By Jodi Root

Despite the fact that I was home, in bed even, by 10:30 PM, I was exhausted all damned day. Regardless of my 8-full hours of shut eye, my body was flat out BEAT and worn the hell out. I had not danced my ass off harder for as long as I can remember—and for those of you who keep a tab on what shows I check, you realize I’m an aficionado for a solid, booty-shaking dance party. But last night, Franz Ferdinand BROUGHT it to Chicago’s Riviera Theatre.

The all-ages sold out set was a packed sea of bodies—many sporting the taboo band t-shirt (think 13-17 year olds), many $6 MGD party cup equipped fists, some older, confused lookin’ dudes (probably the tween crowd’s rides), but no matter what the age or demographic, all in the house were a-movin’ and a-shakin’ to the Scottish rock troupe’s beats. An elaborate full-stage multimedia screen grid propped the background, as several bright and variant flash images illuminated the set—ranging from actual music videos (“Ulysses”), to Tron-like neon green etch-a-sketch grids, sexy dancing ladies and Lisa Frank like graphics. The set was flat out dope.

But no matter how cool the aesthetics may have been, the attention was right where it was deserved—on the stellar, upbeat dance sequences that were erupting from this group of talented indie rockers. FF took to the stage somewhere between 8:15 and 8:45ish—kicking things off to a roaring crowd, when guitarist Nick McCarthy led the way out, crutches proudly held up high in the air, smile on face. The other three-quarters followed directly behind, and wasted no time kicking into the 17-song set with their debut album’s opening track, “Jacqueline.”

The sound quality was A+, which isn’t always the case for the Riv, and for the first time ever, I was able to see the entire stage from the center ground floor (again, probably because I was one of the eldest in attendance). It’s so easy to forget how fun shows really can be with the right audience—no crossed arms, bobbing heads here—just swanky dance moves and lots of clap-along fests. This was honestly the most fun I’ve had at a concert in years—quality visuals, high energy performance, several jam sessions, interactive crowd—but it also didn’t hurt that front man Alex Kapranos was a total charming dreamboat, either (Huh-low, Shi-kah-go! Thahnks to Bawn Roofie-awns!).

From song number one to seventeen, the majority of the show is a blur. I know massive dancing ensued, smiles were aplenty, and it was a non-stop party. The fourteen song set included an equal blend of new tracks from “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand,” as well as both ‘05’s “You Could Have It So Much Better” and of course, 04’s self-titled break-out debut. The encore was downright incredible—kicking off with “What She Came For,” leading into the full-jam-tripped out “Lucid Dreams” and closing, ironically enough, with “This Fire”—(I wonder if these Scots did this on purpose and caught up on their history lessons of the Windy City).
Other highlights from the night included my personal faves “Michael,” and “Bite Hard,” as well as everyone else’s faves the never-endingly catchy “Take Me Out” and iPod track “No You Girls.” Full set list is below (with the exception of song #3 thanks to my crumby Hannah Montana notebook page that mysteriously disappeared).

Discuss: Did anyone make it in time for opener Born Ruffians? What were your highlights from last night?

1. Jacqueline
2. No You Girls
3. (Lost in Jodi’s purse somewhere)
4. Turn it On
5. Michael
6. Twilight Omens
7. Do You Want To
8. Walk Away
9. The Dark of the Matinee
10. Bite Hard
11. Take Me Out
12. Ulysses
13. 40′
14. The Outsiders
Enc 1: What She Came For
Enc 2: Lucid Dreams
Enc 3: This Fire

Previously: Review: Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Myspace: Franz Ferdinand
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Buy: Tonight:Franz Ferdinand