Three Imaginary Girls

We Are Golden, featuring Sarah Rudinoff and Gretta Harley, plays their epic show "The is Me Sometimes" at The Triple Door on Wednesday, July 29.read more

Let it be the year of the dodo. read more

No Depression has long been the place to get the inside scoop on the best Americana, roots and alt-country folks to watch - and we're pleased as punch that they've put all that know how into a full on festival of fabulous artists...

Jason Webley celebrates his eleventh year making music with a blowout celebration at Town Hall on Friday, July 3. Special guests include Amanda Palmer, Rev. Peyton and Orkestar Zirkonium.read more

Yes, we have a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky fan for Pet Shop Boys' Pandemonium tour, which hits the Moore on Sunday, September 20...

Jessica Hopper, one of my favorite rock critics to read - and not "even when I disagree with her" but especially when I disagree with her - has written a how-to guide for young girls to get into rocking, called, appropriately enough The Girls Guide to Rocking. read more

David Byrne is the kind of performer that causes you to scratch your head when considering your expectations for one of his concerts. Will he pull a Bob Dylan and render old favorites abhorrent and unrecognizable? Is he, ala Dr. Frankenstein, ashamed of the creations that made him popular...

The folks at the Fretboard Journal are my heros. Issue after issue they pack each quarterly publication with beautiful pieces geared towards the smarty pants guitar geeks amongst us...

Last Thursday, Head Like A Kite had an open house of sorts at London Bridge Studio and invited some friends and imaginaries to come be part of the recording process. Of course we couldn't resist the invite and Jeanine Anderson was on hand to take some shots of the fun. Nice knobs! read more

If I believed in "guilty pleasures", I would have no problem saying The Veronicas were a guilty pleasure. But I don't; at least not during the eleven months of the year that Girl Scout Cookies aren't sold. Rather, we'll just have to say The Veronicas are a fine band who I really enjoy. read more

The lovely Sonic Boom Records will expand and open it's brand spankin' new doors on Melrose between Pike and Pine this fall. At just about 3000 sq ft, they hope to host MANY more instore performances and live shows of all kinds...

At their recent show at Neumos, Matt Maginn, bassist of Cursive, talks about the new album "Mama, I'm Swollen."read more

Photo by Bobb Lovett The first time I heard about The Coathangers, a bad-ass, all girl band from Atlanta, was from music writer (for now?) Christopher Weingarten's 1000 Times Yes Twitter record review project (where he reviews a thousand records this year in 140 characters or less)...

Looking for indie rock kicks on Saturday night? The Sunset Rubdown show at Chop Suey might just be the ticket. Touring on the back-to-basics Dragonslayer, this show promises to be phenomenal...

There are visuals of heartbroken fans all over the telly and an avalanche "news" messages reported via the radio and the twitterverse...

I have had a very long love affair with Portland's psych-pop keyboard fuzz pedal freaks Quasi...

This show was so good, I actively sought out and purchased a poster. A poster! Do you even remember the last time you did that?read more

Bjork's Voltaic: The Volta Tour in Paris is, as far as live concert films go, is a dazzling experience to watch. It is screening this weekend, twice, at the Northwest Film Forum on Friday and Saturday night (June 26 and 27) at 11pm. read more

Saturday night at The Vera Project featured Port O’Brien opening for Papercuts. The crowd was thin but enthusiastic and these California-based bands held their attention rapt...

I've got nothing against a fun romantic comedy, but the thought of watching Confessions of a Shopaholic makes me all twinge-y. Well, maybe not as twinge-y as The Pink Panther 2 (Hi Steve Martin! I used to love you!)...

A little late on the uptake, but if you're looking for something to fill your unemployed, or otherwise bored-stiff, time there a couple of really great shows happening this week...

I was going to wait until it got a little closer to the event before mentioning the Doe Bay Music Festival here but I hear that tickets are selling very fast and would hate for it to sell out before any of our readers heard about this great event...

I can’t even pretend to recommend the newest Sandra Bullock disaster, no matter how much I love Ryan Reynold’s body. Nor can I point you to Year One, despite my undying devotion to Michael Cera...

Kaylee Cole, Spokane songstress, signs to major label Chrysalis! read more

There’s one thing I’ve learned over the years; When Ben Kweller comes to town you go see the opening band too. He doesn’t mess around...

Just when you thought SIFF '09 was over and done, SIFF Cinema is presenting a three-day, 13-program selection of award winners and audience favorites this weekend. SIFFed out as I still am, I'm actually kinda glad, especially having missed Grand Jury Prize winners talhotblond and The Other Bank...

Even though there is so much goodness oozing from the Los Campesinos! blog on a nearly daily basis, I've tried to show some restraint so that I don't wear you out with my regurgitation of witty campesino-isms as posted on their blog since I discovered it months and months ago...

Just last weekend I was interviewing Art Brut's Eddie Argos and we were talking about the band working with Pixies frontman Frank Black, who produced Art Brut's excellent album Art Brut vs. Satan...

