Goodnight, Rebecca Zeller. Wherever you are.

I am crushing hardcore on Ra Ra Riot's violinist, Rebecca Zeller. Since I bought Riot's album last week, The Rhumb Line, I've listened to the damn thing more times than is suitable for any fan. Not only is Zeller insanely talented, she's quite fun to watch live. That's right - I've actually seen her in person. Another fun fact? She's given me the cold shoulder!

Found out about Ra Ra Riot completely by dumbluck, deciding to just drop into whatever show was playing at Union Hall on a particularly frozen December night. As it turns out, it was Ra Ra Riot, with openers The Epochs and Jukebox The Ghost. At $12, this was a sweet deal. Anyway, I got there at the show's start, when the club was barely a quarter full. I spotted members of the band (unknown to me, at the time) orbiting around the club, greeting friends and well-wishers. I found out later that it was a big deal they were here in Brooklyn - they were getting ready to play SXSW in Austin and launch their first world tour. Zeller, since she hit the three requirements that immediately attracts me to any woman - being blonde, being very beautiful without trying, and being a quixotic mid-twentysomething - immediately caught my attention. I didn't know who she was: she could have been somebody's girlfriend, maybe she was just there; I wouldn't've been surprised if she'd duck under the bar to serve drinks after a few quick hellos. I'm mentioning all of this preamble because I was there by myself, and I was very self-conscious about just walking up to a beautiful young woman and picking her up. You see, in past cases, both of us would've had a few drinks and it actually wouldn't be Rebecca Zeller I would be talking to. Rather, whatever decently attractive female did intimidate me.

I can't remember exactly how it happened, but we were both standing alone at the bar, and I figured "Fuck it." I went in with some corny line that escapes me. I remember her being a weird mix of friendly and defensive. This reaction didn't surprise me. I would imagine she got hit on a lot while on the road. I asked her where she went to school. The conversation went as follows:

Rebecca Zeller: "Syracuse."

Me: "Oh wow, cool. What was your major?"

R.Z. "Music Industry."

Me: "Nice. Um, I know it's a big school, but did you know a Jess Novotny, or Ben Coleman."

R.Z. "What were their majors?"

Me: "Theater."

R.Z. "Um... no. Not really."

Me: "Huh."

(Awkward pause - this is the part where I am clearly regretting talking to her, because I'm being called on my bullshit. She knows it, and I know it.)

Me: "So... are you playing later tonight, or, like, friends with the band?"

R.Z. "I'm the violinist for Ra Ra Riot."

Me: "Oh shit! So, you're like in the band of the night."

R.Z. "Yeah. I am the band."

Here was where our exchange ended. Rebecca Zeller used that awkward, clumsy note to exit and disappear into the crowds. A hour later, I got to watch her shred like nobody's business. I made no attempt after the show to try to talk her. I felt like an idiot in the first place.

I guess, every pop culture-centric guy wants to date a musician at some point. Some of us still need to figure out how to talk to them without looking like major tools.

For what it's worth, the show was amazing.