Well, we love you all the time. In the most appropriate of imaginary ways, of course. But right now we love you a little bit extra for all the love you're showing for Friday's lineup -- tickets are selling like hotcakes! Sweet, indie-rock singin' neckerchief wearin' hotcakes.
Speaking of sweet, we wanted to give you a little more lowdown on Hey Marseilles, third up on tomorrow's bill. As we've gushed over them time and time again, this is for sure the best alt.indie.orchestral septet in town -- in fact, they're soon to be the best seven-piece on both coasts because they're embarking off on an east coast tour leading up to their dates in Austin for this year's SXSW.
Check it out!
March 7 Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs NY March 8 Rockwood Music Hall, New York NY March 9 TT the Bear's [swoon!], Cambridge, MA March 10 Higher Ground, Burlington, VT March 11-12 Canadian Music Fest, Toronto, Ontario March 18 SXSW March 19 SXSW March 20 SXSW March 25 Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR
You know those bands that always seem to be there for you when your heart gets mangled? The band that gets your groove back in gear? For me, that's the Wedding Present.
The wonderful thing I've come to learn over the years? The Wedding Present is *that* band for a bunch of you too!
It's a strange and glorious fact that Bizarro, the Wedding Present's classic second studio album and the one that includes our favorites like "Brassneck" and "Kennedy" (to name a couple), will turn 21 years old this year. To celebrate, Gedge and company will be playing the album live, in its entirety, at concerts across North America, Japan and Europe (full tour shed-jule below). Obviously, those of us in Seattle are counting the days until April 21 when the Wedding Present is set to play the Crocodile.
We here at Three Imaginary Girls, especially me, want to mark the occasion here as well! Let's gather forces and geek out all Bizarro stylee!
Here's the idea: Send me a few sentences, a paragraph, or a story about a favorite song from the Bizarro album. Tell us all about why the song (or songs - feel free to take on more than one!) rules or how it has affected you. It can be short, long, quirky, solemn, desirous, uplifting or clinical (i.e why the particular chord progression is magical).
I'm going to be honest with you: seeing Evan Dando is completely a crapshoot. The last time he graced our fair city with the Lemonheads last June, it was, well, sort of a heartbreaking disaster. But when he's on, he's 110% on, crooning delicious indie rock like there's no tomorrow. Those of us that still stand behind him after all these years wait and hope and pray for those moments of clarity, and all we can do is show up tonight at the Tractor and hope for the best. This fairly recent video makes me lean towards the side of hopeful for tonight (and seriously, doesn't this song still give you chills?)
Just a few days ago I got a Facebook message from a friend in Denmark who said "you need to go see the Danish band, Efterklang, at the Triple Door on March 11th. They are amazing!!"
The name Efterklang comes from the Danish word for "remembrance" or "reverberation." Formed in Copenhagen, its four core members are: Casper Clausen, Mads Brauer, Thomas Husmer, and Rasmus Stolberg.[1] The original lineup also included Rune Mølgaard, but he has taken a more secluded role since 2007.[1] When performing live, the core four-piece band is complemented with the addition of three to four closely-related live band members.
So that doesn't tell us too much more, but trust me, I've come to enjoy the music I've heard from the band (including their song "Mirador" embedded above) and am now looking forward to their show next week at the Triple Door. Even better, we can sneak a few more people in. If you want to see Efterklang, please send an e-mail to tig@threeimaginarygirls.com before 9am on Monday, March 8 and put "Efterklang" in the subject line. Shortly thereafter, we'll draw a name at random and that person will win a pair of tickets to see Efterklang at the Triple Door.
Saturday night is the finals to the EMP's always excellent Sound Off! competition for under 21 Northwest bands. After three narrowing down the competition to four bands over the past four weeks, the winner will be named here, with Candysound, Hooves and Beak, Great Waves and SEACATS viable to take home lots of great prizes (including a guaranteed spot at Bumbershoot). A few days after the first night of Sound Off!, I ran into a local music legend at a book reading and she was raving to me about Candysound, for what that's worth.
