Three Imaginary Girls - Crushes

A Long Winters reason to celebrate

imaginary liz — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:44:55 +0000

Happy May 10, 2013!

Ten years ago today, The Long Winters performed three shows in three Sonic Boom Record shops in a single day. It was a mini-tour to celebrate the release of their brilliant record, When I Pretend To Fall... and it was just as amazingly fun as we dreamed it would be.

Thankfully we can relive the magic because imaginary dana documented the whole day (back in the day). She definitely earned that limited edition 'tour' t-shirt.

Imaginary. You could call it that.

We all know good things come in threes. It took a band as brilliant as the Long Winters to finally think of playing at all three fabula-riffic Sonic Boom Record stores in one day, to promote the release of their long-awaited sophomore release When I Pretend to Fall. I was determined to follow them all day like the Dead Head I never was, and not just because I wanted to get the limited edition Long Winters Sonic Boom tour t-shirt, either.

I was there because I am a Long Winters superfan. {There, I've said it}. And that is just what superfans do.

{read the whole article... with photos!}

Hat tip to John Roderick's kind tweet linking to this article a couple days ago (which reminded us of this special date).

Speaking of rad John Roderick-related things... are you a diehard fan of the Roderick On The Line podcast yet? Add it to your queue; you can thank me later. And that way you'll be prepared to join in my Roderick On The Line discussion group / email thread / chat line once I get it up and running. If you are too overwhelmed to start at the beginning, you can test it out by trying episode 24: The Wrong Mustache or episode 17: Antisocially Promoted.

A chat about our favorite songs this week on KUOW's Weekday show

imaginary liz — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:18:54 +0000

(Photo of one of our favorite bands (every day of every year) from the Three Imaginary Girls Flickr Photo Pool / Photo by David Lee)

The Weekday show on KUOW (94.9fm) is spicing things up with the addition of a weekly music set! This Tuesday morning segment will feature a rotating cast of music aficionados, talking about their favorite songs of the moment.

I am excited and quite humbled to have been chosen to visit the KUOW studios tomorrow (Tuesday, May 7) to talk about a handful of the songs I'm currently listening to on repeat (and repeat and repeat)!

You can hear the segment TOMORROW, at 9:20am on 94.9fm, or online at KUOW.org.

What songs do you have on high rotation this blissfully sunny week?

***POST-RADIO SHOW UPDATE *** May 7, 2013***

In case you didn't hear thes segment, you can find a link to listen to the archive of it on the KUOW Weekday page for today. I'm around the 9:40am mark.

Want to hear those selections again?

The Heligoats - "Drai Zich" from the album Back To The Ache (listen) (buy)

The Purrs - "Rotting on the Vine" from the album The Boy with Astronaut Eyes (listen)

BOAT - "Inside of an Aquarium" from the album Pretend to Be Brave (listen) (buy)

Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - "Buzz Buzz Buzz" from the album Back In Your Life (buy)

Bumbershoot 2013 lineup announced!

imaginary victoria — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:10:05 +0000

We're going to go out on a limb here: the Bumbershoot announcement was released yesterday, and seriously you guys, it might be one of the best festivals of the summer. Sasquatch! is always a party, and Pickathon will be a one-of-a-kind experience -- but the lineup for this year's Bumbershoot seriously knocked it out of the park. It's fresh, relevant, exciting, and we Can. Not. Wait. for Labor Day weekend to get here already!

The video above gives a great visual introduction to all of the artists this year, but in case you just can't wait for it to play through, pop on over here and check out the whole shebang. We are most excited about Death Cab for Cutie (!!) playing Transatlanticism in its entirety (SHUT UP), Heart (SERIOUSLY!), MGMT, Tegan and Sara, Allen Stone, Matt and Kim, The Breeders (!!!!!), !!! (!), Deerhunter, Charles Bradley (<3), Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, The Zombies, David Bazan, Mates of State, Superchunk (!!!), Diamond Rings, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, Ramona Falls, Matt Pond, The Grizzled Mighty, Kithkin, 15 Years of Barsuk Records (celebrating Barsuk's 15th anniversary) (<3 <3 <3!!), and more, more, more.