As promised, TIG would continue its coverage of SIFF "until the final Golden Space Needle Award was given out" and early this afternoon, they were. Amie Simon and I were on hand to watch the winners receive their awards. read more

We've got a pair of tickets for someone lucky and a friend to catch an awesome all ages show at Neumo's on Tuesday, June 23rd with Cursive and local kids Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band. School's out! Go rock out...

Thanks to Hot Avocados Photography (imaginary victoria!) for this sweet Sean Nelson moment she recently caught. It's kinda a tear jerker in light of the recent news that Harvey Danger is calling it quits...

The primary complaint I’ve been hearing against Art Brut’s new album, Art Brut vs...

Hey kids, do you like sleazy little mustaches, argyle vests, and lyrics followed by exclamation points? Do you like songs about erectile dysfunction, alcoholism, and modern art? Does Eddie Argos make you want to rock out (AAAAAAAAAAGH!)...

Grand Archives, a group of veteran indie rockers, is touring for the upcoming release of their second full-length album, Keep In Mind Frankenstein, due out September 15th. That’s the day before my birthday. I’ll think of it as Mat Brooke’s (Band of Horses) present to me...

Tonight is the second night of this year's Noise for the Needy festival and tonight's trifecta of shows is a great assortment of Seattle bands with some out of towners thrown in for extra buzz. I'm particularly excited to see the Sunset Tavern show with Adam Stephens and the Finite Plain headlining...

Okay, here's the deal: SIFF live-music events are always amazing. Every time I run into someone who's been to one, they insist it's one of the best shows they've ever seen – so I feel compelled to plug this as a recommended Friday show. read mo

I love folks when great music taste and extra time futz around with iMovie. Thank you fanella55! You did a great job putting one of my favorite Fishboy songs ("Proper Name Spelling Bee") to digital video...

This year's Noise for the Needy festival starts tonight! We're so excited for the five day fest. The organizers have really put together a slew of great bills from now until Sunday. Tonight's batch of shows kick off the festivities with a bang...

Julie Davis' latest film, Finding Bliss is a very funny, semi-autobiographical story of a film school grad who finds a job working as an editor in the porn industry but it is, at heart, a romantic comedy...

Director Marc Webb channels Cameron Crowe at his best – great conversation, lots of laughs and a killer soundtrack – with his feature debut, (500) Days of Summer. If this is where he's starting, I can't wait to see what he does next. read

If you've been in any local Seattle record store lately, you've undoubtedly seen (and possibly listened to) the fabulous new release from this creative duo, A Woman a Man Walked By...

Already released on cassette tape and CD, Rainwater Cassette Exchange came out in May of 2009 and is Deerhunter's most recent release. According to Kranky's website the vinyl version should be available by now. But my local record store manager tells me they're releasing it in the next few weeks...

jens lekman WOW -- this weekend (which this time we'll say started on Thursday because Thursday was *so* packed with options) will probably be voted "most packed with possibilities ever!" in this summer's yearbook. Did anyone do a Jens Lekman double shot -- attending both Thursday and Friday...

Sweden's Love Is All return to Seattle tonight, with indie pop party band Still Flyin (who I caught in San Francisco a few weekends ago) for a delicious indie pop dance party at Neumo's. Last time I caught Love Is All, I really enjoyed them...

One of the things I love about being part of the TIG family, however long-distance, is that I get to peek into a scene I wouldn't normally be exposed to living down here in LA...

Anyone out & about this past Thursday night? Talk about freaky weather - everything was all kinds of crazy, heady, ocean-scented wind gusts through the city mixed with golden-pink sunset bliss...

I just returned home from a friend's birthday party. (Happy Birthday, Flyn!) I hopped on my computer, so I could waste some time on the internet...

This new buoyant and well-crafted album is a huge stylistic shift away from the spare acoustic arrangements of his previous releases though Brosseau's earnest wit and captivating, vibrato-soaked voice is unchanged. read more

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The Prodigy @ Wamu Theater 5.30.09 Jeanine Anderson recently caught the Prodigy at the WaMu Theater (they were in town with the Crystal Method). Looks pretty intense! Want to see more live show shots (or have your own to add) taken around Seattle...

By the time the end credits to True Adolescents rolled, I loved it so much that I jumped at the chance to interview the Director and the Producer (Thomas Woodrow) to find out more...

This year's Nylon Tour also features a strong lineup with Patrick Wolf, Jaguar Love and Living Things, but I am most excited to catch one band: The Plasticines. read more

Director Doug Pray does something interesting and subtle with what’s a temptingly fat target for derision—he teases out the artistic, inventive, and influential aspects of an industry steeped in mediocrity at best and toxicity at worst. read

Weekend three of four! Are you feeling the SIFFatigue yet? I am. But I'll be queuing up for these films anyway. read more

Director Kevin Hamedani turned out a horror/comedy that's frankly a lot cleverer than I expected. Some of the acting is a little amateur at first, but give it about 15 minutes...