On another note, our friends from the EMP asked me if we thought we had readers of TIG who wanted to see the finals for free. So, if you are one such reader who would like to go (and bring a friend), please send an e-mail to tig@threeimaginarygirls.com before 9am on Friday, March 5 with "Soundoff" in the subject line. Of course, this is all-ages with the show starting at 8 (doors 7).
Just send an email to tig@threeimaginarygirls.com with the subject line, "Let'sGetReadyToSX!" by this Thursday, March 4th at 10am, and tell us why you and your +1 should be our lucky guests.
As you shake free from your mandatory PNW hibernation, you've undoubtedly caught wind of all the rad lineups coming our way as the first whiffs of spring tour sneak up on us. And next week is bringing one of the first post-winter shows to Seattle that we're really beside ourselves about -- those gorgeously accent-laden Scottish sad bastards We Were Promised Jetpacks will be hitting the stage at Neumo's on Tuesday, March 2nd.
The Philadelphia-based rock band Free Energy makes 1970s-influenced classic rock in the vein of ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, T-Rex or Thin Lizzy, but does so without a touch of irony. They don’t so much as borrow liberally from that era as try to put them in a time when people drank cheap beer because it was both cheap and beer.
The five-piece band is nearing the release of their much anticipated debut album Stuck on Nothin’ early next month (March 9 on digital and vinyl, May 4 on CD), which was produced by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy (and released via his DFA Records label). That has bigger implications than mere name-dropping, though. What Murphy’s seal of approval and endorsement means is that this is unpretentious music that was made to collectively shake asses. The spiritual ancestor of “Bang Pop” (one of Free Energy’s catchiest songs) is The Troggs’ “Wild Thing” and Pitchfork approved of their single “Dream City”, saying it is “totally rad”.
Team imaginary has been counting down to the Magnetic Fields Town Hall two-night residency for months and months... and the wait is finally over. Tonight kicks off their massive double fantasy of Fields-ness and to prepare we've been working on converting our overt joy to somber nods as to not scare those on stage.
Who else in the imaginary circle is headed out to the big show?
Any thoughts on the new album? I have to say I agree with this recent posting on the Tullycraft blog about the similarity of a certain song.
By the way, want to be the luckiest guy on the lower east side with a poster of this artwork on your wall? Mark Gamble, an amazing co.uk designer, has printed a limited run of his above design and he might just have a few left! Thanks to ChrisB and How Fucking Romantic for finding it!
PS - Mark Eitzel is opening so get there early to catch the whole show. It's what Claudia would want you to do.
Being Friday night, there are so many stellar options of what to do! Thee Oh Sees at the Funhouse, The Pharmacy at the Comet, or Hey Marseilles all-ages style at Vera are all wonderful paths to take... but when the Young Fresh Fellows are in town (this time at the Tractor with Girl Trouble), I'd be remiss to recommend anything but a full night of their songs which, as our own Chris Estey poignantly wrote, connect the dots between "The Sonics and The Wailers to The Posies and Death Cab with that sweaty, fun, beer-soaked, Puget Sound-smelling, back-yard stomping garage band life."
Want to know all the options at your fingertips? Here's what we've got on the Friday imaginary calendar:
I heart Star Lake Drownings and still glow with honor that they played my birthday party year before last. Our Andrew Boe nailed it when they are a cross between My Bloody Valentine and Belly... and, from personal experience, they put on a show full of coy melodies and entrancing reverb. Looks like they are opening tonight for The Charity Strap and The Endeavors (celebrating their album release) at the High Dive.
Bobby McHugh recently caught Parson Red Heads (playing tonight as part of their month-long residency at the Comet with Battle Hymns) and his photos from their last show make a strong case to head that way tonight as well.
Last I heard the Satchel show at the Crocodile was *this close* to selling out... anyone get tickets to that?
Where are you headed tonight?
Still undecided? Per the imaginary calendar, there's quite a bit to choose from:
Three Imaginary Girls, The Stranger, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Neumo's are proud to present Hootenanny! -- our very own SXSW sendoff party for 2010 -- with Visqueen, Hey Marseilles, Mash Hall (formerly known as They Live!), and Fences on Friday, March 5th at Neumo's.
