Working through the backlog… you can now see a few pictures of Giant Drag’s set during the iheartcomix party at SXSW here.

One of the oddest double-bills in recent memory rolled its way through Houston, Texas last Thursday when Death Cab For Cutie and Franz Ferdinand played to a packed house at the Verizon Wireless Theater. It was an odd bill because either band was sufficiently popular on their own to be capable of selling out the 3,000 capacity venue, and this crowd seemed pretty fairly split between fans of one band or the other. If anyone was actually there for both, they were rare, as most people randomly polled in the queue were there for either Franz or Death Cab, but not both.

Opening the show were English band The Cribs, back in Texas two weeks after tearing up stages all over Austin at SXSW this year. Their set list didn’t vary too much from what they’ve been typically playing here in the States, but they ripped right through it and, as usual, were an absolute joy to watch play. Guitarist Ryan Jarman seemed to be in good spirits and sounder health than previous gigs, barely one month after a particularly nasty injury at the NME awards in London, and brothers Gary and Ross (on bass and drums respectively) certainly held down their end during their 10-song set. Despite the boys’ feedback-laden, chaotic brand of scuzzy lo-fi pop punk being quite different musically from either of the two bands set to follow that night, they were received quite enthusiastically by the Houston crowd. It was a good first showing in Houston for the boys, and if I may break objectivity here for just a second, I was really proud of them, and of the Houston crowd as well for treating them so well. They definitely won over some new fans that night, and deservedly so.

The next band on was Death Cab, who’ve always seemed just a bit too dull and emo on record, but I was more than willing to give them a chance to change my mind. After four or five songs, however, I decided it was simply not to be. There’s a reason they have such a huge following, I’m sure, but they’re just not my cup of tea. But in all fairness to them, their fans seemed happy.

Franz Ferdinand took the alternating headlining spot that night, and when they took the stage one could definitely see why so many in the crowd were willing to wait all night for them. In a music world over-populated and over-polluted with far too many boring sound-alike bands, their slightly Glasgow School revival sound brings a welcome and much-needed smartness to pop. And girls can dance to it, too! (And did they? Indeed they did.) The first half of their set featured mostly songs from their second album, and despite my initial dislike of that one I’m certainly willing to give it another try based on how good it actually sounded live (minus single “Do You Want To”, which still comes across as just plain grating). The second half, comprised of songs from their debut, was even better, closing the show with a rendition of “This Fire” that ended with three, yes, three band members banging away at the drums. Frontman Alex Kapranos was engaging and actually rather charming onstage, but the real star of the night had to be bassist Bob Hardy, who despite never saying a word onstage nevertheless stole the show with his ever-present cowboy hat.

For a big gig at a huge corporately-owned venue, it actually was a surprisingly decent night on the town. It’s not the sort of place to trade in the small clubs for on a regular basis, but regardless there didn’t seem to be a single person in the house who wasn’t having a great time. And sometimes, that’s all it takes to make it.

The Cribs opening for Franz Ferdinand and Death Cab For Cutie at the Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, Texas. I’m working on a writeup of the whole show, but for now I can tell you the boys looked to be having fun up there and the Houston crowd loved ‘em.