Finding the Arcade Fire

 Seven years ago, when I was working as a clerk at Tower Records, a kid came in and asked about "The Arcade Fire."I had no idea what he was talking about, and this was during a time when customers asked me questions that I couldn't answer, I usually got irritated and went outside to smoke. Something about this kid - he was younger than me, and innocent looking - made me think I should try and help him out.I thumbed through every overflowing pile of discs in the huge store, ticking off at least half of an hour, looking for "Funeral." It was out there somewhere, and when I found it and handed it over to him, I felt some kind of pride. "A satisfied customer!"I had no idea that in 2012 I'd be watching them perform songs from "The Suburbs" on the TV show Austin City Limits, and that I would be completely locked in to their kind of crabby, kind of elegant, kind of amazing performance.

So here's to you, demanding and patient customer - I never would have given a shit about them hadn't you given me that desperate look when you needed that sad, beautiful album.