It's that time of year again, kids -- where we all steel ourselves for some couchsurfing, and start making our wishlists for the bands we can't miss -- yes, it's time to head down to Austin for SXSW 2010! And to celebrate, we'd love for you tojoin our sendoff party at Neumo'son Friday, March 5th. Come join us as we wish our favorite ladies and gents well before they hit the road... tickets for this 21+ show are only $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
Expect a downright rager of a night, with local big-guitar all-stars Visqueen headlining the bill, and Hey Marseilles bringing their lush, alt.indie.orchestral songwriting skills to the stage. On top of that magic, Mash Hall and everyone's favorite Fences will be rounding out the opening support -- doors are at 8pm and you won't want to miss a minute of this lineup. So make sure you're on the hill nice and early!
The weekend is nearly upon us... what are you most looking forward to?
On Friday night, Lesli Wood and the Redwood Plan kicking arse at the Comet with Dept of Energy headlining? Fresh Espresso (with a name like that you know they know how to work a Seattle crowd) with Truckasaurus and Head Like a Kite?
Saturday night we have to make sure you get your booty, whether it's broken hearted or already full of gue, to the Crocodile for the Dancing on the Valentinebash. It's an annual tradition and the *perfect* way to celebrate all the loves of your life and help raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This years theme is all David Bowie all night. Dress up and dance your ___ off. What song do you want to hear covered?
It is with a heavy heart that we recommend the *last* Team Gina show ever, this Sunday at the Comet.
We've loved everything about these ladies since we first saw them back in 2007 when they opened for Leslie and the Lys. We've featured their songs in podcasts, counted them as a favorite in past end of year best of lists, and have always adored their electrifying beats and fashion sense. I'd say our favorite Team Gina moment was celebrating our sixth anniversary with them at the Exile in {imaginary} Girlville show.
This Sunday is the last time we will all be able to sing along to their live version of "Boobies" and therefore, it's a must to get thee to the Comet to cheer on Gina Bling and Gina Genius.
Also taking the stage at the Comet that night: Punk Bunny and Black Barbie. It doesn't get any better than that for what's sure to be a killer goodbye party.
The Cute Lepers are the sonic equivalent of a Payday bar. They satisfy many cravings in a tasty, self-contained unit. They are a little punk, a little pop, a little 70's, a little 80's and a LOT of energy. Cleverly non-de-plumed Steve E. Nix and company incorporate the noise, crunch and jangle that makes punk rock so much fun, but make it more accessible for pop fans with their sweet harmonies, tight instrumentation, and almost breezy, playful attitude. This is a band that loves music and musicians and it shows.
Upon a close listen, you can hear elements of Buzzcocks-inspired punk, the Come Ons or Von Bondies-style garage, and an Elvis Costello / Jim Carrol hybrid in the vocal stylings of Nix. There are whiffs here and there of an almost new-wave sound, in the vein of the Waitresses or the Plimsouls, to whom they are often compared, which creates an altogether innovative and interesting approach to pop-punk as a genre and exceeds expectations of a band with that label. Though the genre "pop-punk" often inspires a wave of eye rolls, The Cute Lepers serve as the band that will make em stick mid-way, just like your mama warned you. They do not simply repeat the same three chords on every track. There are actual variations in the music and vocals! No song sounds the same, and none of them sound like a pastiche or parroting, a welcome game changer to the genre on the whole.
This Friday marks the release of their second album Smart Accessories at the Funhouse.
The Spectacular Saturday Series begins this Saturday at the Fantagraphics store in frisky Georgetown, starting with the press party for NEWAVE! The Underground Mini-Comix of the 1980s.
If you're a fan of graphic novels like Ghost World and wanted to see the raw cool beginnings of Daniel Clowes and his fellow "ink studs," this would be like releasing a DVD set of a mess of vintage Velvet Elvis and Paradox performances for Death Cab and like-minded band fans. The mini-comix and zine scenes back in the Reagan era were entwined around each other, filled with post-Robert Crumb surreal political protest and punk rock splattering and autobiographical bizarreness.
