Three Imaginary Girls - Two Gallants

One night with Two Gallants

Imaginary Michael — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:40:07 +0000

27 Jun 2011

Man, Two Gallants are a force to be reckoned with. After releasing less than a handful of records on Saddle Creek and after taking a two year break, it seemed like Two Gallants gained, not lost, steam after their hiatus. We were lucky enough to have caught them on their summer tour with The Mumlers and with support by Broken Nobles at Neumos on Monday night.

It was strange -- yet still fitting -- to see Broken Nobles opening the show. Seemingly drawing from the same influences as Two Gallants, it was kind of like being transported back in time to see one of those classic rock bands that never made it. Equipped with long hair, open shirts, and aviator sunglasses, they took the stage and started with a guitar-vocal duet. I thought this was the highlight of their show as the rest of their set morphed into songs that KZOK wouldn’t even play... to clarify: by no means was it awful, I even found myself singing along to a song of theirs -- it was rather more of a sharp contrast point between them and what we were expecting from the mighty Two Gallants.

The Mumlers came up next and delivered a pleasant set. The Bay area group had a great sense of harmony, their palate was full with a tuba, saxophone, and a vibraphone;and it was downright cool to see these guys out on stage having a good time. Unlike Broken Nobles, The Mumlers delivered a new take on a more classic sound. I’d definitely recommend checking the two opening groups out if you are in the mood for a more vintage-esque band.

After a good deal of waiting (seriously, they were almost a ½ hour late), during which time I entertained myself by spotting local notables like Telekinesis’s Michael Benjamin Lerner in the crowd, Two Gallants took the stage. If you’ve never seen them before: Adam Stephens splits his guitar into two separate amps -- one taking care of the low end and one taking care of the high end in order to give more depth to the duo’s sound. Tyson Vogel’s drums were set up right next to Adam, and once everything was up and running they began to thrash harder than any plugged-in folk duo on earth.

I think that’s what made this show so special. After seeing these two low key classic sounding groups, Two Gallants were able to take a new spin on folk music. They played everything with the intensity of frat boys after three Four Lokos, like animals on the stage. Even after hard renditions of “Las Cruces Jail”, “Steady Rollin’”, “Despite What You’ve Been Told”, and “The Hand That Held Me Down” among others, the two were able to end the set with an extremely powerful acoustic performance sans drums of “Seems Like Home To Me." Their new songs were great too! Adam seemed a bit shy about their new ones and he timidly introduced them by saying “This is a new one. Applaud even if you don’t like it. We could use the encouragement.” But it seemed like everyone in the crowd dug the new ones just as much as the classics with sounds of “That didn’t suck!” ringing out from all corners of Neumos.

Overall, it was a great show -- hopefully these guys will be back soon. It was quite refreshing to see them back out there thrashing on folk tunes like only punk rockers could.

Recommended show + free tickets: Two Gallants at Neumos {6/27}

Imaginary Michael — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:07:46 +0000

Ah, yes: Two Gallants are once again one!

After spending the past two years musically adrift, this grand duo has reconciled and will tour throughout the Summer. (Yes, we capitalized that. Summer. Summer, Summer, Summer!) They'll be taking the stage at Neumos on Monday, June 27th with the Mumlers and Broken Nobles -- and we want to send you to the show! Keep scrolling for details...

imaginary liz's favorite songs from the last decade that are worthy of recognition

imaginary liz — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:20:15 +0000

{stylish photo by nancyo23}

I hope I'm not getting too granular with my listage, but given the empowering nature of turning the page on the decade, I can't help myself--I wanted to make sure that that certain song gems didn't go unrewarded for their brilliance.

Thusly, I compiled the below list of songs released in the last decade that are total A+++, but who's album didn't make it on my favs of the decade list... either because the song is from an EP or single; the album is good, but not as solid as the 75 albums that made my list; a bunch of other albums by the band/artists appeared on the list; or I just was bad with tabulating and this should have been on the list based on the strength of said song alone.

Please enjoy the below a recap of the top 10 songs from the last decade that amaze me beyond belief (and didn't make my favorite albums of the decade list). What amazing splashes of song brilliance rocked your 2000-2009? I bet between all of us we could make the most amazing quad-mix cd ever!

Noise for the Needy tonight... Adam Stephens of Two Gallants

imaginary liz — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:49:09 +0000

Tonight is the second night of this year's Noise for the Needy festival and tonight's trifecta of shows is a great assortment of Seattle bands with some out of towners thrown in for extra buzz.

