Tonight in Seattle:  

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Imaginary Linkage: Stuff We Spied Online This Week {1/28-2/3}

So much internet love this week! Here are the things that thrilled us so much we had to share.

There's not much we can add to the video above, except that the people at Archie McPhee clearly RULE. 

Ever wondered where the best of the worst roadside dinosaurs are? Now you know.

Rough breakup? Sell your ex's gifts on Never Liked it Anyway, or tell a story about items they left behind on I Still Have Your Stuff. 

Den of Geek put together a pretty good list of Top 25 Cult Film Actors - but Amie is upset that they forgot Jeffery Combs. I mean, SERIOUSLY

Cards Against Humanity: Our new favorite game (that you can download for free!)

The best cover of Depeche Mode's "Strangelove" on the entire internet. 

Low-Commitment Projects: Crafting for lazy people. 

{probably NSFW} Someone who calls themselves Dianne Amazeballs (rightfully so!) started a collection of Ridiculous Pregnancy Pictures on Pinterest, and we can't. stop. looking. at. them. 

What you'd see that's worthy of an Imaginary Shout-out? 

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Latest comment by: imaginary liz: "

Harold! What a nice coincidence (and honor!)... because one of my favorite links to click on is your blog and drool over all your recent tilt-shift photography and new artwork. 

Please please please let us know when your next Seattle show ...

Imaginary Watch This: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Two

I can't really explain why I think Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is so damn funny, but it just is. In this second installment, I really love the "oh god, I can smell his face" part - and the explanation of where he sleeps when in a hotel. (part 1 here)

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Princess Superstar loves Indie Rock Santa John Roderick {almost} as much as we do...

The Best Santa Ever - John Roderick is a SANTA SUPERSTAR

Here I am, just sitting here at work stressing out about end of year deadlines and I decide to click on a link to watch the brand-new Princess Superstar video, for her sure-to-be-a-holiday-classic song, "XMAS SWAGGER."  I've long enjoyed PS for her kooky, white girl rap that lives up to her moniker since her debut album, Strictly Platinum (specifically "Blue Beretta"). She's like the Trucks if they were a blonde rapper who lived in NYC and was obsessed with Grand Royal Records.

Anyway... I'm just sitting here, revving my ho ho ho engines with a holiday-themed video and THERE IT IS!!! A PHOTO OF OUR AMAZING INDIE ROCK SANTA IN A PRINCESS SUPERSTAR VIDEO!!!

See it for yourself:  The above photo {taken by the lovely and talented Laura Musselman} is in the below video at the 14 second mark

It's quick and all, and I'm sure the Princess Superstar machine is such a lo-fi operation that they didn't know who or how to get proper rights to use it {sorry John and Laura}; but in case there's anyone out there who's wondering, we can give you the hook-up to the folks who made this amazing photo happen!  Email us, or just meet them at tomorrow night's Imaginary Holiday Party!

Latest comment by: imaginary liz: "

I know... I can't pick a second favorite part of the video (the first favorite being the appearance of our very own SANTA JOHN RODERICK!!!)

"

Support your fave Indie Video Store on Saturday! {10/15}

I know in this age of streaming movies, mail delivery, and video on demand, it's tough to find people who still make a habit of going to their local video store to actually, you know, RENT physical DVDs. Coming from the VHS era, in which this girl's life was saved, enhanced, and made more interesting by her next-door rental joint, I still make a point to walk over to the Video Isle near my house every once in awhile in hopes that video stores will stick around for awhile longer. 

Saturday, 10/15, is officially Independent Video Store Day, which is the perfect excuse for you to get off your ass couch and head to the store nearest you to browse the aisles and find something awesome. And Scarecrow, the grandaddy of ALL video stores in Seattle, is also celebratin' with sales and events -- and donating a portion of their pre-paid rental sales to REEL GIRLS. I spent many days of my Senior HS year skipping classes (no wonder my GPA was so low...) and digging into the rows and rows of tapes at Scarecrow, so they have a special place in my heart.

You should swing by from 11am-midnight and check out the following: 

50% off their entire inventory of used Blu-rays, DVDs, VHS, and Laserdiscs
$3 off new DVDs & Blu-rays for sale
Movie recommendations from the Seattle Film Community (TIG's will be there too! just sayin') 
Drawings for prizes: 50 free rentals, a theater rental at Grand Illusion Cinema, prize packs from Criterion (!!!), Kino, Zeitgesit Films, and more
Pre-paid Rental Sale: Get 10 rentals for $35, which saves you $10. Scarecrow keeps track of what you've used, and they never expire. 

So, I'll see you there, right? You'll probably be able to find me in the horror section, lamenting my lack of a region-free DVD player...

Latest comment by: Chris Estey: "

My wife still dreams of a region-free DVD player to watch international horror movies on -- we wish they were cheaper! She's working but I'll see you there -- LOVE Scarecrow! (Is there anything besides "world peace" as joy-inducing a ...