A happy frenzy of Tullycraft, in video form

three imaginary girls — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:16:31 +0000

Ok, so there's a lot of Tullycraft stuff going on… but would you expect any less than a feverish (but happy) frenzy when one of our favorite imaginary bands releases a new album after six years of silence?

We're pretty sure you've read the imaginary record review of their new album, Lost in Light Rotation (Magic Marker Records / Fortuna Pop) and noticed that Allmusic.com just posted a loving review of the album. And, you've surely marked your calendar for the Tullycraft vs BOAT DJ gig at Saint John's in Captiol Hill tonight (4/25), right?

But, have you seen their new video for "Dig Up the Graves?" It's a scrapbook of fun, and mayhem, and cute facial expressions. Basically, if you love America and a good time, you'll dig this video.

And while we're here, here's the video for the first single from the album - it's a little more retro. Yay old-timey radios!

Don't miss: Lady at Neumos {TONIGHT}

Imaginary Karen — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:10:45 +0000

New girl crush alert! I am seriously digging on the ladies of Lady. Their sweet beats and soulful harmonies are completely irresistible with a feminine sass that just dares you not to like them. And you can bet your ass I’m gonna be there when they play Neumos tonight.

These girls have some serious chops: both already have had successful solo careers, peaking in the last decade. Nicole Wray, who hails from Atlanta, was brought up through the business by none other than Miss Superfreak herself, Missy Elliot. Nicole’s single, “Make It Hot”, went gold way back in 1998. Rounding out the other half of lady is UK darling Terri Walker, her debut album was nominated for the Mercury Prize. When the two met in 2009 they decided to team up to make a record based on their shared passion for hip-hop, R&B, and classic soul. Well, they did just that, and guess what? Their self-titled debut album kicks ass!

Don't miss: Pablo Trucker at the Tractor {tonight!}

imaginary victoria — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:20:53 +0000

Are you free tonight? Do you have six dollars? GREAT! Here's what you're doing: hop on a bus or get in your car around, oh, 8:15, and head on down to the Tractor {doors are at 8pm} to catch Pablo Trucker's opening set. They're playing first of three, opening for Invisible Shivers and Garage Voice. While I'm sure those two bands are well worth your time, the ticket price is worth it just to see these guys start the show (and would be true at double the cost).

In case you've missed me emoting about Andrew and Brian here, here, here, here, here and here, you can take a pop on over to their bandcamp page to get a feel for some of their recent work {and listen to releases going back to '09ish}. Pablo Trucker sets basically guarantee ultimate sad bastard moves that will put all the sad bastard moves you've known until now to utter shame.

Generally speaking, openers take the stage around 9pm, so don't be late!

{Photo courtesy of the band.}

Weekday cure: new Charles Bradley video

imaginary victoria — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:26:54 +0000

"Let's get on 95 / and feel the fire."

Charles Bradley isn't just a performer, he's a force. He's an experience. He's a feeling in your guts that all will be right with the world if we just love each other and try hard enough, that we can simultaneously transcend our heartbreak and embrace those sharp corners of our hearts that shape us. And his latest single, "Strictly Reserved For You," manages to embody his one-of-a-kind essence in the most beautiful and complete of ways -- it's a fully legit track, whether for your next mixtape or your next party playlist, and leads me to believe that the new album (Victim of Love, out last month on Daptone) is going to do some serious damage on this year's best-of lists.

