Three Imaginary Girls - The Vera Project

The best news of 2012 {so far}: Three Imaginary Girls presents Allo Darlin' at the Vera Project

imaginary liz — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:54:19 +0000

{Allo Darlin' photo by Steve Louie from the Imaginary Flickr Photo Pool - taken at their October, 2010 show at the Rendezvous}

It's barely 2012 and already we have news worthy of a shower of fireworks. Imaginary favorite Allo Darlin' are coming back to town!!!

Three Imaginary Girls is beyond excited to present their all-ages show at the Vera Project on Friday, May 11, 2012 as part of our big 10 year celebration (yes, can you believe it? TIG is turning 10!!!). Don't delay, tickets go on sale at 10am on Wednesday {1/4/12}!!!

Don't miss: two nights with the Cave Singers {12/1 & 12/2}

imaginary victoria — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:05:07 +0000

Pull up those bootstraps, kids, because The National isn't the only game in town that's got a double-decker lineup in Seattle this week. The Cave Singers are about to put on two nights of amazing sound-wall that'll knock you clear off your feet! Here's the deets:

Night One, also known as this coming Thursday, December 1st. The Cave Singers pack the one- in one-two by taking the stage for an all-ages night at the Vera Project {7:30p doors / $16 adv / buy tickets!}, with a stage-warming by none other than our pals The Young Evils -- who may very well be working on putting out one of our favorite local albums of 2012 as we breathe and type. It'll be a great room to catch both bands in with a music-focused, booze-free crowd.

If you're heading to the Neptune (or one of the other fine establishments in town) this Thursday, fret not: Night Two will be going down on Capitol Hill at Neumos on Friday, December 2nd. Sound-wise, it'll be a much darker-tinged night with openers The Builders and the Butchers taking the pre-Cave Singers stage spot, and also worth noting: this show is 21+. {8p doors / $18 adv / buy tickets!}

Recommended show: Let's get indie-popolicious at Vera with Brave Irene and Seapony {Saturday, 11/5}

imaginary liz — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:23:52 +0000

{Brave Irene photo by Caitlin Livingston}

This Saturday (November 5th), shining stars of the indie-twee dreamscape will gather at the Vera Project. Opening the night is generifus, an Olympia, WA outfit who's new album, I Don't Have To Worry, features Spencer Sult (who handles all primary duties) with Eli Moore, Karl Blau, members of LAKE and others helping out. As the names of the players suggests, the songs are arid, carefree with moments of both easy-listening joy and innocent melancholy. Best of all, you can easily become obsessed with them thanks to the generifus bandcamp page. Make sure to hear "Good Graces," which channels the whispy, aired meandering of Galaxy 500 that I love so.

Anchoring the show in the middle is Seattle's own crown jewel of Charmin-soft dreamy-pop, Seapony. Seapony songs are sweet and subtle while filling the air with nostalgic fuzz and reverb... and rumor has it Saturday night's set will feature new songs! If you still include the Softies in your nighttime prayers, you'll love Seapony.

Speaking of the beloved Softies, guess who's topping off the night!!! (+ even more exclamations implied).

Recommended Show: The Shondes at the Vera this Saturday {10/1}

Chris Estey — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:13:39 +0000

The Shondes are a quartet of femme-led firebrands who mix personally passionate and politically charged melodic punk with ragingly romantic vocals seasoned by klezmer verve and cosmopolitan bounce. Their urgent, explosive new album Searchlights will probably be available at their upcoming Seattle show at the Vera Project this Saturday, October 1st, as the band plays on a bill with Emily B Kingan, Emily Hart, and Aubrey Zoli. As always at the Vera, it's all ages, and eight bucks (seven with a club card), and guaranteed to be one of the most moving rock shows you'll probably see this season.

Recommended show: 14 Iced Bears and Seapony {album release} at Vera Tonight!

imaginary liz — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:09:07 +0000

I'll be honest: I had never heard of 14 Iced Bears until I fell in love with the Tullycraft song "Twee" and it's lyric "she grabbed her slumberland guitar case and her 14 iced bears ring" and I realized that "The Balloon Song" on The Aislers Set's The Last Match is actually a 14 Iced Bears cover.

