The other day I was very excited when my Facebook feed served up not just the usual mix of ads and self-help soliloquies but an announcement that immediately moved me to action.
Tift Merritt, the singer-songwriter beloved by me and a handful of NPR listeners who recognize her as a sublime cross between Joni Mitchell and Lucinda Williams, is coming to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
I’ve seen Merritt live once, as the opening act for Elvis Costello, and she was even more impressive than she is on record. A multi-instrumentalist with a strong yet subtle voice, she is an old-fashioned entertainer who has earned her keep in barrooms and bookstores.
I quickly clicked through to the arena’s website where I was thrilled to find two seats, front row center, for only $25 apiece. This was too good to be true. I bought them both, though I didn’t know who would accompany me.
Later that night, my 7-year-old daughter Fiona heard about the front-row seats and asked if she could join me. Her sister didn’t mind (until she found out that Fiona would be able to stay out past 10 on a school night) so it was on. Fiona was very excited about the front row… she kept asking “Will we be able to touch her?”
When I replied that Merritt might reach into the crowd and shake our hands, Fiona replied “That’s it?” “What do you want to do?” I asked, “Ride her like a horse?”
Later it emerged that, while Fiona liked the idea of the concert, she wasn’t going to be particularly engaged by the actual concert. And while Sophia said she didn’t mind being left behind, she actually kind of did. So my wife agreed to join me instead, despite not knowing any of Merritt’s music (I’ll have to educate her this week).
A few days after buying my tickets I went back to the arena’s website to see how sales were going. Only a few more seats had gone. A week from the show, we’re looking at 450 empty seats in a 500-seat arena. As excited as I am at the prospect of an intimate concert, I was starting to feel as if it might be embarrassing for poor Ms. Merritt.
A day later I checked again and it appears the show has been moved into a smaller venue, one that seats 200 rather than 500. It’s still only a quarter sold out, so I’m fearing a cancellation. Is it too much to ask that my wife and I get a private show with 45 other people? I hope it works out.
Oh, you are looking well.
Come here and hold me slowly,
I want you to myself.
Don’t let the world distract you,
Don’t call for no one else.
Just let the feeling have you,
I want you to myself.
Oh there’s so much to go around,
So much to go around,
You know I want you to stay.
Oh there’s so much to go around.
When you try to pin it down,
That moment slips away.
And when you are far from me,
And going someplace else,
I’ll think of next time, baby,
I’ll have you to myself.
Unfolding me like branches,
Give me that tender spell,
Dance awhile in my kitchen,
I want you to myself.
Oh there’s so much to go around,
You know I’m really happy now
And I want you to stay.
Oh there’s so much to go around,
When you try to pin it down,
That moment slips away.
Each moment is a secret,
How much it has to tell,
But it will never speak it,
If you keep it to yourself.
Oh there’s so much to go around,
Really shining, really living now,
Do you think you can stay?
Oh there’s so much to go around,
When you try to pin it down,
That moment slips away.
Meet Me In Montauk 
I hope it works out also. Come on Tift fans…buy those tickets!
My fingers are crossed that the show will go on!
Why not take the whole family? At least you’d give Tift two more audience members! 🙂