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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How much do we love Tennis Pro? Let us count the ways …

1) “Imaginary Girl” is naturally, one of our favorite songs. EVER.

2) They donned dresses and makeup to sing their hearts out for us at our Exile in (Imaginary) Girlville 6^th Anniversary/Liz Phair cover night in 2008.

3) They interviewed The Cops for us in 2005! And then … got interviewed BY The Cops.

4. They continue to rock our socks off, leaving us exhausted from screaming until our throats are raw and dancing like maniacs during their sets.

5.) They joined us in 2004 for our Rockstar Suicide Karaoke Silent Auction Bash!

6.) AND! They are going to support us again by taking the stage at our upcoming Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Night on Friday, June 1 at Chop Suey.

We’re not sure exactly what will transpire, but rumors abound that Phil will be leading the vocal onslaught, with Sean & David grabbing the mic at some point to belt their Tennis Pro hearts out.

We have our own ideas about which New Wave hits they should sing for us, but Tennis Pro’s been known to buck the trends, so uh. We’ll just have to see what happens!

And hey! Did you know that there is a movie coming out starting Tennis Pro? It’s called Big in Japan, it’s directed by John Jeffcoat, and we kind of can’t wait for it to be released:

{photo of Phil Peterson at our Exile in (Imaginary) Girlville bash by Jeanine Anderson}

Gosling pretty much says it all. Tennis Pro is playing on Wednesday, February 8 at Chop Suey with two Japanese bands with perfect rock-and-roll names: Troll 8 (also the owner of Chop Suey's band) and Gnosis  - plus, The Terrordactyls, who also hail from Seattle, and post pictures of sad pizza. Oh, and they also sound pretty neat, so they should complement Tennis Pro's awesomeness just fine.

So I'll see you guys up front near the stage, right? 

Chop Suey Presents 
TENNIS PRO
The Terrordactyls
Troll 8
Gnosis
plus guests 
Friday, Feb. 8 | Doors at 8pm | $7 

{photo courtesy of Tennis Pro's Facebook page} 

Usually when a band gets down to business time it isn't always fun: it can be a release of pent up disappointments and missed chances. But Tennis Pro do a complete 180 degree breakdance spin and, instead, throw a party of a record. And their world domination just means fun for everyone at that party. The opening lines of tight gut-funk opener "Dance Hit Number 1" (this isn't a track on a UK greatest wavo-disco 12" from the 80s compilation??), upon which is preached, "Are you downtrodden my brother? Afflicted, my son? Well, pick yourself up, you're not done."

From there, drummer Sean Lowry, vocalist and guitarist David Drury, and multi-talented bassist Philip Peterson (oh yeah, vocals, strings, backrubs, brass, breaking glass, keyboards, champion snogger, knows a guy, who knows a guy, works a room, keeps swinging, et al) just fully determined to break out of the miasmatic indie rock ghetto of focused failure and small club woes. The big fat bold blue sound of Shimokita Is Dead? puts all the clocks to bed and demands the guests have at least one more, to paraphrase the sweet warning of " Saratomi Bicycle" -- those beloved fellow partiers being Dita Vox (Thee Emergency!), Cristina Bautista, guitarist Matt Black, Jessica Abbey, and Blake Jeffcoat. Their crisp, welcomed talents add to the jumped-up franticness what all those weed dealers dealers did for The Clash on Sandinista! Except in one third the size and only dubbed out at the end of a couple surfy, bonfire-glowing burn-down tracks (and you got to have those by 3 am).

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BIG IN JAPAN Teaser 06.13.11 from John Jeffcoat on Vimeo.

Kon'nichiwa! (sorry, that was cheesy). Hey! Does everyone have their Tennis Pro tix for tonight's CD Release at Chop Suey? Ok then. I thought y'all might also want to know that there's a movie about these guys in progress called Big in Japan, and the trailer was just released, and I just watched it and was all "Shuthefrontdoor. That looks AWESOME!!!" (yes, to myself). No seriously, it does look awesome. Right?

 

Photo borrowed from Tennis Pro's Facebook page.

The last time I saw Tennis Pro, they were singing Liz Phair songs in dresses...a memorable event, not just because of their attire, or the fact that it was the 6th Anniversary of TIG, but also because these guys CRANK out some seriously bouncy power pop! But uh, where have they been since then, you might ask? Well, I was fortunate enough to run into Mr. David Drury during all the SIFF festivities and that's when I found out they didn't really go anywhere, they've actually got a brand new album, and (no kidding) they're totally BIG in JAPAN.

This news made me incredibly happy, and started me on a kick of listening to Cassie's Junior Varsity Make-Out Squad, and Are You There, God, It's Me Tennis Pro - reminding me how much fun they are live and also that they have a song called "Imaginary Girl" that rocks my little heart out. The new album is called Shimokita is Dead, and Tennis Pro is having a CD release party/show at Chop Suey this coming Thursday {6/30} so everybody can hear what it sounds like. In the meantime, here's a preview to get you ready:

 

 

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(Photo of Tennis Pro by Jeanine Anderson and featured in the TIG Flickr Photo Pool)

Tennis Pro cemented a place in our hearts even before they wrote the mega-hit "Imaginary Girls" a few years back. Tonight they are playing a show with Jupe Jupe and Sports {can we just claim that "Jupe Jupe" is a sportsy term and tonight's show an atheletic trifecta show for cuteness sake?} at the Sunset.

Other things you can do to celebrate TUESDAY NIGHT?!?! Our imaginary calendar has a number of options:

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On Friday night, three very imaginary bands are playing what is billed as "Sweet Dreams Prom 2009" at the Crocodile. It's headlined by We Wrote the Book on Connectors, a fun rock band that will write a song about you if you pay them $18. They're a riot live, which their set consists of playing a bunch of silly but catchy pop rock songs.

They explain about this night:

Every so often this town needs to dress up, grab a date, throw some salt on the dance floor and get down like it was high school all over again. Only this time your high school is the Crocodile, and your lunch tickets get you PBR.

We Wrote the Book on Connectors, M. Bison, and Tennis Pro are ready to serve you from the punchbowl of good times at this once in a lifetime event full of formal wear, music, hairstyles from yester-year, and the sexiest chaperones you’ll ever call “coach”.  Come on down to the Croc for a Prom that would make a wallflower pull down their pants and dance.

All these bands have been a staple of the Seattle music scene and are known for putting on incredibly enthusiastic and entertaining performances.  The music is catchy fun, and they’re not afraid to have a good time on stage. Each band will be playing a few nostalgic hits to share with you a big ‘ol good time and celebrate returning to the Crocodile.  So grab your gal, your guy, or your parents, join corsage covered hands on the pedestal of rock and smile for your prom photo (yes there will be prom photos).  No expense has been spared to blow out a Prom with all the fixin’s. This show promises to get you laid, even if we have to do it ourselves.

WE guarantees their $18 songwriting service, so I full expect them to stay with their word in their promise for this show.

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at Chop Suey

See the setlist and some amazing photos from last night's Exile in {Imaginary} Girlville bash!

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Practice all your moves, and mark your calendars: Celebrate TIGs sixth anniversary with us at Chop Suey on June 25!

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