Over the course of their first seven years {1985-1992}, the British indie pop band racked up some notable lines on their CV (John Peel sessions and multiple releases on Sarah Records). They earned their place in the C86 scene with fuzzy melodies with slices of punk and darkness, mixing the Black Tambourine, Jesus & Mary Chain, and Big Star together in a pop-art blender. Later, in 2001, they made a brief return with the Slumberland Records release of a compilation of previously released material and live recordings.

With this history and after ten reclusive years, it makes their visit to Seattle's Vera Project TONIGHT {June 2, 2011} fairly spectacular.

Also notable, we finally get to celebrate Seapony's album release! It will be sweet to hear all the lo-fi-twee-indie-pop songs live in concert.

Imaginary Interview: Tomten talk about headlining the High Dive {4/28}, the Vera Project {5/13} & more

Chris Estey — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:02:26 +0000

For those out of the loop, Tomten is a Seattle band that enchanted the judges this year at the EMP Sound Off! finals. So much so, they aced the "Wild Card" vote and won. (OK, yeah, I was one of those smitten judges, hence the following interview.) They have a sweet nine song debut available at local record shops, and with a lot of shows coming up, you're going to be hearing a lot more of them. They're booked to headline the High Dive this week on Thursday, April 28, then the all-ages Vera on May 13. Both shows are more than worthy of your night-out dollar.

Also coming up is the beloved literary/music event Verse Chapter Verse, this time held at Chop Suey on Saturday, May 28 (7pm). This installment will be with cult science-fiction author China Mieville, who will be interviewed live by The Stranger. Paul Constant, a VCV promoter and fellow Stranger scribe, descibes Tomten as, "...a local up-and-coming rock and roll outfit that calls back to the Rolling Stones and the Zombies while moving forward with a jittery kind of gonzo energy. I think their organ-heavy music will mesh with Mieville's self-described weird fiction in fantastic, science fictional ways."

Below is our hot-fresh interview with singer/songwriter/guitarist/organ grinder Brian Noyeswatkins, initiated when I ran into him at the Elliott Bay Bookstore Cafe as he was planning to quit his job at Value Village and grabbing a coffee. He had a bad cold, but that didn't prevent us from lining up this exchange and bonding over Big Star and other sublime frequenices.

Allo Darlin announce North American tour {first stop: Seattle on 5/24!!!}

imaginary liz — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:15:34 +0000

Today will go down in history as the day my head exploded from late-May calendar excitement. First the amazing Sasquatch line-up was announced, and now, one my favorite bands ever of all everness just announced a North American tour with a Seattle date as their first stop!

I'm sure you, just like me, think about the first time we saw Allo Darlin visit Seattle back in October, 2010 on a weekly basis. Wasn't that show amazing? One of the best of the year? Aren't your friends {the ones who didn't buy tickets before it sold out} still sad they didn't get to see them? Yes, yes and YES!

Once tickets are available (I don't think they are for sale yet, plz correct me if I'm wrong), we all need to go get our tickets asap for the all-ages Allo Darlin show at the Vera Project on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. No word yet on who else will be on the bill, but you can be assured that it's going to be FANTASTIC!

For those that might be contemplating taking a couple weeks off in an effort to see as many shows as possible, here's their tour route:

Recommended for Friday: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at the Vera Project

imaginary keenan — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:39:43 +0000

It's been over a year since the sparkly/fuzzy/jangly imaginary favorite Pains of Being Pure at Heart came through town, and we're just as smitten with them as we were the first time we heard "This Love is Fucking Right".

If you jump over to Pitchfork today, you can check out the new POBPAH single "Heart in Your Heartbreak". As with their last amazing single "Say No to Love", they've dropped the fuzzier bits and moved things a bit more into a super clean classic power-pop meets Brat-pack-soundtrack. The new single will be out in a couple of weeks (hopefully they'll have copies at the show!) and rumor has it a new album will be out on Slumberland next March.

The show is all ages and starts at 7:30, and supporting are recent Slumberland signees Weekend (not to be confused with Seattle's Weekend who are equally impossible to google).

Two must-sees this weekend: First Aid Kit and Good Old War

imaginary victoria — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:58:44 +0000

What we've got going on in town tonight and tomorrow night is nothing short of a one-two punch, SXSW 2010 style. Two of the acts I liked enough to venture out and brave the endless lines for in Austin are both coming through town: Good Old War at El Corazon tonight, and First Aid Kit at the Vera Project tomorrow.