Clowes won't be at the event this Saturday, but a lot of his contemporaries are in this lavish, beautiful, hardcover ode to that berserk generation, and many of them will be at the store to celebrate: Jim Blanchard (a Roq La Rue gallery demigod whose depictions of celebrities and weird kids and meat are queasy-legendary and painstakingly rendered), David Lasky (who has a comic in The Stranger this week and is working on a GN tome based on the Carter Family with scribe Frank Young, for the Smithsonian), Dennis Worden (whose nihilistic Stickboy was a proto-grunge era favorite, as ubiquitous in coffee shops in Seattle as Tad records), and Michael Dowers, who will be giving a mini-comic demonstration and giveaway. It all takes place this Saturday, January 30, beginning at 6 PM and tapering off at 9. Music to be performed by iji, as a special treat.
After this, coming up through the top half of February will be a signing for Chocolate Cheeks by cruel children's tale satirist Steven Weissman. His books were big sellers at Confounded, when it used to exist in the same space as Wall of Sound on Cap Hill. He masterfully captures the dark side of kids' lives and the usually banal cartoons created for and by them, with nasty little brute characters and a chaotic mess of misadventures. His work is very accessible and trouble making indie-punks would probably feel his comics are more friendly than VICE's Johnny Ryan but not exactly Dennis The Menace either. This party will be held on Saturday, February 6, from 7 to 8 PM.
Fantagraphics (publisher and store) are readying for the historical release of the ultimate collection of macabre illustrator Gahan Wilson, the Playboy and other magazine cartoonist who like Charles Addams and Edward Gorey brought a mash up of bitter black humor and playful art terror to mainstream gag pages. Gahan Wilson: 50 Years Of Playboy Cartoons has absolutely nothing to do with slick soft-core porn, and everything to do with eviscerating Santa Claus in a variety of ways, stomping on all respectable institutions formed by 20th century American status quo values, and squeezing the teats of sacred cows a bit too tightly. There will be a celebration of the publication of this immense, gorgeous tome beginning at 6 PM and heading to 9 PM on Saturday, February 13.
Since Georgetown has so many great shows every weekend night and places to eat all the time, spending the next three Saturdays attending the artistic thrills at Fantagraphics as a big part of the experience will have many terrific pay offs. Come see some historical underground and subversive comic art, hear iji, and get some of the best books available to people with pretty twisted imaginations and tastes.
The Spectacular Saturday Series begins this Saturday at the Fantagraphics store in frisky Georgetown, starting with the press party for NEWAVE! The Underground Mini-Comix of the 1980s.
If you're a fan of graphic novels like Ghost World and wanted to see the raw cool beginnings of Daniel Clowes and his fellow "ink studs," this would be like releasing a DVD set of a mess of vintage Velvet Elvis and Paradox performances for Death Cab and like-minded band fans. The mini-comix and zine scenes back in the Reagan era were entwined around each other, filled with post-Robert Crumb surreal political protest and punk rock splattering and autobiographical bizarreness.
Clowes won't be at the event this Saturday, but a lot of his contemporaries are in this lavish, beautiful, hardcover ode to that berserk generation, and many of them will be at the store to celebrate: Jim Blanchard (a Roq La Rue gallery demigod whose depictions of celebrities and weird kids and meat are queasy-legendary and painstakingly rendered), David Lasky (who has a comic in The Stranger this week and is working on a GN tome based on the Carter Family with scribe Frank Young, for the Smithsonian), Dennis Worden (whose nihilistic Stickboy was a proto-grunge era favorite, as ubiquitous in coffee shops in Seattle as Tad records), and Michael Dowers, who will be giving a mini-comic demonstration and giveaway. It all takes place this Saturday, January 30, beginning at 6 PM and tapering off at 9. Music to be performed by iji, as a special treat.