I'm particularly excited to see the Sunset Tavern show with Adam Stephens and the Finite Plain headlining. Adam as you may or may not know is one half of the intense folk-rock-sters Two Gallants - a group that has never disappointed. I'm not sure what Adam's non-2G shows are like, but if this video (above) is an indication of the harmonica goodness we have in store tonight, it's going to rule.

If you're looking for something else tonight, here's a full list of the grand Noise for the Needy showcases tonight.

Bumbershoot 2008: Two Gallants

Chris Estey — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:05:49 +0000

1 Sep 2008

twogallants02-08sept.jpg

I missed the first couple of songs of Two Gallants' set at the KEXP Music Lounge, which started at 1:15 PM sharp in the dark and elegant venue during the third day of the Bumbershoot Festival. As a teaser for the upcoming 4:15 show for the general public on the Rockstar Energy Drink Stage, the bold, energetic folk-rock duo (Adam Stephens on vocals, guitar and Tyson Vogel on drums and occasional accompanying acoustic six string) didn't hold back a thing. By all accounts they gave the live in-studio KEXP fans a straight shot of their best, and simply did it all over again a mere few hours later.

Two Gallants have garnered a critical appreciation that has helped them transcend even the usual adoration of being a Saddle Creek band, and through four releases (three albums and a half) their frenzied drum-driven unique Americana has touched hearts outside of the usual indie and roots milieus. Blending crystalline relationship and political imagery with hooky, accessible songs amped by vocal tension and inspired percussion, their anthems and threnodies can feel both awesome and a little relentless in tone.

I admit to feeling a little wearied by the intensity of their early afternoon set until the slow-building, utterly captivating rendition of "Waves of Grain." With its images of "closets full of Bibles and guns," the American way of shooting its own wounded along with everyone else was made almost crippling-clear as Stephens and Vogel took its combination of "Masters of War" protest and "Desolation Row" description into the Faustian stratosphere. The standing ovation Two Gallants received afterwards did not feel forced, and neither did the depths of this, probably my favorite performance of Bumbershoot 2008.

The standing ovation Two Gallants received afterwards did not feel forced, and neither did the depths of this, probably my favorite performance of Bumbershoot 2008.

Flickr photo of the day: Two Gallants

imaginary dana — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:44:50 +0000

Two Gallants played a sold-out show at the Tractor as part of this weekend's Noise for the Needy festival.

Noise for the Needy announces shows with Matt & Kim, YACHT, No-Fi Soul Rebellion, Two Gallants, and Black Angels

imaginary dana — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:31:53 +0000

This JUST in: local non-profit Noise for the Needy has just pre-announced some great show dates for their forthcoming 2008 musical festival.

Two Gallants with Blitzen Trapper: photos!

imaginary chona — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:43:03 +0000

19 Sep 2007

twogallants07sep4.jpg

The night stared out slow. Three people-five people... six people... a slow trickle ensued through opening San Francisco act Songs for Moms. For any Terri Zwigoff fans out there, the lead vocalist did, in fact, bear a more than striking resemblance to the character Enid in Ghostworld. Plus points!!

By the time psychedelic-folk group Blitzen Trapper hit the stage, the house was starting to make some friends. Having briefly seen Blitzen Trapper at Sasquatch (in months previous) I had a general idea of what to expect, but their sound was five times sharper, smarter, and together than I ever remembered it. I was definitely impressed, as was the audience (which was surprisingly eclectic for this show).

Two Gallants (I learned I was pronouncing the name incorrectly after meriting several confused looks from security and other), took the stage around 10:30 PM. By then, the Crocodile was enjoying a full house of eager music fans. What struck me about the two-piece (Adam and Tyson) was how much sound they were able to create with just a few instruments (harmonica, percussion, guitar, vocals). Their music was entirely cohesive and never more in my life have I seen two people that just seem to get each other. I was blown away.

Tyson drums as if the very drum throne he sat on was on fire, while Adam supplements with his sometimes gentle, yet abrasively rough guitar riffs. Energy and total understanding as seen between these two musicians is incredibly rare, and I couldn’t help but take notice. Apparently, neither could the audience.

What struck me about the two piece (Adam and Tyson) was how much sound they were able to create with just a couple instruments (harmonica, percussion, guitar, vocals).

