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!

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This Thursday (4/25), Tullycraft and BOAT will take to the DJ decks at Saint John’s to battle it out Seattle pop band stylee.  

If two bands could be brothers separated at birth, it would be these two groups of guys (and one very sweet lady).  Both have brand new records out (each with an LP version on fancy colored vinyl), both are on Magic Marker Records, and both bands have a very near and dear place in our imaginary hearts because they write amazing pop songs deserving of placement in a beer commercial.

From 5pm-8pm (those are some *happy* hours), the two bands will take turns playing a song or two from their new albums as well as selections that inspired their own songs.  Since they love music as much as you and I do, there will also be a bunch of dusty gems (in the form of OOP b-sides and the like) unearthed from their record collections that will make us all scream with delight.  

Both BOAT and Tullycraft have promised to "embarrass and delight each other, and hopefully you too."

Added bonus, Saint John's (719 E Pike, in Capitol Hill) has super tasty drink and munchable happy hour specials to fill your tummy as you listen to all those super tasty tunes. And it's all FREE! 21+.

Tullycraft's first single came out when I was fifteen. Played heavily on WPRB Princeton, "Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend's Too Stupid To Know About" was the start of MY long and damning relationship with indie pop. Yet, like the boy in that 1995 single, Tullycraft has made me worry I was too stupid to know about the bands they were singing about. My love for them has been a combination of sheer adoration and joy coupled with a nervousness that I was missing the joke -- maybe I too, in the words of the album's title track "Lost in Light Rotation," never took the time to learn the slang that we speak or the slogans on the t-shirts. Yet when the message is all wrapped up in harmonies and power chords, I forget my fear for love of bouncing and singing along.

Tullycraft’s vision of twee was something both sweet and cynical, a cuteness belied with dirty jokes, and both obscure references and snide comments about other bands. Don’t you dare try to tell me they’re all about ukuleles and bunny rabbits and cuddly wuddly love songs! The hearts in their songs are often broken, the best times have already past, and computers don’t even exist as a way to keep in touch with friends.

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It's no secret I have an inside scoop on what goes on in the Tullycraft camp, so I've actually have heard this whole album. A hundred times. Because I just can't stop listening to it.

I was a fan long before I infiltrated their compound, so it's been extra hard to keep from quoting lines and exclaiming about how much I love it. But now that cover art is finalized and a release date has been set, I CAN!

The new album, Lost in Light Rotation, will strike a chord with newbies and longtime loves alike. This time around, Tullycraft has given us an album that is more concise and concentrated with relentless indie-pop guitar and vocal twists that will make you spin on the dancefloor until you drop. 

The result is a set of songs that have the hutzpah of "Our Days in Kansas," the demureness of "DIY Queen," a touch of the electro-craft of "We know You're Cute You Told Us," lo-fi rockeries of "Josie," and that doesn't even include a descriptor for the recently released single, "Lost in Light Rotation" {on 7" vinyl on Magic Marker (US) / Fortuna Pop (Europe)} which you can highly rotate on soundcloud.  There's a video for this single making the rounds (and posted below) and there's an added bonus: the 7" includes an exclusive b-side - a cover of Yazoo’s "Bad Connection."

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We can't thank you enough for helping us celebrate our 10th Anniversary in Rockstar New Wave Karaoke style last Friday {June 1, 2012} at Chop Suey!!! The evening was so much fun and having you all there really made it all super special.  There were so many amazing moments, some that we can't even believe actually happened!  If we weren't already in love with every one of the performers that took the stage, we are certainly over the moon with them now.

There were so many amazing performances it's impossible to list all the amazing moments here... but here are just a couple off the top of our heads:

Ben Hooker re-writing Duran Duran's "Girls on Film" to "Three Imaginary Girls On-Line."  We still don't know how he did it and really wish it was caught "on film." We are still blushing from the honor of having a Ben Hooker-penned song about us!

Patrick from Your Favorite Book singing "99 Luft Balloons" IN GERMAN!  We're not sure if you noticed, but the words on the karaoke monitor were in English, which means Patrick actually memorized the German version. From seeing YFB shows in the past, we knew he was going to go all the way.  But, blow up red balloons and fill the crowd with them as he broke out into song? While singing in German?

Jenny Jimenez capturing all that is "She Bop" by Cyndi Lauper. The face paint, the outfit, the dance moves, AND a spot on rendition of this classic Cyndi tune.  It was a big undertaking and Jenny nailed it!

Sean Nelson singing "Peace, Love, and Understanding."  Sean not only covered the Elvis Costello song beautifully, he got so into the moment that he left the stage with a hole ripped in the knee of his pants and a bloody knee! We admire his new wave devotion!

Jenny and Chris of Tullycraft's version of "Come On Eileen."  The overalls, the dance moves pulled directly from a Dexy's Midnight Runners video and the over-the-top vocals. Thank goodness it was captured on video (posted below)!