I got an e-mail last week assuring me that I would love this singer/songwriter Kate Earl, mentioning names like Lily Allen, Feist and Cat Power (two of the three I really enjoy, and that ain't bad)...

Wow - what a great weekend to finish up May and start June with a smiley grin. This photo by Adamsayswhatt of Gabriel Teodros from the flickr pool sums it up for me...

It sure is a gorgeous Monday! How else are you going to celebrate that, than with a rad show at the Sunset...

I am pleased to announce the debut of The Smittens new video for "One Hundred Roses" off their HHBTM album The Coolest Thing About Love...

Ball Don't Lie screens Monday, June 1 at the Kirkland Performance Center at 9:30 pm and will be released theatrically on Friday, June 5 in limited release. He Got Game can be found in any video store. read more

Downloading Nancy is well-acted, especially with Maria Bello’s Nancy, who wonders aloud if anyone will care if someone emotionally dead really is physically, but the film is so over-the-top that you wonder who could enjoy sitting through this film...

Day 3 featured an early afternoon show with Sourpatch, Champagne Riot, and Gregory Webster!read more

I'm getting really excited for Metric's upcoming (sold out) show on Thursday at the Showbox at the Market and the band has now released their third (!) video from their excellent album Fantasies. This video is for the song "Sick Muse" and was directed by Justin Broadbent and Michael Leach...

The movie is so fast-paced that it never gets boring (that is, spending too much time dwelling on the characters) but has enough plot twists to keep you guessing what will happen next. read more

It's hard to describe why listening to an album as atmospheric and sad as My Maudlin Career would be a pleasant experience, but it's probably best understood with a bottle of whiskey on the bedside table and a few quiet hours alone. read more

I just got home from the Showbox at the Market where I just saw Pearl Jam debut a new song being filmed by Cameron Crowe (yes, the Say Anything/Fast Times at Ridgemont High/Singles/Almost Famous/etc. Cameron Crowe). WTF? read more

The Merry Gentleman starts out with troubled assassin finding himself unexpectedly saved one night when he spies battered-wife-in-hiding. The two quickly form a close relationship, even without knowing each other’s secrets...

Bumbershoot just listed dozens more performers to their lineup, including Jason Mraz, USE, Vivian Girls, Mirah and Kasabian. read more

Another weekend, another batch of SIFF suggestions. Here’s one I’ve seen, and four I haven’t (but feel confident recommending). rea

Hooray! More new Superchunk! And, you lucky ducks in NY get to see them for free! Superchunk will play a free show at South Street Seaport in New York on July 17th, and as part of XX Merge in Carrboro July 22-26...

A Brent Amaker and the Rodeo show is always a debaucherous event. Last time I saw them play, audience members were baptised by the Man himself with more than two trays of whisky shots. They lined up and had a shot poured down their throats. It was wonderful and excessive all at once...

Welcome to the very official {and very imaginary} Three Imaginary Girls San Francisco Popfest 2009 recap! We were lucky enough to have THREE of our own imaginaries there! Myself, Steve Louie (who provided all the photos), and imaginary liz all made the trek South for memorial day weekend...

I’ve been lucky enough to preview many of the SIFF shorts this year, and while there were a few I just didn’t get (and one that made me think “Hallmark Hall of Fame special”), there were also a few that I really loved. Here’s a breakdown of my favorites...

Pop Star on Ice is very fast-paced and has great access to Weir and those around him (like his coach), although it only touches briefly on Weir’s family and his sexuality (which comes up when a commentator accuses Weir’s programs of being to feminine for male figure skating)...

The brilliant documentary filmmaker talked to TIG about her latest film, We Live in Public, when it screened at the SIFF. We discussed the film, as well as Dig! and Join Us, her previous documentaries.read more

The heat and the glaring sun has been getting to me, so I ended up missing Calexico to stay longer at camp under the sweet shade. read more

So here's the thing, I was unsure about this in the beginning (felt more like a TV show about cops than an action movie at first), but I got totally sucked in as soon as the intense car chase started. read more

The Yes Men Fix the World screens at 11am on Saturday, May 23 at the Neptune and on Thursday, June 4 at the Kirkland Performance Center at 4:30pm. Spring Breakdown screens at the Neptune on Saturday, May 23 at 4:15pm. read more

I'm going to act like Gaslight Anthem didn't happen and the Doves were the first band I saw... read more

I wasn't going to write about the Doves show at the Croc on Wednesday. I planned to go just as a fan. Honestly, sometimes the reporting gets the best of me, and I can't enjoy those spine-tingly moments as I'm trying to cache the set list and come up with witty words to describe the aural experience...

Act 1 In which I arrive at The Paramount to meet Hanna & Chris B. and immediately regret my dress choice. Full skirt + wind = imminent wardrobe malfunction. read more