Two Gallants: Seems Like Home To Me

imaginary liz — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:14:16 +0000

The new Two Gallants EP, The Scenery of Farewell, is set to be released this summer on Saddle Creek. And to celebrate - we've got an MP3!

SXSW 2006 Rundown

three imaginary girls — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 08:00:00 +0000

15 Mar 2006

sxsw06mar1.jpg

South by Southwest, where have you been all my life? If I believed in an afterlife, this is what my idea of heaven would be: endless days and nights with no greater concerns than caffeine, alcohol, and indie rock. Except there would be fewer lines, and more cabs.

I can't believe a world where so many (really attractive and nice) people care about new and interesting music exists. What an amazing experience. I'm booking my hotel room and pass as soon as they announce the 2007 dates. Who's with me??

Please note that the photos were taken by us; we can't rule out intoxication, but we also can't rule out that we're just that unskilled with a camera. Oh! Except for the gorgeous Long Winters photo, provided by the amazing Gregory Perez.

Without further ado, read our SXSW 2006:

Top 10 of the Pops!

Honorable Mentions

Totally Overrated

Thank Yous

Top 10 of the Pops! (in alpha order):

Art Brut
I can't stress this enough. If Art Brut comes to your town, go! Whether you are familiar with them because of their placement on KEXP's playlist or you've yet to be introduced, you will love them within one song of their live performance. The cockney-heavy vocals a la The Streets and the hooky guitar jabs spotlight the clever lyrics that are ideal for constant quoting among your group of friends. Move over, quips like "You're so money you don't even know it" — we've now got things like, "This IS my singing voice" and "I've seen her naked... twice!" Thanks Art Brut. "Popular culture, no longer applies to me."

Band of Horses
Band of Horses featured slide guitars, emotive vocals, and nothing less than I expected from two former members of one of my favorite Seattle bands of all time, Carissa's Wierd. While CW expressed life's sadness to the level of morose, Band of Horses were more in the "tear in my beer" cathartic vein of indie-melancholy, and I'm sure will (or have) drawn comparisons to other twangier indie-rock luminaries like My Morning Jacket and Wilco. The fact that they were playing in a field outside Poke-e-Joe's BBQ only added to the Texas of it all.

Billy Bragg
I think I experienced the luckiest day of my life in Austin. How else could I have found myself at a picnic (with free booze and tacos), surrounded by an audience of about 50 people watching Billy Bragg as he played his entire first album in order? Crazy! As you'd expect, the man was armed with timeless songs and sharp banter that could inspire action from even the most humdrum of souls. In between songs he offered words of solace to our blue-state comforted selves. He encouraged us as he talked about how he felt pride when he saw how the outrage and compassionate minority is gaining strength in our nation. He jumpstarted my belief that music can bind people, give weight to ideas and, music industry be damned, fuel change. Take that Toby Keith.

Figurines
Brit bands are a dime a dozen. Bring on the Danes! I had the pleasure of seeing Danish indie-rock sensations Figurines at the Crocodile in Seattle just days before SXSW. Here's my theory on Figurines: you need to hear them three times. The first couple of listens, you think, "Wow, nice songs!" By the third listen, you realize that not only will Skeletons undoubtedly rank in your top 10 of the year, but that you also plan to name your as-yet unconceived children "Christian" — as half the band members are called Christian — even though you are a devout agnostic. Spend some quality time with the record, and you're hooked — or as the fellas sing, "It takes time to get it together for a long time." Figurines have it all: spot on guitar work, inspiring lyrics, rugged hooks, distinctive and appealing vocals... plus swagger, pout, sweet dispositions, and hipster good looks. Think Northwest edge meets Euro-charisma. Now imagine standing right up front, watching these likely superstars rock you on a true Texas dive bar floor. It's surely a 'tell-the-grandkids-about-it' sort of SXSW memory...

Galactic Heroes
I've loved the Galactic Heroes since the first time I heard the sweet jangle of "Coffee And Pastries" from their album Every Sidewalk. Their repertoire embodies all that is sweet and nice and queen bee. Their songs hopscotch through tales of love, friendship, baby blue Volvos, and gleeful happenstances without turning trite or phony. But, given that the two leading members live in different cities, seeing them perform these tales of joy together in lovey Seattle has felt like a pipe dream.

