Franz Ferdinand, Permanent (Joy) – Grand Central Hall, Liverpool

Off to Liverpool again for only my 7th Franz Ferdinand show – I really should have seen them more – and another album launch show. This was another “album launch in a big venue because we can sell more albums than if it was in a record shop” gig – so it’s organised by Jacaranda Records but it’s in a 1200 capacity venue.

We expected the band would be on at 8pm and do an hour’s set so I thought we might drive home, but Mrs RP talked me into getting a hotel there, so we stayed in a Travelodge in Liverpool Docks (a mile and a half away, so I could get my steps in). We booked in at 6pm, and then had dinner in Renshaw Street food hall near the venue – I broke Dry January and had my first beer(s) of the year.

When we got to the venue we found there was a (previously unannounced) support band, Permanent (Joy) – so the show didn’t end until 10.10pm. Permanent (Joy) were good although I’m not really sure how to pigeonhole them.

Franz Ferdinand’s new album The Human Fear is their best one for 16 years (admittedly, they’ve only done three albums in 16 years) but I am already playing it to death. The setlist was half new songs, and half golden oldies:

Bar Lonely
No You Girls
The Doctor
Night or Day
Walk Away
Build It Up
Michael
Audacious
Do You Want To
Take Me Out
Hooked
Jacqueline
The Birds
Encore:
This Fire

This Fire was played without comment, even though Los Angeles is currently burning to the ground.

After the gig we went to the nearby Liffey Irish pub for a quick double Baileys – amazingly only £3.50 per double. We paid £13 after the Half Happy gig in Cardiff for the same drink. I like Liverpool!*

* apart from their two terrible football clubs, of course