Before Franz Ferdinand hit the stage in Missouri, an audience member comments that "British groups rock'n'roll so much better than American groups". It's an astonishing admission that reflects a wider sea change. Not long ago, a band such as Franz would have been dismissed here as one of those "trendy British haircut groups" - all style and -no passion. But while Britain remains fascinated by the Glaswegians' thin ties, Gang of Four riffs and ironic strategies, the US is simply embracing them as a fantastic pop group. In terms of the American venues they have booked for this tour - big, but not super-big - Franz Ferdinand are months behind where they are in the UK.
However, the show that reaches British shores in November takes the group to another level. They enter to the Dr Who theme. Enormous monochrome portraits of their faces glow with colour; criss-crossed blue and white spotlights form a tartan light show. However, the outstanding visuals wouldn't work without the band being tight and taut - which could probably be said of the red Franz undies now featuring in their branded merchandise.
Officially, the band are road-testing songs from their imminent second album, a process that has left many a hot band with their pants down. However, unfamiliar songs such as Walk Away are so immediate that they result in crowd hysteria. Comparisons with the original Beatle-led "British invasion" are unavoidable. The basic drum kit and suits (now minus ties) look similar; the sound is just below distortion. However, 1960s audiences could barely hear the tunes, never mind intricacies such as one Dexy's-type narrative between lead singer Alex Kapranos and bandmate Robert Hardy. "What do you think we should do next, Robert?" "We must do a song about heartache," replies the bassist, cleverly spiking any criticisms that Franz lack soul.
The ubiquitous Take Me Out - which eased their rise here via a Playstation advertisement - is wearily introduced as "by Frankie Valli in 1923". But the new, naughty Do You Wanna may actually be better. This subtle triumph of this show is its revelation of how far of Alex Kapranos has come as a frontman. He winks, grins and even does the splits during a line about blow-jobs. Implausibly, this man is part Bryan Ferry, part Tommy Steele and a Guardian food columnist. But by the time Franz have coaxed supposedly conservative America into singing Michael, a tune about homosexual longing, they epitomise everything exciting, subversive and slightly surreal about pop in 2005.
· The UK tour opens at Cardiff International Arena on November 14. Box office: 029-2022 4488.