Thank goodness for a massive 1000+ band festival for bringing us together. Live, they broke new GH ground... mainly due to a sudden, unfortunate event that forced their drummer to miss the show. That, on top of the fact that the guys hadn't been able to practice together in quite a while, made for a certain air of... uncertainty. So what did they do? They rocked the house! They gave homemade shakers (made from plastic Easter eggs filled with rice) to the 25 audience members in the front so that we could provide a backing beat to the songs. Then, halfway through the set, Mike (who had just started learning the drums) took to the set and simultaneously sang and drummed. As you would expect, the songs were scaled down but the end result was a lo-fi Lucksmiths-esque set that left the audience grinning from ear to ear.

The Gossip
Playing at 1am on a stage in a parking lot, I was able to fully appreciate the force that *is* Gossip front-diva Beth Ditto. Against the evening chill after a hot Texas day, she channeled that old soul of hers to exorcise the traditions and skeletons of the South. This, with intense, archaic, bare bones rock foundation laid by her two fellow Gossip-ers (Brace Paine and Hannah Blilie), made for a set of hymns for hipsters. As Beth chimed lines like "I don't want the world, I just want what I deserve." I was reminded of all that is great about independent music. Whereas the masses accept songs from The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs as the end all of soul inspired, angular anthems, The Gossip are the real thing. Glory glory hallelujah!

The Long Winters
Long Winters' frontman John Roderick has the rare ability to win over the drunkest/surliest of audiences with the power of just one sideways pleasantry. In between eloquently espousing about the his excitement of sharing the bill with Smoosh and the underlying music industry presence at the festival, Roderick made the crowd sway to the LW songs old and new. Poles on each end of the spectrum were hit as we enjoyed old favorites ("Stupid," "Unsalted Butter"), newbies ("the commander thinks aloud" from the recent Ultimatum EP), and we got a sneak listen to songs from their upcoming release (to be released in July?). I was so relieved to not only hear the new songs, but find out that they are glorious! Countdown to the new Long Winters album begins... NOW!

The Magic Numbers
As my friend Barbara said to me during the show, the world can't be too bad a place when a band as amazing as The Magic Numbers headlines a major label showcase (Capitol Records) at SXSW. As talented as they are unlikely, this band of two sets of siblings charmed the audience with their extraordinary song writing, their incredible vocal harmonies, and more importantly, with their dazzling sense of joy expressed through music. They've been compared to the psychedelic Flaming Lips as well as the folksy 60's of the Mamas and the Papas; both comparisons are apt. More joyous than an afternoon spent with good friends and free Jack Daniels!

Margot and the Nuclear So-And-Sos/The Rakes
OK, I cheated to sneak an extra band into the Top 10 list. But you have to hear about them both, and both have new US releases on V2-affliated labels, so I thought it only fair to munge them. Margo and the Nuclear So-and-Sos — I agree, that name is tedious at best — were a complete surprise, a dense wall of delicious sounds emanating from no less than eight people onstage: two percussionists, trumpet, cello, two vocalists, and all the rock standards. Their debut release drops end of March, and the hype machine has aleady whirled into motion, so expect to know their name soon (even if you can't quite remember all of it). As for The Rakes, I saw them headline two showcases, at the UK show case at Flamingo and the V2 showcase at the Blind Pig. Equal parts updated Blur-pop and JCrew's autumn pullover collection, these savvy Brit rockers got the floor moving with their exuberant performances, and frontman Alan Donohoe has the best angular, nerdy dance moves since Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club

Okkervil River
Will Sheff just might be the most atypically sexy performer alive. As frontman for Okkervil River, he brought to each song so much passion and angst and emotion, rolling over expansive melodies and closed-eye mic grinds, it nearly felt like each member of the crowd had been intimate with him by the end of the {screaming, sweaty, yet all-too-short} set. Musically, the band spins a unique blend of folk earnestness and indie-rock pathos with poignant lyrics, and Sheff's inimitable gravelly voice, which can murmur or howl with equal ferocity. This just might be what igLiz sees when she watches Conor Oberst. I barely made it into this show at the end of the final night (thank you, Heather Hydra!), but it easier was one of the most memorable and electrifying shows of the weekend.

