By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Scottish quartet, Franz Ferdinand returns to Rio de Janeiro to play at Vivo Rio on Thursday, October 2nd. Well known for their dance-rock/indie rock sounds and artistic music videos, the Glasgow-based band has won multiple awards and released four studio albums, selling millions of copies around the world.
Touring in support of their most recent album entitled, Right Words, Right Thoughts, Right Action, the band was last in Rio four years ago. They return this week thanks to the help of Queremos, a Rio-based crowdfunded kickstarter, that connects musicians, agents, fans and venues.
While touring several South American countries, Franz Ferdinand made their first of two Brazilian stops in São Paulo on September 30th. The band was in that city more recently, playing on March 30th of last year as part of the Lollapalooza Brasil 2013 lineup.
Fronted by vocalist and guitarist Alex Kapranos with Bob Hardy on bass, Paul Thomson on drums, and Nick McCarthy on guitar and keyboards, Franz Ferdinand formed in 2002.
The quartet chose to name themselves after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, whose assassination in Sarajevo in 1914, an event considered by many historians to be the direct cause of the start World War I. The band members liked the alliteration of the name but have also reportedly played shows under the name, “The Black Hands.” The “Black Hand Society” was a secret society/terrorist gang credited with the masterminding Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination.
In 2003 the band Franz Ferdinand, signed with Domino Records. They then went to release their first studio album entitled, Franz Ferdinand, in 2004.
The album’s single, “Take Me Out,” met with international success, propelling the band into the mainstream. Labeled everything from “danceable rockwave” to post-punk revival to indie rock, their music gained attention from audiences around the world.
Rolling Stone Magazine later named “Take Me Out” number 327 on their list, “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” The song, its video and the album, went on to earn awards including two BRIT Awards and a Breakthrough Video MTV Award.
In 2005, the band followed up with their sophomore release entitled, You Could Have It So Much Better. It included the singles; “Do You Want To” and “Walk Away.” Their third album, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand was then released in 2009 and featured the successful single, “No You Girls.”
Franz Ferdinand released their fourth and latest album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action in 2013. During the four years between its release and their previous album, the band had been performing many of the songs live during their extensive touring. It would not be a surprise if fans in Rio were introduced to some new material as well on Thursday night.
Additionally, during the event, Rocknbeats, a major indie party in Brazil, will present DJs Junior Passini, Thiago Burgos and Arlei Hey Hey spinning both before and after Franz Ferdinand take to the Vivo Rio stage.
What: Franz Ferdinand
When: Thursday, October 2nd, 10PM
Where: Vivo Rio, Avenida Infante Dom Henrique 85, Parque do Flamengo
Entrance: R$180-R$600