last week, The Complex welcomed Scottish art-rock band Franz Ferdinand for an intimate sold-out show at The Grand on their The Human Fear tour. Hundreds of casual and hardcore fans came out this Monday evening to experience a set full of groovy and electric energy, with plenty of new and old songs to get everyone in the room jumping. The group put on a spectacular show by showcasing their musical expertise and joy of performing, and it was a treat to witness a very integral indie band do what they do best.
Telescreens
I arrived in time to shoot the openers, Telescreens, and the small room was already tightly packed. Telescreens were phenomenal. They had insane stage presence, and the crowd thoroughly enjoyed them while they sang and danced along. The lead singer hung around the lobby afterward, talking to fans at merch and watching the rest of the set with everyone else!
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand is an Indie-Rock band that burst onto the global music scene in the early 2000s with a fresh, danceable, and infectious sound. Formed in Glasgow in 2002, the band originally consisted of Alex Kapranos (lead vocals and guitar), Bob Hardy (bass), Nick McCarthy (rhythm guitar and keyboards), and Paul Thomson (drums). Over time, the band experienced lineup changes, most notably the departure of Nick McCarthy in 2016. Julian Corrie joined on keyboards and guitar, and Dino Bardot later joined on guitar. In 2021, drummer Paul Thomson left the group and was replaced by Audrey Tait, making her the first female member of the band.
Their name was inspired by Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, whose assassination in 1914 sparked World War I. The band gained immediate attention with their self-titled debut album, Franz Ferdinand, released in 2004. The album’s single, “Take Me Out,” became an international hit, blending catchy guitar riffs and rhythms with a post-punk revival aesthetic. The track earned them several awards, including the 2004 Mercury Prize nomination and a BRIT Award for Best British Group in 2005.
Franz Ferdinand continued to evolve their sound with subsequent albums like You Could Have It So Much Better (2005), Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009), and Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (2013). Their music combined art rock energy with dancefloor beats, making them a staple in the indie rock and alternative scenes. Their most recent album, The Human Fear (2025), continues in that vein.
I met up with my friends in between the opening set and Franz, and we both expressed how it was going to be an interesting challenge to shoot the production when every inch of the floor, VIP, and bar balcony was tightly packed with fans. When Franz Ferdinand finally came out, I was hopeful that the lighting would be sufficient enough to do the show justice, as there was no sign of background visuals or stage props.
The members walked out with huge smiles on their faces, and the crowd screeched in excitement! This band has been around for decades and evolved fantastically, but the pureness of the relationship between the musicians and the fans was clearly integral to the kind of show they wanted to still put on. It’s about the music with them, not being flashy. They opened with “The Doctor”, “Do You Want To”, and “Audacious”, and already the energy was at a 10. Everyone jumped and sang along as Alex’s grand voice rang through the small room! All the members of the band gave their all, rocking out and putting on an authentic performance night after night, feeding off the energy of the crowd. I made my way around, as I do, finding a decent vantage point to capture the whole production.
The band mainly stayed in their designated spots on the stage but briefly walked over to each other to jam their hearts out. The lighting was simple but strong and complemented and illuminated all the musicians well. I wasn’t struggling to capture any one moment as the production remained fairly consistent throughout the night.
They continued to enthral the crowd with beloved tracks like ‘No You Girls’ and ‘Walk Away’ and brand new ones from The Human Fear. The setlist was expertly crafted to keep the energy going the whole time. Closer to the end of the show, the intro to “Take Me Out” started swelling from the guitarist building and building the riff, and everyone jumped in anticipation. That song is SO fun, it was an instant classic for a reason!
Franz Ferdinand wrapped up the show with more hits like “The Fallen” and “This Fire”. I really enjoyed checking this band off my list, as they are exceptionally talented and fun to watch. Catch them live as they continue their tour around the East Coast this month!