Amidst the release of their fourth album “Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action” on Aug. 27, Franz Ferdinand began a fall tour that, thanks to ACL, gave Austinites three chances to catch them this past week.

Their previous album, “Tonight,” left much to be expected in January 2009. I was lucky enough to catch them at the House of Blues in Dallas that spring, however, and since then, that show has been the standard to which I have held all concerts. With a 40-foot wall of television screens behind the band, the experience in Dallas was more like participating in a live music video than it was any average performance.

The Official ACL Late Night show at Emo’s was less about spectacle, though, and more about audience relationship and energy. From the moment lead singer/guitarist Alex Kapranos and company took the stage at 12:30 a.m., it was clear their performance was going to be solid. They delivered a fast-paced show the whole way through, putting new spins on old favorites like “Take Me Out” and “This Fire” from their first (and best) self-titled album, released in 2004. It was refreshing to hear these and other numbers revamped, as most radio play on alternative rock stations quickly wear out such songs.

This might be too much information, but I was especially grateful I had the intuition to use the restroom during the last song of the night’s second opener, Smith Westerns (a luxury my friend did not have).  As soon as the Oasis-inspired indie rock band from Chicago finished their set, fans pushed forward for the much-anticipated headliner (as is normal), and the crowd didn’t stop moving from the first down-beat to the last bow.

Based out of Glasgow, Franz Ferdinand’s sound is unique, but not incomparable. On the band’s first album release, the New Musical Express said it was the latest in the line of art school rock bands featuring The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Sex Pistols. These influences can be heard in most of the band’s songs, but other bands come much closer to sharing Franz Ferdinand’s style, such as another Glasgow native, the Fratellis, whose latest album “We Need Medicine” released Oct. 8.

Franz Ferdinand is associated with the post-punk revival of the 2000s alongside bands like the Arctic Monkeys, MGMT, Interpol, The Killers, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs and the Vines, among others. They sound like a modern Depeche Mode, Duran Duran or INXS. Duran Duran even listed Franz Ferdinand as one of the bands that “wouldn’t be doing what they’re doing” if the wild boys had not paved the way.

The newest album “Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action” might also remind some of Cake, Michael Jackson and the Black Keys–three distinctly different bands/artists. An album that can incorporate a diversity of sounds and keep not just a thorough-line, but a true arc from the first to the last track, really grabs my attention. It is why Franz Ferdinand’s first album ranks in my top ten. Coincidentally, that is also why I like “Legally Blonde: The Musical” so much, but I digress.

On the fence about going for financial reasons, I found the $45 ticket well worth the experience. Franz Ferdinand is one my favorite bands, and the night was one I will not soon forget. Since their next visit to Texas is so far unplanned, I just hope it will not be another four years before I see them again.