Honorable Mentions (in alpha order):

The Black Angels {Jim Morrison meets Perry Farrell, if you can believe that.}

Camera Obscura {Lovely and precious as I ever imagined.}

Conner {Great new signee to local label Sonic Boom Recordings}

The Cops {Why is it so fun to see hometown bands play in Texas? I dunno, but it is!}

Morningwood {Audicious and crazy and maybe all the free Jack Daniels didn't hurt either},

The Pale Pacific {If I didn't already know of the splendor that is the Pale Pacific, this would have been *that* sxsw showcase... wandering into an under-attended showcase midday, not knowing what to expect... and being blown away. Knowing the Pale Pacific in no way dimished my joy at their too-short-but-oh-so-sweet set.}

The Pretenders {yes, OMG *The* Pretenders!!}

Schoolyard Heroes {If I'd caught more than just the last song, I'm sure they'd have made the top 10}

Smoosh {I can't believe how much more assured and talented they have become. And Asy announced that their next release in June would be on Barsuk Records (!!). The label declined comment, but smiled broadly when asked.}

Something for Rockets {Especially when USE's Noah jumped onstage like a sprite and joyously bounced alongside them}

Stars of Track and Field {Dreamy and swirly despite technical issues}

Sukpatch {They've mastered the synth driven, guitar pedaled, lo-fi psychedelic vocals line up in the vein of bands that they predate (specifically Grandaddy and The Postal Service). The intimate show was like a mid-evening siesta. The swirling keyboards with soothing guitar waves and whispery vocals rejuvenated the saucy crowd.}

Tullycraft {The Tullycraft-ers certainly made Seattle proud as they debuted four new songs to knock the knee high socks off pony-tailed girls across the globe. With their signature guitar hooky, harmonizing vocals and nimble lyrics, the set spanned the spectrum from cute to crack-up. They made the audience feel like they were having the Spring Break that popfest dreams are made of as the band members joked about their rockstar moves and rewarded the best dancing audience members with t-shirts. Surely, their set was the sprinkles on the cupcake of my SXSW experience. Thanks to Dan Machold for the amazing photos.}

Two Gallants {Oh how I love the Two Gallants' way of mixing Bright Eyes and the White Stripes into an authentic / original / religious experience.}

Totally Overrated (in alpha order):

The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster {blew their wad on the first song}, Battle {dull, uninspiring}, Sound Team {so forgettable I couldn't even remember their name}, Two Gallants {I know I'm gonna catch shit for that one, but perhaps my expectations were too high?}.

Other than the bands I had to miss because of double booking, I don't have any regrets. With 1,000+ bands to choose from and limited time, if I suspected something wasn't going to knock me off my feet, I headed next door. There was always something stellar 10 feet away, even if it was just a bathroom with no line.

Thank Yous:

SXSW 2006 would not have been the same without love, support, and cocktails from the following amazing people: BreEllen and April {you RULE, ladies!!!}, Marc at 1 Percent Promotions, Gabe, Cameron, Justin, and Greg {thank you, Cingular!}, Lindsey at V2 {those wristbands ruled!}, Chris the cab driver, the free JANE photo booth, mimosas as the Driskill, DJ Phil and DJ Mike, Heather Hydra, Noah and the USE crew, Derby, Barbara, Scott P. {your list was life-saving, and your company, even better!}, Jason {happy birthday!} and Nabil, the Slender Means van ride, Tes, Jackie, Sarah Q., Paul Tao and the Aversion fellas {and the terrible Las Maritas service}, and the taco stand behind Emos {Seattle totally needs one of those!!}. Woot! Woot!!!

Thanks to everyone for the unbelievably good time. I'm still detoxing from the fun! Too much fun gives you a swollen tongue and a head cold, right?

Read about some of their fave performances from SXSW 2006, including Okkervil River, Art Brut, The Rakes, Billy Bragg, the Long Winters, Galactic Heroes, Figurines, The Gossip, the Magic Numbers, and more. Viva le Austin!

What The Toll Tells

imaginary jessica — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 08:00:00 +0000

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000E115H2/wwwthreeimagi-20

twogallants06mar.jpg

For Adam Stephens and Tyson Vogel of San Francisco's Two Gallants, touring is life. At least lately. This twosome seems forever on the road, sharing their distinctive music with rapidly growing audiences throughout the country. Their sophomore release What The Toll Tells is the stunning product of this relentless tour schedule. Crafted and honed on the road, these tracks capture Two Gallants like a lightning bug in a jam jar. Their ferocious onstage intensity spills into this record, imbuing each track with an ineffable quality that reverberates in your bones and fixes in your mind.