Both shows are guaranteed to raise a smile, both are all-ages, and both have such a wide appeal that you practically can't miss. First Aid Kit, my personal favorite of the two, showcases two talented singer-songwriter gals who sing sweet, contrasting harmonies full of smart lyrics -- think of them as older cousins of Smoosh, with a little more string-based hippie-parenting influence and a bit of a darker take on things.

Rad bands for a great cause: the NFTN 2010 lineup

imaginary victoria — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:48:45 +0000

{photo credit: the lovely Laura Musselman, courtesy of our imaginary flickr pool}

Now that we're all done with Sasquatch, it's time to set our sights on the next raddest lineup to hit the west coast: it's Noise for the Needy, 2010 edition. There's close to seventy-five bands and djs playing a baker's dozen of venues next weekend, when NFTN takes over every corner of Seattle from June 9th (Thursday) through the 13th (Sunday). Among the notables in big font this year are John Vanderslice, Visqueen, Horse Feathers, Delta Spirit, the Maldives, The Album Leaf, Animals at Night, The Portland Cello Project, and The Redwood Plan -- along with enough supporting acts to make your head spin. Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets, or you can just buy a la carte at each show / venue -- although there's some sweet all-access wristband deals being offered if you want to rock it like that.

Hey Marseilles celebrate vinyl release of debut with all ages show at Vera (5/21) and club show at Tractor (5/22)

Chris Estey — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:27:02 +0000

{Photo: Hot Avocados}

I am a latecomer to the mesmerizing travelogues and swirling epiphanies of Hey Marseilles' musical majesties. Wayfarers to the bone, lead singer and guitar player Matthew Bishop, along with players Nick Ward, Samuel Anderson, Philip Kobernik, Jacob Anderson, Patrick Bannon, and Colin Richey crafted their DIY release To Trunks & Travels out of accordions, violas, cellos, trumpets, "and so forth" before getting the hell out of Seattle and touring like they're no good for shore.

Now that Onto Entertainment will be giving the astonishingly assured Martin Feveyear mixed-and-mastered debut a rightful reissue in late June for the rest of the world, the band also unveils its vinyl version on Friday, May 21 for an all ages show at the Vera Project (with Sea Fever opening), and a regular booze-available following night at the Tractor (with The Head and the Heart opening).

Photo essay from last night's Dolorean show at Vera

imaginary dave — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:52:22 +0000

Last night, I found myself at the Vera Project to check out Dolorean. The show was awesome and had a good mix of EP and LP material.

Tonight's recommended show: Hey Marseilles at the Vera Project!

imaginary victoria — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:53:36 +0000

Whether you're debating what to do tonight, out of town on March 5th, not going to SXSW, or just need to get your indie.stringed.goodness fix -- you're in luck. Hey Marseilles will be headlining an all-ages show tonight at the Vera Project. Come on down and get your swoon on with Seattle's favorite seven-piece!

Photo of the day: Fruit Bats {at Vera tonight}

imaginary liz — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:39:01 +0000

Only a few more hours and the weekend will officially be upon us (that is, unless you started it last night... is so, my hat is off to you!).

There are so many good shows to thrust us to and fro. Tonight, the Fruit Bats will be at the Vera Project with Sonny Smith and Tu Fawning while another TIG recommended show, Drew Grow and the Pasters Wives will be at the Comet. And then there's Steve Earle at the Moore (zow!). Here's the full list of tonight's choices:

Nana Grizol. The Band Can Play a Show

bobby mchugh — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:07:09 +0000

19 Jan 2010

nanagrizjan10.jpg

Nana Grizol played The Vera Project on Tuesday, Jan. 19th along with Max Levine Ensemble, iji and A Million Years Ago. If you didn't already know about this show... see here, here, here, here, and here.

Nana Grizol

IJI

{Find more great photos backstrokn' in TIG's sparkly Indie-Pop flickr pool}

Tuesday's Nana Grizol show is going to {insert hyperbolic statement here like how it's going to be the most amazing thing ever}

imaginary liz — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:52:25 +0000

I am fairly certain that imaginary keenan and I have created an airtight case to get yourself to the Vera Project on Tuesday {1/19} to see Nana Grizol {exhibits one, two, three, four}, but here are a couple more reasons to get you and your posse there:

Win tickets to see Nana Grizol at the Vera Project January 19th, take 2!

three imaginary girls — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:09:19 +0000

{Nana Grizol photo by Jon Manning}

Update! Looks like we found another pair of tickets! Folks who've already entered are still eligible! Details after the jump!

