Franz Ferdinand at AFAS Live Amsterdam

words & images by Emily Yamaguchi

On a warm spring night in Amsterdam, fans of all ages began to line up outside of AFAS Live in preparation for the electrifying show that was soon to take place. With Pip Blom as the supporting act and Franz Ferdinand playing through their greatest hits album titled, “Hits to the Head”, in its entirety, this was quite the show to witness. As the doors opened, fans of all ages quickly rushed in through the venue doors to try to get as close to the barrier as possible, anxiously awaiting the beginning of the show.

After nearly an hour, the members of Pip Blom took the stage one by one, quickly capturing everyone’s attention with the opening notes of “Tinfoil”. This Amsterdam-based indie powerhouse quartet knows how to put on a show. Although their first album “Boat” was released only three years ago, the band’s chemistry on stage would easily fool you into thinking they’d been in the game together a decade. Pip Blom has played some pretty amazing shows, most recently including a live set for Audiotree which can now be found on their Spotify. After a few more European tour dates with Franz Ferdinand, they will continue on their travels with their very own UK tour. The band went out with a bang and completed their set with a fan favorite, “Daddy Issues” off of their 2019 album.

As Pip Blom exited the stage, the energy within the arena only got more intense. Fans packed in even closer towards the barrier, eager to get the best spot they could for the rest of the exhilarating night. At 21:00, the house lights went down, the music playing through the speakers around the venue quieted down, and the audience’s conversations came to a sudden halt. Sporting a shimmering pink button-up shirt, singer Alex Kapranos led the rest of his band on stage as they took their places and picked up their instruments for a night of Franz Ferdinand’s greatest hits.

Whether you’ve discovered them recently or you’ve been a fan for decades, everyone knows that Franz Ferdinand rocks hard. From their most famous UK top 50 single, “Take Me Out”, to other post-punk revival anthems like “No You Girls” and “Do You Want To”, there’s something for everyone on their discography. Over the last 20 years, the band has been releasing music, touring, and capturing the hearts and Spotify playlists of millions of fans across the world.

As Franz Ferdinand played their final hit, every fan from the barrier all the way to the top of the furthest balcony cheered them on. The end to this show truly was bittersweet, but the band’s powerful performance was sure to have struck a chord in the heart of every concert go-er.

If you want to see Franz Ferdinand on this tour, the band has a few upcoming shows which you can find on their website. You can also check out their music on Spotify, Deezer, or Youtube Music. To keep up with all of their musical shenanigans, connect with them on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.