New Favorite Band Alert: Blue Skies for Black Hearts

I love, love, LOVE discovering new bands that rock my socks off - I just wish I had known about Portland band Blue Skies for Black Hearts MUCH earlier, since it seems they've been around for awhile, based on all the CDs they have out already. But I digress. When I went to the Tennis Pro show a few weeks back at Chop Suey, these boys took the stage and positively blew me away with their tight, retro-pop tunes, bouncy attitude, and adorable faces. I fell for them straight away, marched over to the merch table after their set to buy some tunes, and tipsily stumbled over telling the bass player how AWESOME they were (a patented Amie move).

The above video for "Siouxsie (!!!) Please Come Home" helps illustrate their fantasticness - and the fact that our Seattle "Summer" could be worse - but I urge you to check out more of their songs, and fortheloveofallthatisholy see them live next time they're in town (9/22 at The High Dive) or you find yourself in PDX.

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Latest comment by: Imaginary Amie: "

Thanks, Kelly! I'll update.

"

This Forbidden Friends video reminds me things can be pretty rad

Sometimes, like this week, things can look fairly bleak; Economy, politics, corruption, confusion, and dayjob deadlines can bring a girl down. But, the video for the Forbidden Friends song "Tiny Hands" reminds me/us all that we just gotta stay cool and persevere. Yes, that's the magic of crayon signs, and flying cats.

For the remainder of today (and likely tomorrow too), I'm going to practice my chair dance moves and imagine daydream backdrops behind me as I sing along to "Tiny Hands." And that makes it all so much better.

Every wind that blows is a summer breeze and I never felt a drop of rain!

What video have you found that picks you up and dusts you off?

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Latest comment by: Maddie: "THIS ONE picks me up and dusts me off!!! [video:http://vimeo.com/15247292]"

Imaginary Watch This: Camp Out "Closer" (FINALLY!!!)

I've been a fan of the Camp Out ladies since I was lucky enough to catch them at a tiny club in San Diego a few years ago (unfortunately I missed their ONE Seattle appearance between now and then) -  But! they finally, FINALLY have a video of "Closer" so I can share their poppy dance tunes and total adorableness with you.

If you're digging this tune, I highly recommend you seek out a copy of their one and only album (which would either require a trip down to SD, or that you buy it from iTunes...), also titled Closer, keep an eye out for any upcoming shows (pleasepleasepleaseohplease), and get ready for their now-in-progress new EP.

A video that explains why I love Matt & Kim

It's no secret I heart Matt & Kim... so much so that sometimes it's hard to explain why. I usually end up rambling about how nice and wonderful and lovey they are to everyone (and each other) and how they inspire me to be a kinder and much more fun person.

Their new video for "Block After Block" kinda illustrates why they rule (and makes me want to go run around NYC with a bunch of friends).

As Matt explains on their blog:

Another video where Kim is terrified that she is going to get arrested and I (lie) and tell her there is no way that will happen. One day this is going to bite me in the ass but it hasn’t happened yet. Block After Block is our adventure throughout New York City playing impromptu shows wherever we could.

Matt & Kim are on tour with the Thermals right now... my heart explodes thinking about being front row for that bill (which sadly wont happen anytime soon since both bands played Sasquatch last month).

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Latest comment by: Matt Hart: "Agree. Matt & Kim are one of my favorite live bands, period. It doesn't even matter that they aren't very good at their instruments - they put on such a damn fun show it hardly matters. I want them to be my best friends."

Imaginary Watch This: paint-tastic goodness from Centro-matic

My love affair with Centro-matic started one night at The (old) Croc, wherein I saw the first incarnation of their spin-off band, South San Gabriel, perform beautiful ballads that split my heart open and left it bleeding on the floor - and I mean that in the best way possible. In any case, I've never forgotten the impact this band had on me that night, and I've become a devoted fangirl every since to both CM and SSG.

This is a long-winded way of saying that I'm super excited for their NEW ALBUM (Candidate Waltz) to drop on June 21, and even more excited that we get to preview it with this paint-filled video for "Only in My Double Mind". oh, and - you can download this single for free on their website too. Viva la Centro-matic!

A cute new video from Fishboy that could double as a workout routine

 

I've been remiss in my indie-pop duties. Apologies to all for the delay in recommending the newest Fishboy album, Classic Creeps. It reveals the lives of 10 unknowingly connected fictional characters across 10 wonderful pop songs {listen to it now}.

To mark its release last week {May 10 on Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records}, Eric Edward Fishboy produced a cute video for "Alyson Revere," complete with TMBG Ana Ng style dance moves {which I have to link to after the jump because, it's "Ana Ng" and it's still utterly brilliant}.

Combine the both and you've got a great work out!

What other videos have dance moves that we could use as part of a workout routine?

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