With that said, we've got to take a minute to talk about this gem of a video. It seriously creates a near-indescribable level of joy that translates the heartburst-y bliss of Charles as we know and love him, presented with a hip, beautiful, clean-but-not-sterile vision that almost feels like we're following him through a week of his life. We see the streets he walks every day, we see his coffeeshop moments, his dance moves and work days and park days: Charles In His Van, Charles On His Street, Charles In His Jacket, Charles On A Soundstage, Charles In The Grass. (And ugh, can someone please make a .gif out of Charles Being Birthed By A Hydrangea Bush?? SO GOOD.)

Heavy {local} rotation: Pickwick, Heligoats, Sallie Ford, Wimps

imaginary victoria — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:39:55 +0000

You know what? There is a metric shit ton of good new local music out there right now, leading me to believe that in the statistical history of on-off years, 2013 is going to be an ON. Aside from The Orwells (non-locals, but worth mentioning for the sheer amount of times I've listened to their album these past few months), there's plenty to dig into regardless of your preferred genre: for me, it's the experimental indie.soul sounds of Pickwick, infectious Wimps-style punk, the strangely beautiful songwriting style of Heligoats, and Sallie Ford's modern vintage big-guitar vibes.

Pickwick

Well, we've waited what feels like years now for Pickwick to put out a proper full-length, and we've finally got it with Can't Talk Medicine. Pros: it's so great to finally have studio recordings of "Hacienda Motel" and "Windowsill" after hearing / seeing them at so many shows, and the new-to-me material is excellent and engaging. Standout tracks: Richard Swift's "Lady Luck" gently assaults with a buttery blend of Galen Disston and guest singer Sharon van Etten's vocals; "Letterbox" will get stuck in your head for days and days. Cons: none. While the album tends to sound a bit too clean at times, it's likely just a by-product of embedding live recordings in my mental Pickwick go-to file. Diagnosis: you are in need of this album, purchase immediately. {tour dates / purchase}

Wimps

Let's keep this short and sweet, much like the songs themselves: I can not stop listening to this Wimps demo, specifically, "Repeat" (see video above). The shit is good. The thing about Wimps is that there's no buffer, no... shtick, nothing but the sounds and the delivery. It's almost as if they've all dialed in to exactly what they need and want to be doing musically right now, one of those seemingly effortless phases that's actually the result of a lot of hard work. On top of putting out a great recording, Wimps translates live, putting on a just-tight-enough performance that manages to be equal parts fun and kickass. Don't pass up on a chance to see them, they've got a handful of Seattle and Portland dates coming up. {tour dates / download free demo / purchase LP}

Throwback Thursday: The Wrens c. 2005

three imaginary girls — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:58:58 +0000

Okay, it's not THAT far of a throwback, but it's hard to believe that this photo is already seven years old!

Maybe you remember that most excellent two-night stand The Wrens did for KEXP's Yule Benefit at Neumos back in 2005? We sure do! The Wrens played with Okkervil River (both nights!) (!!!!!) and a bevy of other bands including Harvey Danger -- and fresh off of CMJ was none other than our own Imaginary Victoria on one of her first visits to Seattle, years away from being an official imaginary. She grabbed this shot all those years ago, and today seemed like just a good a day as any to fondly remember all those early 00's indie rock shows.

What's your favorite 2005-ish music memory? Were you in Seattle? Or busy watching bands like The National and Pela at tiny east coast clubs? Let us know in the comments!

Don't miss: Rhett Miller tonight at the Triple Door {with Shelby Earl!}

imaginary victoria — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:26:48 +0000

Longstanding imaginary favorite Rhett Miller is nothing if not consistent, and if you want to spend your night listening to sharply crafted, well-delivered odes about girls, cars, and the ensuing heartache between, you'd best get yourself to the Triple Door tonight. The Old 97's frontman will be headlining Seattle's best dine-while-you-swoon venue, and while his show is well worth the entirety of the ticket price, local songstress Shelby Earl will be opening up the show.

