As I look up at the iconic Barrowland sign, with its exploding stars, my mind rewinds to early 2004 and the moment I first heard Franz Ferdinand’s Take Me Out—a moment that stopped me in my tracks. A real OMG, what have I just heard? moment. I wasn’t living in Glasgow then, but fast forward twenty-one years, and here I am—and here they are.

With a career spanning six albums and continued global success, tonight’s sold-out show marks the final night of Franz Ferdinand’s UK/EU tour. After an incredible appearance on Radio 2’s Piano Room and hot on the heels of the release of The Human Fear, there is genuine excitement and animated chatter in the hugely diverse crowd.

As the band strolls out, the venue erupts. Alex smiles broadly, arms outstretched as if greeting an old friend. The energy and chemistry between the band and audience are instant, creating an incredibly charged atmosphere that is unleashed as they launch into Bar Lonely, followed by the classic, timeless groove of The Dark of the Matinée.

This is Franz Ferdinand at their best—on home turf, delivering their music as they always have: with verve, intensity, and panache. They may still carry the “art school” tag, but there is so much more to them. Their attention to detail—both musically and visually—is impossible to ignore. The 25-song set flies by in an instant, filled with moments of pure joy between the band and crowd. Michael is played with such ferocity that it bites, and Take Me Out sees band and audience leaping into the air en masse, singing in unison.

Tonight was everything you thought it would be. Everything you hoped it would be.

Tonight, all of those exploding Barrowland stars aligned.

An absolutely joyous hometown show—just a stone’s throw from where it all began all those years ago.

Words: Nick Tammer

Images: Chris Hogge