"Las Cruces Jail," a longtime favorite of mine, starts the record brilliantly. A marriage of Adam's fiercely raw vocals with crashing cymbals and a furiously picked guitar melody, this track builds like a carousel spinning slightly off its axis, tipping and whirling as it gains pace. Tyson's huge cymbals and crisp, sparing drums stand out without overwhelming the songs, the ideal partner for Adam's guitar. Close on the heels of "Las Cruces," "Steady Rollin'" swaggers wistfully through back room card games, dimly lit bars and well-worn pool tables strewn "from the Bowery to the Barbary Coast." On "Long Summer Day," Adam fashions a rollicking Old South tragedy, told from the perspective of a black Southerner denied the vote. As the sticky heat of the South seeps out of this track, the lyrics juxtapose the legacy of Jim Crow with the assertion that "it ain't life if it ain't free." Here and throughout, Adam's vocals sound as through he's wrenching the words from his throat. As he adopts different tones with each track - the quiet of a deathbed confession, the vibrance of whiskey-made mischief - he makes each word genuine, as only a gifted raconteur can.

In support of this latest release, Two Gallants are back on the road, appearing at SXSW before embarking on a lengthy tour of the US. While they don't yet have a Seattle show on their schedule, fear not, Gallants lovers - I have it on very good authority that they'll be back up this way in late spring. In the meantime, get yourself What The Toll Tells. It will tide you over (and then some).

A marriage of Adam's fiercely raw vocals with crashing cymbals and a furiously picked guitar melody, this track builds like a carousel spinning slightly off its axis, tipping and whirling as it gains pace.

Lagniappe: A Saddle Creek Benefit for Hurricane Katrina

Chris Estey — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 08:00:00 +0000

yes

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BJS8DQ/wwwthreeimagi-20

saddlecreekKatrina06jan.jpg

Lagniappe was born from the Omaha-based Saddle Creek label of artists witnessing the absolute horror resulting from the decimation of New Orleans last autumn, and how the terror affected people all over the Greater Gulf. Every penny paid for this thirteen song united effort goes to Red Cross relief funds. Charity is a beautiful thing, and in the case of the ontological and political implications of Katrina, nothing would seem a more appropriate cause for Saddle Creek, a label full of people who are distinctly at odds with a government that enabled the post-Hurricane devastation in New Orleans.

But don't think that I'm giving this such a high rating just because it's such a worthy cause. The album earned a '9' because it rocks. And it's not just the great shit-talking (literally, all the way through) anti-work rant of Cursive's opening. "Ten Percent to the Ten Percent" is a startling, viciously paced song in which Kasher's rage against a job with no meaning is splattered by a sublimely scatological temper tantrum ("Fuck you and your job, I'll shit where I want"). It is a wonderful litany of how daily stress and humiliation are shoving the workforce into venomous contention with the businesses that employ it ("I began stealing things"). It's a call to corporate slack-repentance that rivals label-mate and writing buddy Conor Oberst.

Speaking of whom, Bright Eyes' contribution here, "Napoleon's Hat," is probably the most vicious, existentially-riveting protest song recorded in the past few years. It hits zero to the bone like nothing less than Bob Dylan's "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" or Phil Ochs' "Here's To The State Of Mississippi." The terror in Oberst's voice is palpable as he floats lines like these above the abyss, "The barons of industry put inspiration on Hitler's tongue — the next century crashed hard with the sound of a starting gun — It's a race for more acquisition and making more things that glow — So I try to look rich and try and make it my whole look because poor people don't exist when times are good." The execution in all ways is striking, from lyrics to singing to the elegantly-restrained music beneath.

If it was just the money for charity and those two songs, this would be an essential purchase. With the glut of tribute, anthology, and charity-sponsoring collections out there (most of them mediocre at best), I still believe in the transcendent quality of a great compilation. Lagniappe does not disappoint much within its existence-frame of 45:52, with moments of bliss like Maria Taylor and Andy LeMaster's soulful and sanguine "Breathe" taking the edge off Kasher and Oberst's "Guernica"-esque mordant expressionism, The Faint's poseur-pounding "Hypnotized" confidently bitch-slapping recent contenders to their throne on the dance floor, Orenda Fink's haunting narrative acoustic take on "No Evolution" ("It was the year of the floor It was the hand of God — I know there's a cycle of death and birth but I won't lose you to this big black earth"), and the criminally-underrated Mayday's foreboding contemplation of theodicy "Footprints" all leading up to yet another deceptively poppy snarling good piss-take from the Good Life, "New Year's Retribution" ("I am just a whore").