Shelby's been keeping busy with her own shows, opening for Ben Gibbard, and putting the finishing touches on a new album {read our imaginary interview here for more on that}, and if you haven't heard her compelling, storyteller croon yet, you're truly missing out. Give a listen at her Facebook page, or spin this track from her last album, Burn The Boats:

Imaginary Liz's Best of 2013 Countdown: Los Campesinos

imaginary liz — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:47:05 +0000

{Los Campesinos by Steve Louie}

Like Allo Darlin, Los Campesinos are a diligent bunch. They publish Heat Rash, a seasonal zine complete with a 7" which I am certain keeps their creative wheels moving and their song-writing pens scribbling. There must be something in the Boddingtons that keeps these two favorite bands pressing new stuff to fill my shelves (for which I can't thank both bands enough).

Gareth Campesinos ne Paisey recently told NME that the band would be returning to work on the follow-up to Hello Sadness in early 2013, adding: "We try to take as little time between albums as possible. If we're not recording or touring then we'll have to get proper jobs. There's no reason to take a couple of years between albums."

That's as good as saying "Hey, Imaginary Liz, please keep room on your Best of 2013 list for our new album!" to me. I can't wait for my ears to bleed from the Sonic Youth slash Bright Eyes slash Hefner slash Bis slash Yo La Tengo slash Beat Happening magic they create. Maybe they are feeling nostolgic and will draw from their debut album, like Thermals are doing on their 2013 release?

Don't miss: The Orwells, Wimps at the Crocodile {2/16}

imaginary victoria — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:46:06 +0000

If you've been within shouting distance of me anytime in the last two weeks, you've undoubtedly heard me talking about The Orwells, specifically their 2012 release, Remember When. I first heard these kids on Greg Vandy's Best-Of-The-Year Roadhouse show on KEXP at the end of December, and now that I've got the album in-hand, I can't listen to anything else. It's gritty, sloppy-tight Chicago post-garage, mostly about girls and death. Take a listen to "In My Bed" (below).

This band makes me want to bust out of a high school classroom and blow off my classes to take pills, hang out with my friends, and pretend to be disinterested in girls -- all in some kind of lo-fi frame-skipping movie sequence. Get the whole album direct and leave it on repeat until Saturday, when they come to town to play The Crocodile with Wimps (!!!!!).

demo by wimps

While you're picking up that Orwells album, PS, click above and go get the Wimps demo FOR FREE. These will be the best two moves you make today, I promise.

{All ages / $12 adv / Wimps and Grim Smiley open. Tickets available here. Orwells photo courtesy of the band.}

Lines We Trace

imaginary victoria — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:42:30 +0000

8.3

http://www.heymarseilles.com/

HM-LWT_COVER_HI-RES.jpg

Lines We Trace opens up suddenly, with all kinds of ache laced through the echoes of a well-worn Andrew Bird album, cut beautifully with strains of Matt Bishop's unmistakable vocals. It's a powerful track ("Tides"), the line I would trade ten thousand days / for one more hour with you immediately vaulting the listener into a pile of Polaroids, to sift through the sweet nostalgia of every relationship they ever had that didn't quite work out. As sudden as the physical start of this album is the realization that Hey Marseilles has matured, with a new depth to their composition, yet with that familiar I'm-telling-this-story-right-to-your-soul songwriting that we've come to know and love.

For those who have gotten by these last few years on live shows, the occasional single release, and 2008's To Travels and Trunks; Lines We Trace is the equivalent of a new apartment in a town you love: you know the roads around it like the back of your hand, but you've never seen the sunlight through the windowpanes quite like this. Everything that's wonderful and familiar about Hey Marseilles is present -- a profound earnestness, those unmistakable chord progressions, the orchestral swells and pitches -- but delivered with new perspective, more wisdom, and perhaps the sight of a first laugh line in the bathroom mirror.

