Summer days in Seattle are magical. The days are (usually) warm without being too hot and so long you can fit in relaxing in the rays, getting your artsy fix, and rocking out before the sun goes down.
This Saturday, July 16th, I've a packed itinerary to accomplish all this. As you already know, I'm heading to White Center for the opening night of inspirational posters, graphic collages, and beards (likely with stop by SolarFest in Shoreline earlier in the day).
Once I've filled my arms with artwork, I'll head to the Comet to see one of my favorite Seattle singer-songwriters, Your Favorite Book. Doors are at 4pm and the music starts at 4:30pm with two Unsmashable Records bands, each with a foot firmly in the PNW Americana scene: South Sound Bureau Chiefs opening and Glad Girls taking the middle slot.
Topping off the early evening is my beloved Your Favorite Book, set to take the stage with a bass player (at least on some of the songs) this time around. I've been hooked on YFB's "candid Weakerthans melodies, John Linnell-esque nasal vocals, and early Mountain Goats lo-fi acoustic guitar" since I found the 2007 release, Scotch Hog (have a listen) and seeing him/them live is always a treat.
This Saturday {1/23} is a big night for shows! But my wallet and adoration of these two fine folks will have me hitting a series of (FREE and all ages) in-store performances this Saturday night.
Saturday at 1p: Marathon DJ YETI 'Fire In My Bones' Gospel Fest at Wall of Sound in Capitol Hill
YETI mastermind and all around genius nice fella Mike McGonigal has spent the last few years compiling of rare, raw and otherworldly post-ww2 African-American gospel. The result is Fire In My Bones, a recently released 4 hour 3 CD gospel box set that has gotten rave reviews (from Pitchfork to Christianity Today).
DJ YETI will take to the decks at Wall of Sound (315 E. Pine St) from 1p-6p. The set will also be on sale for the duration of the DJ set for $23.98 (deal!)... and DJ YETI might even have a few extra goodies floating around as well.
Saturday at 9p: Your Favorite Book at Bop Street Records in Ballard
It's no surprise that with my adoration of all things Your Favorite Book I'm headed to this Saturday's (free and all ages) in-store performance of the one-man+guitar+barstool lo-fi folk project at Bop Street Records in Ballard (5219 Ballard Ave. NW).
The performance celebrates Seattle's Your Favorite Book freshly released sixth album, Thank You for the Homicide. The album is the next installment of the early Mountain Goats with a wee bit o Jeff Mangum honey. Currently my favorite track is "Hello Kitty" (listen/download) -- narrowly beating out "If the Sun Sets" which you can download from the YFB website.
The performance starts at 9pm at Bop Street in Ballard.
As I mentioned earlier this week, Saturday also plays host to the highly anticipated Seattle stop of Adam Franklin & Bolts Of Melody (Swervedriver) at the Comet and the Rock Opera-ness of We Wrote the Book on Connectors and Discs of Fury. There's no excuse to not get out and about!
Where are you headed this Saturday night?
{Bop Street Records photo: Hot Avocados Photography}
Latest comment by: ig viva: "I'll be next door at the aa bondy / fences set at the tractor on saturday night -- you should come by when you're done!"
It's the weekend before Christmas which means holiday party season has kicked into high gear. This weekend there are so many shows to choose from {it's like a mistletoe'd SXSW or something} that my eggnog'd head is spinning. Might we suggest:
***Friday, December 18***
BOAT / The Exploding High Fives / Concours d'Elegance at the Sunset Tavern
A holiday party with BOAT? I'll take that! Also on the bill is The Exploding High Fives who have a song "Since You're Not Here for Christmas" on their myspace which is Ben Folds cute and catchy. This confirms I'll be in Ballard tonight for this show.
The Head & The Heart / Star Lake Drownings / Your Favorite Book at Conor Byrne
As you may know, Your Favorite Book is one of my favorite Seattle performers. Star Lake Drownings killed it at hour Holiday show last year. Also, YFB shows are rare, so I'm hoping to catch a wee bit of this show tonight.
Latest comment by: imaginary liz: "Yea - those show were also on my radar (if only Friday night could have been spread out over a week!). How was it? I really liked the Exploding High Fives (this was my first time seeing them) and BOAT, of course, killed it. They surprised us with Ron Hexagon ...
I'm particularly glad that someone documented the wee electrical fire, the evening's awesome performances, and how cute Santa John Roderick was.
Latest comment by: imaginary serotonein: "the coverage is great, but between declaring Brandi Carlile their artist of the year in their 2007 roundup & this month's cover story on slash fan fiction, there's no chance i'm renewing my subscription."
Narrowing down my favorites for this year was HARD! I’m sure I’ll find even more 2007 releases I adore in 2008... but here’s what has been in obsessively high rotation this year.
Note: I still battle with how I can rank EPs versus full albums, or collections of previously unreleased material… but using my current logrhythm, here’s what it came out to today...
Latest comment by: michael: "I combined both Los Campesinos! EPs that came out this year as counting as one album. Yeah, it's cheating a little but meh."
Join us at El Corazon TONIGHT for an evening chock full of holiday hilarity, performances by our favorite bands, Indie-Rock Santa John
Roderick with all proceeds from the evening going to TreehouseforKids.org (a local charity benefiting foster children).
Latest comment by: Jason: "Let me tell ya about one imaginary crush. Who (and honestly who) trips over a concert where one bumps into the loveliest gal in the room? Furthermore, who happens to bump into a girl who happens to be born on the exact same day? Oh. . .did I mention that day on ...
Poster: Seattle Show Posters
Latest comment by: Jesse: "Flotard, Rauhouse, Pickerel AND Herzog!!! This is truly an all star line up! I am so excited for this that I can barely stand it."
We are so excited for this Thursday's Imaginary Holiday Party for so many reasons. We've been able to gather some of our favorite bands of the year AND do it all for a good cause. Sure, there's been some bumps, but that just gives us more reason to come out and join together to mark this special time of year and create a ruckus with friends... and get your picture with Indie-Rock Santa (as taken by our lovely imaginary photographer extraordinaire Laura Musselman).
It's official! Our BIG Thursday night show has been moved from the Crocodile (RIP) to El Corazon!
Latest comment by: La Empanada: "sweet! Still, kind of sad I never got to watch a show at the croc on the 21+ side while getting tipsy... aww... "
Just when we thought the Imaginary Showcase marking the holidays / my birthday couldn't get any more spectacular, we have just learned that John Roderick (The Long Winters, dapper man about town) is going to be our Indie Rock Santa at the show!
Latest comment by: Imaginary Kiku: "That sounds so fun! But why is it an "orphan xmas bash"?"
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