In late September last year, artists and friends of Saddle Creek decided to create art out of necessity for others. After a week of brewing up beauty in their, "bedrooms, basements, kitchens, living rooms, and even a couple studios" they have given you a great reason to give some money to the Red Cross.

Bright Eyes' contribution here, "Napoleon's Hat," is probably the most vicious, existentially-riveting protest song recorded in the past few years.

The Imaginary Live Show Rundown

three imaginary girls — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 07:00:00 +0000

22 Sep 2005

Featuring stellastarr, Two Gallants, NW Film Forum Anniversary, Sameer Shukla, The Pharmacy and more.* {as of September 22, 2005}

Last Saturday's {September 17, 2005} stellastarr* show was a packed one at the ole Chop Suey. This is a good sign for our band from NYC, especially considering it was the same night as the KEXP "John in the Morning" showcase as well as the NME acclaimed Antony & the Johnsons; the stellastarr* show was packed with folks.

I am not sure who my fellow showgoers were, but the place was full with what felt like Bellevue-types in tight-black-shirted mall attire and Hot Topic Goths. I must admit that it makes me proud that their appeal has grown past the inner-circle hipsters that use the lines from "My Coco" as punchlines with their significant others. stellastarr* know how to write stylish and catchy songs, and it's nice to see that the masses are starting to take notice.

Sure the performance was tight, the fashions were tight and the rockstar banter was charming and, well, tight... but the most memorable piece of the evening was the out of control smoke machine. As you can see by the photos taken by our lovely imaginary boy photographer Brian, most could only see silhouettes of the band. Rumor has it that the men's room, which is about ten feet from the stage, fell victim to the machine as well and was filled with the dense fog by the set's halfway point.

Even though I'm not a fan of encores, I was happy to hear {since seeing through the fog was difficult at times} stellastarr* come back on stage and play my two favorite songs, "My Coco" and "Somewhere Across Forever". I'm pretty sure I wasn't alone {although I could have been — again with the fog}. The crowd went crazy as soon as they heard those first familiar, catchy riffs.

It is always ambitious for a band to tour in support of an album that is just a couple days old {Harmonies for the Haunted was released three days before this show}. Who knows, maybe next time they come to town, folks will be bursting at the seams for a piece of the HftH action.

Now, looking ahead, hold on to your bonnets, because on Friday {September 23, 2005} the Two Gallants are back in town. They are part of the spectacular Portastatic / The Rosebuds / Holy Ghost Revival show at the Crocodile. The Two Gallants exude cool in each of their heartbroken bluesy folk lullabies. They have the souls of seniors and the stamina of freshmen. Their recent signing to Saddle Creek Records came as no surprise since their part Bright Eyes, part White Stripes sound has been known to incapacitate mortals.

Then, you may not know this, but I am a picky film buff... which means that when I find a film that makes me want to learn quotes from it, it is something spectacular. Next Monday, September 26th {at 9:15p} the Northwest Film Forum is showing one of my favorite films of all time as part of their 10th Anniversary celebration. Ladies and Gentlemen the Fabulous Stains is a brilliant film and a "rarely seen music industry satire following angst-ridden Corinne 'Third Degree' Burns (a 15-year-old Diane Lane) and her riot girl band's rise to fame." It is a cult classic that also stars Fee Waybill {The Tubes}, Steve Jones and Paul Cook {Sex Pistols}, and Paul Simonon {The Clash}.

This Tuesday, September 27th, local singer-songwriter Sameer Shukla will be having his CD release show There's Only One Side Tonight at the Crocodile with Chris Staples and Matthew Shaw. The album was produced by Shane Tutmarc of Dolour and clearly was influenced by Shane's Pet Sounds influenced pop, but Sameer is a talented song-writer in his own right. Sameer's breezy pop stylings are spot on, his voice is clear and earnest yet has just enough of an edge to hold your interest, and he combines wise lyrics with hooks galore.

I have picked other two favorite shows for the week, and of course they fall on the same day: September 28. So I can tell you about both shows, but you will likely have to select one {like an indie-rock Sophie's Choice}.

First off, I'm sure you've all h eard about ::W:I:R:E:: by now, a Wednesday night extravaganza at the Baltic Room that features great DJ and dancing, paired with one up-and-coming (and generally Brit-pop flavoured) band of the moment.