Simply stated, longstanding fans of the band and new listeners alike will welcome this addition to their library with open arms. Standout tracks "Bright Stars Burning" (the album's single) and "Looking Back" are decidedly Northwest, with scattered time signatures and a layered, big-room sound; "Madrona" takes the gazing-out-the-train-window-soundtrack game to a whole new level. Beautiful remasters of 2011's release ("Elegy" and "Cafe Lights") are embedded nicely at mid- and late-points throughout the album, akin to hearing a longstanding favorite at perfect points in a live set.

There's a lot to discover here, and you'll find your own words for it soon enough: Lines We Trace officially drops on March 5th, and is available for preorder everywhere today. On the live front, Hey Marseilles will be celebrating with a tour that runs across the country and back from the end of February to mid-April. The band will be making a stop at our own Showbox on March 1st with Y La Bamba and Pollens {tickets available here}.

The best of last winter: More Than Shapes

three imaginary girls — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:47:36 +0000

Remember last winter, when John Roderick played at a house show in Ballard, and how it was pretty much the best thing ever?

Yep.

In case you missed all those great videos the first time, here's a recap:

and the rest are on the Dorsia Films site here.

Happy Friday!

Crushing on the internet this week with Slang, Telekinesis

imaginary victoria — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:22:35 +0000

One of my hands-down favorite things of 2012 that I completely forgot to mention in my year-end list (I knew there'd be something) was / is Slang. The fact that Slang exists / is happening, seeing Slang open up for Lemolo at the Triple Door during City Arts Fest, learning about Slang -- all of it. (YOU GUYS. SLANG. QUADRUPLE UNDERLINE.) It was the one set all year that totally took me by surprise, that had me squee-ing in my seat the entire time and tweeting in all-caps for hours afterward.

If you haven't caught 'em yet: simply put, they're the best fucking cover band that ever was. Technically, Slang is Drew Grow (of DG & The Pastors Wives fame) and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Quasi, Wild Flag) shredding away, singing their hearts out with this imperfectly perfect vibe. They've got a glorious habit of completely destroying choice selections you know and love, breaking your heart with pure delight as each line goes by. And they put out this sweet ditty of a video this week (above) that makes my insides skip a beat remembering just how rad the live shows are.

Slang for President. Slang At Every God Damn Festival in 2013. (Seriously!) Friend them on Facebook (how do they not have 19,000 friends?) and then make sure you get to the next show you catch wind of. Looks like there's one coming up, an opening set on the 15th of this month at Valentines. Portland friends, get there!

Standard Fare break our hearts and call it a day

imaginary keenan — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 20:35:42 +0000

Indie pop fans worldwide are shedding tears onto their cardigans today from the incredibly sad announcement that imaginary favorites Standard Fare are calling it quits.

From their Facebook page:

Hi everyone,

We are sad to announce that after nine years of playing together, we are finishing Standard Fare on a high. We part on friendly terms and will all continue to make music in various guises.

It's been amazing to be able to release two albums, several singles, to travel and play in so many places, and to meet so many fantastic people.

We want to express our gratitude to our labels Melodic, Thee SPC, and Bar None, all the promoters who've put us on, anyone who's written nice things about us, Steve Lamacq, Huw Stephens, Tom Robinson, and other radio DJ's who've played us, Alan at 2Fly for recording nearly everything we've released and finally all of you who have listened, come to gigs, said hi! Thank you - we've had a fantastic time.

To say farewell we're doing two final gigs, Sheffield Feb 16th and London Popfest March 2nd so do come and say goodbye! Details to follow.

Lots of love from us, Andy, Dan, and Emma

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking up airfare for the London Popfest gig right now. I was lucky enough to catch them at Athens Popfest 2010, and I'm a bit saddened that I'll never get to scream along to "Fifteen" again.

And now, in mourning, let us enjoy the video for "051107" from their latest, and sadly last album Out of Sight. Out of Town.

