Three Imaginary Girls - Sourpatch

Keenan's Top 10 Songs of 2010 (with Videos)

imaginary keenan — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:05:26 +0000

It's hard to believe 2010 is already over (which is probably why this list is so late), as it was one of the biggest and craziest years of my lifetime. I quit working full time to start a business with my fiance, and, as some of you know, mid-way through last year I decided it was time to bid Seattle a temporary farewell, and by the end of the year, I was packed up and across the country, living small-town style in Athens, GA. I'm a life-long Seattleite, and will continue to think of myself that way, despite the distance, for at least the time being.

These songs of 2010 were the ones that counseled me through the tough decisions of leaving and provided respite in scream-alongs to remind me that everything was going to be OK. Some of these win brownie points for unbelievably adorable videos, and some of them the songs were just too great to not post something, so bear with the fake youtube videos that just have a photo and the album version of the song. Trust me, it's worth it.

1. Nana Grizol "Cynicism"

Athens Popfest roundup: 5 days of awesome

imaginary keenan — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:00:36 +0000

{a rare Popfest sight - an empty 40 Watt, by Rich Guiterrez}

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Athens Popfest is always the best week of the year for indie pop nerds, and this year was no exception. Think five days straight of raging shows, surrounded by so many old and new favorite bands and your "camp buddies" you only see once a year + 100 (or more) degree heat and southern humidity + cheap booze + insane nerdery. All I can really say is that it was epic, for so many reasons. Here are a few highlights.

Top five favorite bands:
1. Go Sailor
There was kind of no way that this wasn't going to be my favorite, as I'm a die hard Go Sailor fan, but their set was amplified by me and about 20 other die hard Go Sailor fans screaming along every word to every song. You just can't buy that kind of camaraderie and sense of community. At that moment, Go Sailor were our Beatles. We spent the whole set singing specific favorite lyrics to each other and jumping up and down and dancing our asses off. I consequently spent the rest of popfest without a voice. It was totally worth it. Their whole set was recorded and is on youtube, but here's my favorite song of the set "A Fine Day For Sailing". (That's us in the background.)

Imaginary Mixtape {August 2010}: Lost at the festival, where could they be?

imaginary liz — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:08:06 +0000

Lost at the festival, where could they be?
At any ole place where the wi-fi is free.

It's true, our favorite part of the summer is the avalanche of festival possibilities. There's little better in the world than dozens of your new favorite bands playing one after the other on a sunny day in an exotic locale. This edition of the Imaginary Mixtape we share tracks from some of the cutest bands playing the Athens Popfest {August 10-14 in Athens, GA} and take a consoling look back at the amazing Indietracks festival line up {takes place each year at the end of July in the UK - fingers crossed next year we can make the trip?}. But, we start off the podcast looking at some awesome August events in Seattle. Get ready to mark up your calendars!

You can listen to a stream or download the MP3 version of the podcast on the imaginary bandcamp page. Bandcamp prohibits tracks longer than 25 minutes {I think it's some regulation against jam bands?}, so the podcast is split into three sections for those that like to listen via the bandcamp stream.

PART 1: Preview of some Seattle shows and events in August

PART 2: Athens Popfest preview

PART 3: Looking back at the UK festival, Indietracks

If you are the type that likes to listen to podcasts in itunes, download the .m4a file here {one single file with fancy chapters even!} and then open it in your itunes {Thanks to Jigsaw Records for hosting it!}.

Tracklisting: Imaginary Mixtape - August 2010:

Athens Popfest 2010 lineup announced

imaginary keenan — Fri, 21 May 2010 09:42:08 +0000

Today is like Christmas morning for indie pop nerds. Today, I am giddy as hell because THE ATHENS POPFEST LINEUP HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED! I've compared Athens Popfest before to indie pop summer camp, but basically, it's the best week out of the year for anyone who loves indie pop. And this year, I think they've really done it with the lineup:

The Wedding Present, Mission of Burma, Apples In Stereo, Go Sailor, Circulatory System, Oh-OK (early Athens greatness), Joe Jack Talcum (Dead Milkmen), Nana Grizol, BOAT, Cars Can Be Blue, Poison Control Center, Gold-Bears, Dream Diary, Eux Autres, Afternoon Naps, World Atlas, Your Heart Breaks and more. Complete lineup after the jump. Commence freaking out and immediately buying plane tickets now. Check out complete band bios here.

