Franz Ferdinand, Omni, WANNA -- Warsaw (Gov Ball Afterparty) | Brooklyn, NY | 5 June 2017 

Photos Courtesy of: Edwina Hay

For the third year, Governors Ball offered additional concerts in conjunction with their seventh annual festival called “Governors Ball After Dark.” This year’s series of After Dark shows began on Thursday, June 1st and concluded on Wednesday, June 8th. On Monday, June 5th, Glasgow’s Franz Ferdinand headlined a sold out show at Warsaw in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. 

I first saw Franz Ferdinand live in 2004 after the release of their self-titled record. Back then, they played a free show at Virgin Megastore in Union Square that’s now a bank branch 13 years later. The quintet kicked off their set with “Jacqueline” from that record and the crowd sang along in unison.  The band saw support from WANNA, a Brooklyn band with seven members on stage, with drummer Josh Mac also singing main vocals. WANNA was followed by Atlanta’s Omni, who are touring with FF.

Franz Ferdinand performed a nearly 20 song set list, with a three song encore. Frontman Alex Kapranos was all over the stage; kicking and jumping, singing and playing guitar, and leaving the stage to interact with fans. After singing along and dancing as much as I could near the soundbooth (I am recovering from a broken foot afterall), I left the venue wondering why on earth it took me so long to experience them live again.