16 Oct (matinee) - Franz Ferdinand @ Glasgow Barrowlands

Yes you read it right, this was the matinee gig for under 18s and their parents. The tickets strangely said no under 5s, which I thought was a bit obvious but how wrong I was, the number of kids aged 6/7 was incredible. I have the feeling that these kids were there for the accompanying adults benefit and not their own love of indie pop but I always have been a bit of s cynic.

This was the strangest gig I have ever been to by a country mile. I've never been in the Barrowlands in the afternoon and with so many kids it was difficult to believe it wasn't Steps or some other ghastly pop act taking to the stage. I've also never seen a glow stick at the Barras or been unable to have a pint. However on the positive side the usual drinks prices were no where to be seen, £120 for a pint of diet coke and only £1 for a bottle of water! I'm digressing but I want you to share my Twilight Zone feelings.

What about the gig, the actual music, that's what its all about is it not? Franz Ferdinand are an excellent live band and have perfected a tight live show during their years of gigging in Glasgow before they achieved their phenomenal success. That can't be denied and they did a strong set to a very enthusiastic audience.

Look, I've been a big fan for some time, but a gig for kids? That's just plain odd, they looked like the musical equivalent of the Chuckle Brothers. Especially when they had some audience participation when they asked the weans to help them write a song, it was like panto time at the Barras. I was embarrassed for them as was my ten year old who said she preferred them at Leeds when there were no wee neds to annoy her!

Surely when kids attend a gig they are playing at being older and surely the last thing they want is to be made to feel their age or younger? Maybe I am wrong but the whole thing left me bewildered and with a real hope that this was a one off and that FF et al will not begin playing to more kids and extending their merchandising stands that are already full of overpriced rubbish.

Come back to the right age band guys, Saturday afternoon did nothing for your street cred and coolness, and for a band whose entire image is that of cool hipsters, beware or it could all come crashing down as fast as it arrived.

Al