After this, coming up through the top half of February will be a signing for Chocolate Cheeks by cruel children's tale satirist Steven Weissman. His books were big sellers at Confounded, when it used to exist in the same space as Wall of Sound on Cap Hill. He masterfully captures the dark side of kids' lives and the usually banal cartoons created for and by them, with nasty little brute characters and a chaotic mess of misadventures. His work is very accessible and trouble making indie-punks would probably feel his comics are more friendly than VICE's Johnny Ryan but not exactly Dennis The Menace either. This party will be held on Saturday, February 6, from 7 to 8 PM.
This Thursday's benefit show for Haiti at the Moore Theatre is chock full of twangy and alt goodness to the highest degree and features a slew of thoughtful bands set to take the stage: The Maldives, The Classic Crime, Memphis Radio Kings, Mike Herrera (MxPx), and Vince Mira. Rumor has it there will also be an auction!
If that's not your style, get on your cell phone and text 'Haiti' to 90999, and then head over to one (or more if you've got the bus pass) of these fine shows. There's more than one tempting me:
This Saturday {1/23} is a big night for shows! But my wallet and adoration of these two fine folks will have me hitting a series of (FREE and all ages) in-store performances this Saturday night.
Saturday at 1p: Marathon DJ YETI 'Fire In My Bones' Gospel Fest at Wall of Sound in Capitol Hill YETI mastermind and all around genius nice fella Mike McGonigal has spent the last few years compiling of rare, raw and otherworldly post-ww2 African-American gospel. The result is Fire In My Bones, a recently released 4 hour 3 CD gospel box set that has gotten rave reviews (from Pitchfork to Christianity Today).
DJ YETI will take to the decks at Wall of Sound (315 E. Pine St) from 1p-6p. The set will also be on sale for the duration of the DJ set for $23.98 (deal!)... and DJ YETI might even have a few extra goodies floating around as well.
Saturday at 9p: Your Favorite Book at Bop Street Records in Ballard It's no surprise that with my adoration of all things Your Favorite Book I'm headed to this Saturday's (free and all ages) in-store performance of the one-man+guitar+barstool lo-fi folk project at Bop Street Records in Ballard (5219 Ballard Ave. NW).
The performance celebrates Seattle's Your Favorite Book freshly released sixth album, Thank You for the Homicide. The album is the next installment of the early Mountain Goats with a wee bit o Jeff Mangum honey. Currently my favorite track is "Hello Kitty" (listen/download) -- narrowly beating out "If the Sun Sets" which you can download from the YFB website.
The performance starts at 9pm at Bop Street in Ballard.
If you've ever seen We Wrote the Book on Connectors, you know that they can bring it complete with costumes and hilarity. This Saturday {1/23} at The Crocodile, they are not only bringing on the party, they are taking it up a notch with theatrics of OPERA proportions that they have promised with reach "Queen-level bombastics and fantastic period garb" levels with fellow Seattle band Discs of Fury.
I haven't heard a lick of what the song choices will be, but I'm certain it's going to be full of thematic spectacles and well worth the price of admission (and parking).
I personally can't wait until the Thermals to write a rock opera (they pretty much got there with their third album The Body, The Blood, The Machine, we just need someone to sew up the costumes)... what about you?
Drew Grow and the Pastors Wives, from Portland, Oregon played the Comet in Seattle last fall (pics from that show) and they were the surprise hit of the Doe Bay Festival last summer.
Make sure to catch them at the Comet this Friday night, January 22nd with Goldfinch, Hallways, Kate Tucker.
![[we were promised jetpacks]](/files/uploaded-images/wwpj_1.jpg)
Three Imaginary Girls, The Stranger, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Neumo's are proud to present Hootenanny! -- our very own SXSW sendoff party for 2010 -- with Visqueen, Hey Marseilles, Mash Hall (formerly known as They Live!), and Fences on Friday, March 5th at Neumo's.
The Spectacular Saturday Series begins this Saturday at the Fantagraphics store in frisky Georgetown, starting with the press party for NEWAVE! The Underground Mini-Comix of the 1980s. 
