Franz Flake Out
The Franz Ferdinand show is this coming Monday and my enthusiasm about going has turned into a headache over finding someone to go with. S’s friend P said right off the bat that she wouldn’t go because she didn’t know enough of their songs. Fine, whatever.
Back in February, when the tickets went on sale, I figured I’d get two and find someone to go with. As it turns out, that was much easier said than done.
I asked K to ask her friend M (who likes the band) if she wanted to go. M was broke and suggested I ask her again closer to the date of the show. I asked S’s friend E (not her high school friend) who said that she wasn’t really interested since it was happening on a Monday night and it was standing room only, no seats.
I mentioned it to Natalie and she said that if I were stranded, she’d go with me. When I first asked Natalie if she knew who Franz Ferdinand was, she said something along the lines of, “isn’t that the guy that got shot just before World War I?” Even though she didn’t know the band, or their music, she was willing to go with me so that I could put the tickets to use.
I could also ask the friend who went with me the last time I saw them: M. Since she’s moved about two hours away, her going to the show would require a lot of travel on her part, making arrangements for her kid and would probably mean her crashing at our place. For obvious reasons, I was trying to avoid that scenario.
My fallback, of course, was taking S. I know that she really has no interest in going to the show and it’d be a long, boring night for her if she went.
Since it was February, I let it slide; I figured I’d find someone to go with before May.Again, easier said than done.
This past weekend, S’s friend E e-mailed us asking if anyone had any interest in going to see The Decemberists when they come to town this summer. “You should suggest going to that show with her, if she goes to Franz with you,” S said.
I have one of the Decemberists’ albums and while I think their music is alright, I’m not sure I’d pay to go see them. I wrote E back and suggested the idea to her. A few days passed and she agreed – or so I thought.
Yesterday, she wrote me at work asking me if I knew what time the show ended because she didn’t want to out late on a Monday night nor did she want to strain her back. The kicker? The Decemberists’ show is on a Monday night at the exact same venue. So for the band she wants to see, she’s willing to be out late and hurt her back.
Not wanting to be stuck at the show with a spoilsport, I decided to ask a gal at work who’s a bit strange, but overall is alright. She’s on contract, has only been there a few months and isn’t like the other gals I work with. I e-mailed her asking her if she knew who Franz Ferdinand was. “Sure, the World War I, guy, no?”
I explained who they are and sent her the link to the band’s web site. She wanted to listen to their music so I gave her my ipod. She said she liked the music and is always up for a live show but she’d let me know today if she was up for it. I wrote E and told her she was probably off the hook since my co-worker seemed enthused about going.
I mentioned this to S and she reminded me about my promise to go with E to the Decemberists. When I mentioned my concerns about E sucking out during the night, S said E wouldn’t do that, she’d be a good sport about it.
This morning, E wrote me back to say she’d been leaning towards going and that she always enjoys a live show. Not wanting to cause a problem, I wrote back that I only asked my co-worker because of her concerns about the length of the show and the venue. If she was indeed leaning towards going, then I’m sure we’d have a fun night.
Her reply:
Hey Liz, I appreciate the offer but why don’t you go with [your co-worker], it sounds like she’ll enjoy it more than me. Keep me in mind the next time you’re stuck for someone to see a show with though.
Cheers!
Seriously, I just wanted to write back something along the lines of, “I hope your husband enjoys the Decemberists, ‘cause my ass certainly won’t be going with you.” But, I refrained.
As it turned out, my coworker didn’t know for sure if she would be free on Monday night after all. Natalie, who I’d been keeping abreast of the situation, took pity on me and said she’d go.At one point today, I came close to posting an ad on Craigslist and just selling the damn tickets. I’d already seen the band once, the world wouldn’t end if I didn’t see them again.
It’s worked out though; I’ll get to see a great show, Natalie will discover some great music and S will be able to have a nice quiet evening at home.
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2 Comments
I know about Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. I couldn’t name a song they sing if my life depended on it. But I really hope you have a super time at the musical event.
Also, “cheers” as an email sign-off rubs me the wrong way. Cheers to my mind is reserved for the clicking of glasses when drinking.
It appears I know quite a few history buffs as most people I asked knew about the Archduke but not the band. Some of their songs have been featured in movies, TV shows and lately, ipod commercials. So it’s possible you’d recognize a tune or two.
I should admit, I’m guilty of the “cheers” e-mail sign off. I tend to use it when writing to friend or someone else that “regards” seems too formal for.