Karl Blau's live show is unassuming, sometimes off-putting to audience members who don't quite know what he's about, gorgeous, and altogether swoon-worthy.  It is no coincidence that Karl Blau has been a member of, and has performed with, some of my most favorite bands: Your Heart Breaks, D+, Mount Eerie, and Laura Veirs are just some that come to mind immediately. One of my first indie rock loves was the KRecs/Knw-Yr-Own Anacortes/OlyWa scene and its members/musicians, leading to my discovery of Clothes Yr I's soon after it was re-released on K Records in 2003. (The fourth track, "Thorns," is pure heart-tugging greatness.)

You can soak up some of the goodness first-hand on Friday, January 28th at the Sunset Tavern, where Karl Blau will be taking the stage at the Sunset Tavern along with the likes of the always-delightful Pica Beats and the dreamy, layered-vocal sounds of The Soft Hills. And we've got a pair of tickets to give away!

Send an email to tig {at} threeimaginarygirls.com by 3p on Thursday, January 27th to be entered to win two tickets to this great night of music. Please put "KarlBlauAteMyCat" in the subject line. In the body, tell us why you think (or know) the sky is blue. (Srsly, science is awesome!) Good luck!!

{21+ / 9p doors / $8. Photo courtesy of K Records.}

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{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.

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{press photo}

Reading press releases at work has it's downfall. If you read something really awesome, it's hard to not react too much or look too excited. Case in point when I found out about Maintenant, the premier release by (the mostly Canadian) Gigi - a "supergroup" of sorts, with songs written in the classic 60's Brill Building/Phil Spector style by Vancouver's Nick Krgvich (P:ano, No Kids) and vocals by Mirah, Zac Pennington of Parenthetical Girls, Rose Melberg, Karl Blau, and more. I am a huge sucker for 60's pop. Start that reverb soaked thump-thump-thump-clap beat with some crooning lovelorn vocals, and chances are, I'll be won over. These two early release songs are no exception. "No My Heart Will Go On" features a chorus of ladies, and "Strolling Past the Old Graveyard" features an extra melancholic Karl Blau at the helm. File this under release I'm ready to pee my pants over in 2010.

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2008 was an interesting musical, and personal, year for me. I listened to a lot of indie rock, electronica and went to a shit-ton of shows (one of which was the best I've ever seen, thanks Of Montreal).

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at Chop Suey

Watching him play is always slightly awkward, both for him and the audience, though this quality is part of the charm.

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Tonight Karl Blau Opens For Mt. Eerie At The Vera!

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Taking a spot learned from the TIG editors, I took Karl to Remedy Teas for a "welcome back!" interview, for your reading pleasure over at KEXP's blog.

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A run-down of some great shows we saw, and up-coming ones we think you shouldn't miss.

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