{Cataldo is playing Seattle Weekly's REVERB Festival this Saturday, 10/8 at 6pm} 

Initially, I was reminded of Hey Marseilles (an equally excellent band in which drummer Colin Richey does time) but that’s an oversimplification. Think Colin Meloy sans the prog rock and historical fetishes -- and you’re still not all the way there. The brainchild of Eric Anderson, Cataldo offers up an effortless blend of pop and folk immersed in elegant arrangements and radiant melodies. Thankfully, even when things get a bit simpler, the results are still fulfilling. On the masterful “Things You Need to Know” the proceedings are just as remarkable when Anderson’s voice is accompanied by a barely-there acoustic guitar. When the arrangement fleshes itself out past the three minute mark, the subtlety that reigned previously takes on even greater meaning.

The real jewel on the album is “Cash on the Barrel.” If there’s been a lovelier composition to release by a Northwest band in 2011, it’s been conveniently wiped from my memory. The keyboards gently echo across the speakers with nuance not unlike a Mike Mills piano part from some long lost outtake from REM’s Automatic for the People. When Anderson asserts “What is more infatuating than infatuation?", I dare you to keep your heart from falling to pieces. I, for one, contend that a song reaches elite status when I find myself unable to shut the hell up about it. So goes my relationship with this superb pop confection.

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Is this actually happening?

It sure is: not only are the Long Winters playing a show at the Showbox as part of the 2011 City Arts Fest, but the night is being presented by... us! That's right -- we are presenting {what will likely be} the Long Winters' only full-band show on the calendar this year. Pinch us!!

So, what does that mean, exactly? Well, first of all, we'll have some extra features on the Long Winters and the other bands on the roster over the next few weeks leading up to the show. Expect an interview or two, a custom-designed show poster from our friends over at Seattle Show Posters, and maybe even a few surprises! But first and foremost, we'd like to gush a little bit about TLWs and give away a pair of tickets to a lucky reader and their guest for the October 20th show.

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We'll get right to the point: if you haven't heard by now, there's a sweet lineup at Neumos tonight, and you'd best get yourself and some friends over to Capitol Hill to catch it.

Gracing the stage of one of our fave venues will be none other than Say Hi, starring the much-celebrated Eric Elbogen as he parties in the pants of his newest release, Um, Uh Oh. He'll be sharing the bill with the Globes and Cataldo, who will be opening up the night for all the early-comers.

Straight outta Barsuk:

The record is also Elbogen’s best to date. It’s weary and blue-noted, revealing, personal and pained and there’s expressiveness in his performance absent from previous releases. In fact, it’s difficult to fathom that the same songwriter that once wrote the sugary frivolity of the early Say Hi material could have written such a mature collection of songs. If you’ve been a fan in the past, you’re going to feel that Um, Uh Oh is a large step in the  evolution of the band. If you haven’t, this is the record that’s going to change your mind.

As per usual at Neumos, it's a lineup full of bands you'll want to see from start to finish, so don't be late. We'll see you there!

{Tonight's show opens doors at 8p / all ages / $12. Photo by the mega talented Jenny Jiminez.}

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Three Imaginary Girls has got so much love for this show, it's coming out our ears.

Listen up: we've got tickets to give away to this Saturday's Columbia City Theater show, featuring Shenandoah Davis, Cataldo, Ivan & Alyosha, and Thousands. Although we won't take it personally if you don't want to enter the contest and want to just pick yourself up some tickets instead -- word has it that Shenandoah will be performing with a quartet and that the whole thing is a bash for the release of her new 7". And Cataldo features a few members of Hey Marseilles. And Ivan & Alyosha are downright adorbs.

At a ten dollar pricetag, we're pretty sure the place is going to fill up mighty fast. If the video above is any indication, from about two years ago now -- Shenandoah is going to knock all of our kneesocks off.

Here's how to get in on the goodness, if you want to roll free-style:

Send an email in to tig {at} threeimaginarygirls dot com with the subject line "ShenandoahSaves!" by noon on Friday, December 3rd. We'll pick a winner and get you added to the guest list lickety-split. Don't forget -- this is a 21+ show, so please enter accordingly.

Good luck!

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It's another lace-your-sneakers up kind of Friday here in Seattle -- so go get those kicks out of the back of your closet and get ready to hit the town.

Kurt B. Reighley's reading / booksigning at Elliott Bay Bookstore

Prefunk your Friday night right with a stop at Elliott Bay Bookstore in Capitol Hill around 7p. That's where you'll find our good pal Kurt Reighley (who you may also know as DJ El Toro from KEXP) reading selected sections from his new book, United States of Americana: Backyard Chickens, Burlesque Beauties, and Handmade Bitters: A Field Guide to the New American Roots Movement. Come early, get a good spot, and get your listen on -- and while you won't need an ID to get into this one, make sure you bring wallets along so you can pick up a copy.

Cataldo at the High Dive

We recently heard from Matt Bishop, lead singer / songsterer extraordinaire from the alt.orchestra-pop outfit Hey Marseilles, who recommended we take a moment out of our busy imaginary days to give the band Cataldo a listen -- and we're sure glad we did! Cataldo's sparse-but-loaded, sometimes twangy, always heartstring-yanking sound swept us right off our Mary Jane-wearin' feet. We can't wait to dig on the live show at the High Dive after Kurt's book party --  get there early to check out the warmups, as Red River and Drew Victor open.

If that doesn't suit your taste, mosey on over to check out Wheedle's Groove at Neumo's or "The Best of the New" at Columbia City Theater -- both are guaranteed to get your weekend started right. Wheedle's Groove will be taking the stage with DJs Mike Nipper and Marc Muller from the Emerald City Soul Club, putting on a night to remember as a fundraiser for Mother Maxine Hill. (Mother Maxine passed away recently, and funds are being raised to help cover the family's medical and funeral expenses.)

Out the other end of town, you can check out an awesome gig over at Columbia City Theater, where great new sounds from Lemolo, Kimo Muraki, Luke Stevens, Kirsten & Travis, Bryan John Appleby, and Youth Rescue Mission will be bringing the bliss -- for free. That's a lot of band for no bucks!

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Besides being extremely talented in the catchy orchestra pop department, Hey Marseilles is also generous! The band has offered a pair of tickets to the April 30th Crocodile show to one lucky imaginary reader.

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at Chop Suey

a showcase of rock from Calgary

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