Franz Ferdinand Spares DC

Tour dates exclude area

WASHINGTON -- Franz Ferdinand haters relax, the Glaswegian nü-post-punkers have scheduled a tour and left the nation's capital off the list.

The quartet scheduled its first U.S. show on the tour for April 13 in Seattle, while wrapping up its pond hop on May 8, the day after they play New York and two days after they play Philadelphia.

The night before the Philly show is a night off for the group, so there's room for them to throw a D.C. date on the schedule, but as of right now, if you want to go and dance with them, Michael, you'll have to make it a road trip.

So fear not, fellow live music junkies, you won't have to answer to your coworkers a dozen times that no, you aren't going to the show, nor will you have to hear, the morning after, how great a set it was and how awesome "Take Me Out" sounded during the encore.

You won't risk getting in arguments with random Franz fans begging to know why you hate them.

Even better, you won't be required to flex your haterness to your sucker friends when they ask if you want them to get you a ticket.

Is that being too hard on the band? Probably. They went from red hot to clammy cold faster than a microwaved hot dog, but it was their own fault. Their debut LP was catchy and fun and released right when the post-punk revival was set to pop. But it was too clean a copy of Wire, the Fall, Joy Division, Josef K and, mostly, Gang of Four, eventually serving more as a reminder to listen to those bands again and leave Franz on the shelf.

The fact that their follow-up seemed like pretty much the same record -- a photocopy of a photocopy, if you will -- really killed 'em. (Yes, I know, most of these dates will sell out, as would a Washington show.)

Franz Ferdinand should have skipped "You Could Have It So Much Better" and gone straight to third LP "Tonight." At least it breaks from the pattern of the first two LPs, dialing down the angular guitars in favor of bass, beats and keys, showing that they're not just a one-trick pony.

But it's too little too late.

Until the superfans start moaning about D.C. being left off the tour, gushing about the hotel rooms they've booked for their New York or Philadelphia excursions to see the band, and drowning every jukebox in the city in the lead single from the new album in anticipation of or disappointment about the tour, music snobs can rest easy knowing we don't have to answer about Franz Ferdinand.

Keep an eye on the Music Snob to see what concerts you should be attending come early May and before.

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