This Wednesday you can catch The Pharmacy, brazen pop-infused punk with just enough attitude to keep the hipsters happy. They pretty much blew our stripey knee socks right off. And check it out — their CD will be released on my new favorite local record label {um, based on name alone at this point}: Don't Stop Believin' Records.

Damnit, I wish I had thought of that name myself...

That Pharmacy album, B.F.F., has been in high rotation in my cd player for weeks. Their songs are full of energy with A.D.D. punk sensibilities fueled by Kane Hodder adrenalin. I doubt they'll be contained by the wee Baltic Room stage.

And then, for those of you up for an ambitious night on the town, you might want to scoot down Pine and down 2nd (oh wait, you can't go down 2nd... go down 3rd, swing around Crack Park looking for parking, and then go...) to the Crocodile for a sweet ass local lineup featuring The Joggers, The Planet The, and The Preons.

If you are looking for a way to help a fellow Seattle music fanatic, on Thursday, September 29th, travel a couple minutes south to Jules Maes Saloon in Georgetown for a benefit to help John Nelson with his medical bills. John is a radio DJ at KMTT (The Mountain), Metro Traffic Reporter, all around local music lover and has been in the hospital since late July. Your $15 suggested donation gets you a front row seat to an auction, free food and performances by The Dusty 45s, M-Set, Two Buck Chuck, The Waterbabies, Jerry & The Phillbillys, Twink the Wonder Kid, and Shane Cobane as Elvis.

I won't forget you, Coco.

stellastarrHS05sept.jpg

I am not sure who my fellow showgoers were, but the place was full with what felt like Bellevue-types in tight-black-shirted mall attire and Hot Topic Goths...

Imaginary Interview: Two Gallants

imaginary jessica — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 08:00:00 +0000

Serendipity — "The faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident as well as the fact or an instance of such a discovery."

When I think of the Two Gallants, a vastly talented twosome from San Francisco, serendipity promptly surges to mind. My first encounter with the Gallants was in itself quite serendipitous. I wandered into Easy Street Records one September evening and happened upon an in-store performance that charmed me straightaway. Later that night, I left another show early to see if the Two Gallants could possibly match their early show. They did (and then some).

After chatting with Tyson and Adam on their December 2004 visit to Seattle, I discovered that serendipity has played a strong supporting role in the life of the Two Gallants. The band began in Tyson's basement, shortly after he bought his drum kit. "He was just learning to play drums," remarked Adam, "and I was into a bunch of traditional ballads and blues songs and stuff like that. We'd get together late at night with a box of wine and play, just having fun with it." Tyson saw playing music as "something that was a really good release, a good place for me to do some things with myself." As for playing music as a career, he readily admits that he "hadn't really planned it."

Adam reflected a bit on the evolution of the Two Gallants. "It wasn't like the regular pattern with a band where you start a band with members and you pick a name and then get a show. It was kind of the opposite. We got a show and then we had to get a name and then had to realize we were a band." From there, "it happened really fast. I don't know if we thought it was going to get serious." But it did. In 2004, Alive Records put out the Two Gallants' first LP The Throes and they've spent the better part of this past year bringing the happy and unexpected discovery of their music to showgoers across the country.

The Throes is nothing short of exquisite. Soulful, blues-driven songs unfurl dark folk narratives of tragedy, loss, and regret. Warm-toned guitar and a bright pleading harmonica overlay elastic-tight drums and spacious cymbals. Adam's vocals ache out over the tracks, alternating between raspy vigor and quiet tenderness. Tyson sings here and there, compounding the intensity at key moments. They litter their songs with tempo changes - an oom-pah waltz slides into a scrambling chorus and back, followed by a song that builds with haunting steadiness to a lament-ridden denouement. Taken together, the effect is both unsettling and entirely satisfying.

On stage, the Two Gallants surpass any expectations. Adam performs with an fervor that could blister the paint off the walls, spitting out lyrics like bitter-tasting fruit. His furious blues-inspired guitar picking and Adam's warm rolling drums fill the room with a despondent beauty and passionate rawness that eludes recording. Their live set easily wins over unsuspecting listeners who, ears scalded and faces glowing, stay for just one more song.

twogs05Feb.gif

When I think of the Two Gallants, a vastly talented twosome from San Francisco, serendipity promptly surges to mind.