Athens Popfest 2010 first lineup announcement!

imaginary keenan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:23:22 +0000

{Robert Schneider from the Apples In Stereo from Athens Popfest 2008}

We here at TIG have been crushing out over Athens Popfest for years. I've been every year since 2006 and Liz went in 2005 and 2007. It's pretty much always the best week of the year, fusing together amazing indie pop, delicious food (seriously, Athens has the best!), and wonderful community. I look forward to the lineup announcement all year long, and the wonderful popfest folks have given us just a taste of what's to come, featuring some of my current favorite bands and lots of TIG favorites (and as always, some newbies I'm so excited to hear)!

San Francisco Popfest: Day 3 {Saturday Afternoon}

imaginary keenan — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:39:02 +0000

23 May 2009

sanfranpopfest09.jpg

Welcome to Day 3! After the craziness of Friday night, hardcore attendees had two shows to make it to, one in the afternoon at San Francisco's oldest bar, House of Shields, and another evening show at the Rickshaw Stop. Here's our thoughts on the early show, featuring Sourpatch, Champagne Riot, and Gregory Webster!

SL: Although I was still recovering from late night at Annie's Social Club the night before, I was nevertheless looking forward to Saturday's afternoon show at the House of Shields. It's a 100 year old school bar with all wooden decor and Victorian fixtures. The "stage" where the bands play is upstairs. There's actually no real stage but a floor where it can hold maybe 50 or so people.

KD: After Friday night's karaoke ending (followed by a bit too much to drink), I woke up very early Friday to meet a friend, and found myself at the House of Shields with a lot of time to kill. Despite my best attempts to layer up, it was still freezing. Shortly after arriving to the venue, I was rescued by a group of young girls, who introduced themselves to me as the band Sourpatch (check them out on our podcast!). I'd been really looking forward to seeing them, and as they scooped me up and drove me around downtown San Francisco looking for parking, I knew I was going to love them. And I did. Their three girls/one boy sound reminded me quite a bit of Tiger Trap, with super fun, loud, and melodic songs, often with beautiful harmonies. It was sort of one of those moments that I couldn't even really dance like crazy. I just stood their in awe, knowing that I was witnessing one of my new favorite bands.

SL: Champagne Riot is a pop side project of one member of Northern Portrait (from Denmark). I didn't know that until I met the guy before his set. Northern Portrait was one of the few bands I was really looking forward to before coming to the fest.

KD: Imagine a slightly danish New Order-esque single man laptop band. I had wished there had been more of a dance party, but maybe people were still too hungover from Friday night. Either way, I still enjoyed it, and had to stop myself from buying his $15 7" with the most beautiful packaging I've ever seen (out now on Shelflife Records).

SL: The guy's got some great tracks and his vocals are good. It just felt a little artificial as it felt his laptop was the main performer.

KD: Closing out the afternoon show (where despite it being advertised, I saw very little indie pop dancing and scrabble) was Gregory Webster, the frontman of the Razorcuts and Sportique, playing solo acoustic. I really, really love the Razorcuts, but it just wasn't quite the same without all the distortion and feedback. Still, it was fun to hear some of those songs, and especially fun to watch my friend in his homemade Razorcuts shirt geek out.

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

We're so excited for this weekend's San Fran Popfest we had to podcast

imaginary liz — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:48:17 +0000

The San Francisco Popfest starts today (imaginary Keenan is already headed south to get there in time for tonight's shows)!!!

The 'fest runs though Sunday, May 24, 2009 and Keenan, amazing imaginary photographer Steve Louie and I will be running around the greater San Francisco area basking in all that fine fine indie-pop.

We're looking forward to most all the bands (ballboy ballboy ballboy), but we put together a podcast of some of the lesser known ones and ones with hit songs we've been listening to on repeat (ahem: Stay Flyin').

You should go listen to it now (and go subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes 'cause we have big plans to make this the summer of podcasts!).

Three Imaginary Girls San Francisco Popfest Podcast {May, 2009}

three imaginary girls — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:27:13 +0000

From Thursday, May 21 to Sunday, May 24, 2009, Three Imaginary Girls staffers Liz and Keenan will be running around the San Francisco partaking in all the fun of the San Francisco Popfest. This podcast showcases some of the bands they are most looking forward to seeing while there with

49:44 minutes (43.81 MB)

Three Imaginary Girls San Francisco Popfest Podcast {May, 2009}

three imaginary girls — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:27:11 +0000

From Thursday, May 21 to Sunday, May 24, 2009, Three Imaginary Girls staffers Liz and Keenan will be running around the San Francisco partaking in all the fun of the San Francisco Popfest.

This podcast showcases some of the bands they are most looking forward to seeing while there with

49:44 minutes (8 MB)