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Did you pick up your copy of the Imaginary Zine at the big Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Bash at Chop Suey on Friday, June 1st? 

If you don't have a copy of the zine yet (or you want to buy another!), you can order online or purchase at any upcoming Three Imaginary Girls event in the near future (next one: the 10th Anniversary Ice Cream Social at Bluebird Microcreamery in Capitol Hill on July 12!).  The zine is limited run of 333 copies (the back cover does not lie), so buy yours soon!

The Imaginary Zine is a 60-page old school printed zine recounting our first 10 years with some of our favorite blog posts and stories from our imaginary friends.  It also includes a cd chock full of rare, live, or exclusive songs by some of our favorite local artists (full list below)!

The most amazing part? It's only $4 (+ USPS postage)

Want a sneak peak of some of the radness inside the hand-crafted zine?

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{photo: John E. Hollingsworth}

There's no denying that every single member of Tullycraft has a firm place in our hearts.  Their songs encompass all things we love.  They spice up indie-pop with aggressive guitar and swoon-worthy campfire sing along harmonies.  Blips and bleeps are sprinkled through out as are record store clerk culture references and nerd-core punchlines.  Beyond that, the folks that make up the band more than make our heart flutter.

Our ties with Tullycraft go all the way back to 2003, when at our 2nd anniversary Rockstar Suicide Karaoke show a very brave Tullycraft-er took the stage to sing Juice Newton's "Queen of Hearts." Since then, we've been able to cajole Tullycraft into performing at many an imaginary event (YAY!).  It's hard to pick a favorite moment, but we still watch video of their performance at the Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs show over and over (video sample of the night below). And then there was our 2007 holiday show, the 2004 Shamrock the Vote showcase… well, you get the idea. We can't get enough Tullycraft in our lives.

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As you may have heard, 2012 marks Three Imaginary Girls' 10th anniversary of being Seattle's sparkly indie-pop press and we can't think of a more imaginary way to celebrate than with a big bash with some of our favorite rockstars and YOU!

On Friday, June 1st at Chop Suey, we're going to host the biggest TIG birthday party of all imaginary time with some of Seattle's most stellar rockstars taking the karaoke mic to sing in the key of new wave, including:

Sean Nelson
Lesli Wood
Megan Seling
Jenny Jimenez
Shane Tutmarc
Alicia Amiri
Cristina Bautista
Anna Banana Lange
Jenny George

and members of:
Visqueen
The Young Evils
Exohxo
Tullycraft
Math & Physics Club
Tennis Pro
Mal de Mer
Black Nite Crash
Kithkin
The Mangles
Your Favorite Book
Noddy
We Wrote the Book on Connectors

It can't get any more astonishing, right?  Well, the rockstars aren't the only ones taking the mic, we want YOU to sing too! Throughout the night, audience members can volunteer to take the Chop Suey stage by storm to karaoke their favorite new wave hit.  Folks will be chosen first come, first served, so get there and turn in your song early (doors are at 8:30pm)!

To add to the birthday merriment, the evening is going to be hosted by imaginary Dana and Adrian LeFluer (of Iron Composer fame), who you might remember stealing the show as emcee at our 69 Love Songs cover night a few years back. 

Get your ticket to the night of new wave love and big imaginary fun now!

As an added bonus for those at the show,  you can be the first to pick up a copy of the Imaginary Zine! A printed old school zine recounting our first 10 years in stories and recounted memories from our imaginary friends. It will have a special screenprinted cover (thanks Seattle Show Posters / 112 Printworks!) and a cd chock full of rare, live, or exclusive songs by some of our favorite local artists, including The Long Winters, BOAT, Exohxo, The Femurs, Tullycraft and MORE!  It's limited to a hand-numbered print run of only 333, so you should make plans to pick up your copy at the show.

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It's always a surprise to hear a favorite song as the backdrop of a commercial {a la Los Campesinos! in a recent Budwieser commercial}... but imagine the gasp heard 'round the indie-pop community when it was discovered that ultra-conservative Fox News 'personality' John Gibson featured the Smittens song "Something Sassy" (with guest vocals from Tullycraft's Sean Tollefson) in a promo blurb on his radio show! They probably thought they were safe from anyone finding out as I don't know many twee-pop fans who also dabble in Fox-ness. Alas, Fox's  'sassy' ways have been caught.

But all is not ignoble with this news; I'd like to quickly temper it with this cute and wonderful video recapping the recent wedding of Dana {of The Smittens} and her wife Katie.

Here's the official word from The Smittens {via press release}:

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I'm not sure what neat Windows(R) software created this video, but even with the program I couldn't have come up with a funnier indie-pop girl / husband sample conversation.

For the love of Morrissey!!!  You'll never be English, get over it.

What should be the next video in this series?  A barista to boyfriend exchange?