Road trip to Bellingham: Eef Barzelay and The Heligoats {1/11}

imaginary victoria — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:41:14 +0000

It's looking like my first show of 2013 is going to be (a) most excellent and (b) out of town! Our imaginary pal Eef Barzelay, along with The Heligoats, will be at Blue Horse Gallery in Bellingham next Friday, January 11th -- and I personally can't think of a better start to the year than a double-header of smarty, achy-hearted, alt.indie songwriter bliss.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that it will likely be the best ten bucks you spend all week, friends. Having never been, it looks like the gallery is a great, intimate space that will be the perfect backdrop for these two. We'll see you up north!

What are YOU doing New Year's Eve? {TONIGHT!}

three imaginary girls — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:38:35 +0000

There's plenty to choose from on Monday night, between all the shows, dance parties, and fancy end-of-year suppers -- but no matter what you think you have planned for New Year's Eve, we strongly suggest that those of you planning to be in the Seattle area alter your agenda to include a stop at The Showbox.

Pickwick, your favorite local alt.freaksoul sextet, will be taking one of our favorite stages in town with Radiation City and Tomten, with doors at 8 and advance tickets at a mere $21.50 (an incredible bargian for a holiday night celebration, if you've been poking around at some other show prices in town).

The night is 21+ and tickets are going fast, so make sure you pop on over here to pick up a pair or two and secure your place at the last best party of the year.

Happy almost-2013!

Looking back at the best of 2012

imaginary victoria — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:22:10 +0000

As is the case for years past, best of 2012 lists for this Imaginary Girl are rarely about standard operating procedure -- ranking the best X number of albums in specific order, with exacting reason, is just not my jam. Taking the time at the end of the year to look back at how it all went down is more of an overarching retrospective for me: it's about the shows, the photos, the moments, and the tracks that made up how it all looked and felt, and how I'll remember it for years to come. Sort of like an A/V mixtape that I'll put on the shelf with this year's label on it.

With that said, here's what stood out for me for the past eleven-plus months, with 'best' being a relative term, of course:

Nada Surf at The Tractor by Victoria VanBruinisse

Best show: tie, Nada Surf at the Tractor and the first night of Jeff Mangum at the Moore

Even if either night of the Jeff Mangum show at the Moore back in April medium-sucked, it would probably go down in the year's best-ofs anyway -- simply because of the fact that it's Jeff Motherfucking Mangum and Holy Shit, Dude Did A Tour That We Never Thought We'd See. But as anyone who went knows, neither night even came close to medium-suck: I did prefer night one to night two, but both performances were staggeringly impressive and downright incredible to witness. Plenty of bands put on plenty of good shows in 2012, but when I reflect on things I loved about this year, that first night absolutely takes the cake -- it managed to transcend from Super Incredible Performance to bordering on Show-Related Out-Of-Body Experience.

So how could something like a Jeff Mangum show tie with a Nada Surf performance, you ask? I know. I've been asking myself the same thing and it just... does. Nada Surf graced us with a few performances this year, and it's likely that most folks went to the show at the Neptune in March -- but a few hundred of us were lucky enough to get tickets for the February show at the Tractor, where the band destroyed a sold-out room with one of the tightest four-piece performances I can recall in semi-recent history. For me, it ranked up there with some of my favorite Wrens shows, and knowing my allegiance to the Wrens as you do, you know that's a pretty big statement for me to make. Perhaps it was the recent obsession I'd had with listening to "When I Was Young" and the impeccable timing of the show being a few weeks into said obsession, or maybe it was just something in the air that night -- but whatever it was, the combination of all of it left a wonderful sting of a mark.

Photos of you + Santa Roderick have arrived!

imaginary victoria — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 19:33:16 +0000

It's a Christmas miracle! A mere few days after all the fun was had at our Imaginary Holiday Spectacular, photos of you and Santa are ready for your viewing pleasure.

Just click on over here to check them out! Huge piles of gratitude to John E. Hollingsworth for capturing all the fun.

Happy Holidays, everyone!