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April 15, 2006

Franz Ferdinand's Secret MySpace Show

On tomorrow's night's debacle Love Monkey, Aimee Mann guest stars, telling Tom Cavanagh's record exec character: "I just heard Franz Ferdinand had to cancel Irving for tomorrow night and they're scrambling for a replacement."

Now we know Franz Ferdinand have grown too big for Irving Plaza, but for MySpace they'll play for you anywhere. As long as you're on the list. Or rather, as long as they're on your list.

The fun of yesterday's "MySpace Secret Show" show began when I booked over for a wristband at Tower Records Thursday afternoon, MySpace profile printout in hand. And was met with laughing, pitying eyes when I breathlessly asked, "So, am I in time? Are there a lot left?" Oh, just a couple. Of hundred.

Lined up at Hammerstein 2:15 or so, misty drizzle washing out my not-so-precious MySpace wristband. To pass the time, I thought I'd bother some of my neighbors with a few silly questions.

"So, how long did it take you to get Secret Shows out of your MySpace top 8?'
Most popular answer: as soon as I printed my profile.

"What do you use MySpace for most?"
Most popular answer: to get laid. (Not true.)

One particularly jazzed up group of gals proudly told me they heard about the show through MySpace, and that they were on line this early `cause they were on spring break. "Good on you," I told `em. "Way to use your holiday to see some afternoon rock." They looked at me funny. I thought maybe it was my Australian slang. But when the crazy pony tailed man -- frighteningly obsessed with keeping the garage door clear -- waved us forward, my new young friends cued up in a line apart from mine. A line for the Franz show that night. At 2:30 in the afternoon. In the rain. Yes, Franz still has fans!

The concert itself? Well, Alex said it: "This is a slightly different show for us!" The kids came in all ages, and ten of `em got on stage to sing "Darts of Pleasure." The walls were adorned with MySpace banners, of course. The band cobbled together a set heavy on rarities and a newbie, and bantered like it was band practice. But, this is Franz Ferdinand, so even band practice can get you jumping for a quick minute. Even if you're still wondering if that free yellow bracelet was worth all of that.



SETLIST
1. Michael
2. Auf Achse
3. I'm Your Villian
4. Van Tango
5. Tell Her Tonight
6. Do You Want To
7. New Acoustic Song ("L. Wells")
8. Walk Away
9. Evil and a Heathen
10. Darts of Pleasure (featuring: lots of kids!)
11. Outsiders

MySpace is guaranteed to come to your town with whatever band agrees to their PR shenanigans. Will Secret Shows be in your top 8?

Posted at 6:29 PM in




18 Comments

No "Take Me Out"? The children must have rioted.

Posted by: Mark at 04/15/06 7:25 PM | Reply
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hehehe. I was going to throw something at that pony tail guy. there was no "take me out" though, and that killed me! probably was a waste, but something i'll remember!

Posted by: jimmy at 04/15/06 7:56 PM | Reply
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I would defend them for not playing "Take Me Out" . . . but they played "Do You Want To"? And they skipped "The Fallen" and "Come On Home"? I wouldn't say that I'm a fan of theirs, really, but they would seem to have skipped most of their songs that are really worth anything. On the other hand, they seem to be at their best when they're just playing around for the hell of it, and they can be pretty funny guys, so I would've been interested in seeing the concert.

Posted by: Phil Urich at 04/15/06 8:58 PM | Reply
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My company is fortunate enough to design and print all the MySpace Secret Show goodies, the silk screened posters and pins you can get at the shows. I'm surprised none of it's ended up on eBay yet, this shit is rare kids!

Posted by: Burton at 04/15/06 10:56 PM | Reply
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"heavy on rarities"? The only non-LP track they played was Van Tango. Does 1 song out of 11 count as "heavy"?

Posted by: max at 04/16/06 1:46 AM | Reply
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Hey Scott - thank god i'm not in that picture. I am a weak girl and I'll do as Alex tells me - which meant I hopped up on that stage to look like a complete old fool. bah.

Posted by: Adrienne Dee at 04/16/06 1:49 AM | Reply
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Nah Max, Alex kept reminding us that they were taking the opportunity to play tunes rarely performed live; nothing to do with their LP status! :) Alex was a pretty charming dude, had me laughing more than once.

Posted by: Amrit at 04/16/06 2:21 AM | Reply
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That new acoustic song sounds like 'L. Wells', which was just released as a double A-side single with 'The Fallen' in the UK. One of the best things they've done, imo. The video's here:
www.dominorecordco.com

Posted by: Paul at 04/16/06 12:20 PM | Reply
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Yeah, as Paul said, the "new acoustic song" about "about Lynsey Wells" is the second A-side from "The Fallen" double A-side CD-single. They shot a video for it to, and you can download that, as well as an mp3 of the song, here: http://goodweatherforairstrike.blogspot.com/2006/04/new-franz-ferdinand-fallen-ep.html

Posted by: Derek at 04/16/06 6:41 PM | Reply
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thanks derek!

Posted by: Amrit at 04/16/06 7:08 PM | Reply
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No "Take Me Out" -> Franz Ferdinand is dead to me. If anyone's going to see Pela tomorrow night, Colleen and I will be standing outside the Delancy in line around 3pm. hah!

Posted by: Tina at 04/16/06 9:59 PM | Reply
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oh man, do the girls LOVE franz ferdinand or what???

Posted by: andy at 04/17/06 9:47 AM | Reply
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dude, you were there? we were on the far right.... and at least 8 years older and 2 feet taller than the screaming masses. how many of them would have known the lyrics to 'take me out' anyway? whatev. second secret franz ferdinand gig in 3 weeks, i can't complain.

Posted by: abz at 04/17/06 11:41 AM | Reply
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the uber-excited teen girls were definitely half the fun of the show...

Posted by: sam at 04/17/06 11:42 AM | Reply
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So, if you're on MySpace, you get a free concert? Ack, MySpace drives bamboo shoots under my fingernails!

Posted by: Cibbuano at 04/18/06 12:44 AM | Reply
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Hey, this looks interesting!

Posted by: Nicole Finnerty at 04/25/06 2:49 PM | Reply
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Hey Burton you think you could hook it up with a Lupe poster?

Posted by: Tyler at 10/12/06 5:57 PM | Reply
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hey burton trying to buy a poster from the recent +44 secret show any idea how to purchase? if you do please hit me at www.myspace.com/dismisser thanks
also anyone who wants to sell one

Posted by: westcoast ninja at 12/23/06 2:05 AM | Reply
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