There are some bands that we could go on for hours about how much we love. Athens, GA's Nana Grizol are no exception. I've personally taken to describing them as a combination of the Thermals and the Weakerthans with a horn section, but that barely even scratches the surface of their sometimes 8-infinity piece band awesomeness (complete with floppy hair-ed jumping up and down). Their songs are so heartwrenchingly beautiful and meaningful, complete with lyrics that make you rethink your entire attitude towards life (ex: "Cynicism isn't wisdom/it's just a lazy way to say that you've been burned" from their new album Ruth).

Our Culture Icons: The Thermals at the Vera Project

imaginary keenan — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:03:24 +0000

13 Dec 2009

thermaldec09H.jpg

While Seattle Thermals shows in the past few years have been an ever intensifying, sometimes dangerous, almost orgy-like melding of bodies dancing and screaming along in a completely packed and joyful room, Seattle once again proved its often icy disposition and the half empty crowd stood quietly tapping their feet and nodding along, occasionally mouthing along the lyrics with little emotion. Was it too cold outside to dance? Were people tired since it was Sunday? I guess it made me feel a bit nostalgic, as years ago, my friends and I used to be the only ones up front dancing our asses off at Thermals shows. The one clear benefit of this, was the ability to stand up front without fear of being crushed to death or accidentally punched in the eye. Still, I missed the chaos, and it looked like the band did as well.

Despite the lackluster crowd, the Thermals worked their butts off through an hour long set that included an even span of their four albums, and even featured four new songs from the aforementioned new Chris Walla produced album (the last of which I believe was called "I Don't Believe You" might be a new favorite, with it's sugary boy/girl vocal repetition, sounding almost like a pumped up Hutch and Kathy song). And while the old songs are always my favorite (I will never lose the flutter in my heart that happens every time they hit the opening chords of "No Culture Icons" that makes me start jumping up and down immediately and wildly), hearing The Thermals progress over time makes me proud to call them one of my favorite bands. And dear Thermals, please excuse Seattle's off kilter behavior. I swear it won't happen again.

{photos by bobby mchugh}

Everything Thermals: Catch the Thermals twice this weekend!

imaginary keenan — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:00:26 +0000

If you are a Thermals obsessive like many of us at TIG (check!), then you've probably been counting down to this weekend for months (like me). This weekend provides you with not one but two nights to see my favorite live band ever, The Thermals: Saturday night at Neumo's for KEXP's Yule Benefit (sold out, 21+ with the Cave Singers, the Builders and the Butchers, and Grand Hallway) and an all ages NOT SOLD OUT show at the Vera Project on Sunday (I'm pretty sure it's been at least since Fuckin' A just barely came out that they've played at Vera). I've often spouted on forever about how Thermals shows are better than therapy, and how it's impossible not to leave sweaty and bruised with a giant grin on your face. So pull out your deads roots and pull out your best suit and get ready to have fun. See you up front

Hey Marseilles, Fences swoon the pants off the Vera Project

imaginary victoria — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:55:14 +0000

21 Nov 2009

As stated, much was underfoot in town last Saturday night -- but if you didn't dodge the raindrops to make your way out to the Vera Project for this show, you missed quite the treat. For what seemed like hours, the boys from Fences and Hey Marseilles took the stage amidst constant cheers from the all-ages crowd and served up song after song of swoon-worthy delight. We were spending this particular imaginary Saturday on an all-access photo pass, and made good use of it from the first twangs of soundcheck to the very last encore:

Since missing this show likely has you kicking yourself, here's a couple of gigs to mark in your calendar for the next go-round: Fences will be doing a three-song slot at the GIVE compilation benefit show this Thursday (21+, $15) and hopefully we'll see them around town a bit before they head out for some West Coast tour dates in January. Hey Marseilles is on the annual Maldives holiday bill at Neumo's on the 18th (21+, $10) and embark on their own set of left-coast appearances, including a trot down to Portland for a show with Sallie Ford at the end of January. Both Fences and Hey Marseilles have up-to-date MySpace pages that you can keep an eye on for upcoming dates and appearances.

{And don't forget to drop in the imaginary flickr pool for more exclusive shots from this show!}