This Fire (Station) Is Out Of Control! – REVIEW: Franz Ferdinand at The Fire Station 25/6/25
When a band releases an album, announces a tour, and has plans to play Glastonbury at the weekend, it’s very rare that they will go on to play a one off gig, never mind an intimate hometown headline with a monstrous 4 song encore. Yet for Franz Ferdinand, this gig felt as huge of a celebration to them as it was to us.
The gig was attended by people of all ages, from fans that have been listening since the beginning, to the younger generation of indie-heads getting to experience one of the original pioneers of 2000s rock. Everyone was equipped with a pint and their dancing shoes – typical essentials for a gig, and they were definitely put to good use. The band are known for having some of the most recognisable guitar riffs that can be chanted and stomped to, and the not-so-harmonious roar and stomps of the crowd could be heard chanting ‘lucky lucky, you’re so lucky’ to the band as they played their hit ‘Do You Want to’ from all areas of the venue.
From start to finish, frontman Alex Kapranos exuded pride: pride for the music, pride for the city, pride for his home. A presence was brought to the stage that could have only been mustered up from 20+ years of indie rock excellence, and the band left no part of the stage untouched. 6 albums after their debut, their most recent release ‘The Human Fear’, had the crowd chanting, clapping and dancing along just as much as the classics, keeping that floorfilling, signature sound intact, the vibe ever wavering throughout the entire performance.
Kapranos went on to tell tales of his younger years spent with his family in Roker in between songs, with constant reminders that our Music City status has furthered his joy to return, as well as repeatedly shouting out Sunderland support act BigFatBig.
The room was already jam packed as BigFatBig took to the stage earlier in the evening and the local legends perfectly warmed up the crowd, whilst regularly reiterating how amazing it is to be from Sunderland, welcoming possible visitors who had travelled to see the headliner in the most Mackem way possible: ‘We’re so proud to be from where we are from, its f*cking brilliant’.
