Given my love of all things Pacific Northwest and Britpop, it's no surprise that I have a soft spot for The Dandy Warhols. The band expertly blends the brashness and hook-laden landscapes of their UK influences with Portlander moxie. I had forgotten how much I dig on them until I their 2010 retrospective of their Capitol years (1995-2007) crossed my path. It doesn't have all of my favorite Dandy's songs but that's to be expected when they only have 14 spaces for classic tracks.

This Friday, December 3, 2010, The Dandy Warhols will be at the Showbox Market in support of this celebration of their fine Capitol catalog with Blue Giant opening. It's going to be a spectacular scene listening to them cut through the lesser hook'd album tracks and hitting all points "Not If Your Were The Last Junkie On Earth," "We Used To Be Friends," "The Last High" and playing a new recording, "This is The Tide."

Would it be to much to ask that they encore with some tracks from their debut album Dandys Rule: OK {one of my favorite albums of all time} even though it was released on indie label Tim/Kerr {in their pre-Capitol days}? The band is devoting a Portland show to their first two albums where Peter, Zia and Courtney will join up with original Dandy's drummer Eric Hedford for a one-time only performance of select tracks from the first 2 Dandy Warhols albums. This gig will be at the soon-to-be out of business all ages club Satyricon, where the band got their start back in 1994.

Let's all hope for {and request} "TV Theme Song" from Dandys Rule: OK!

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{The Submarines}

Usually when we say “imaginary” around TIG, we mean stuff that we’re super-psyched for! And in this case, it’s true –but it’s also literal, as I won’t be at Bumbershoot this year. So imagine (ha) if you will, that I am going. Here’s what you’d see if you followed me around:

ALL THREE DAYS
Flatsock 27 (Festival Grounds)
No matter how many other things I see, I always make it a point to get over to the Flatstock poster show. Amazing artists, cool collector’s pieces, and the chance to hang something nice on your wall. Last year I saw these awesome prints by Jeff Kliensmith, and now they’re framed in our media room.

Patton Oswalt (Comedy Stage South)
My favorite French mouse, loveable United States of Tara sidekick, Dollhouse guest star, and generally hilarious guy is going be at Bumbershoot ALL weekend. Contrary to most stand-up I see, I always, always, always laugh at Oswalt’s riffs, and love that he’s a versatile character actor too. Check him out – but get in line EARLY, as he tends to attract huge crowds.

SATURDAY
The Submarines: 12:30pm (Broad Street Stage)
This adorable LA duo has become one of my favorite bands, so I’m crying a little that I can’t see them this weekend. Seriously – just take a listen. I’m betting you’ll love them too.

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Last year, the Dandy Warhols launched Beat The World Records and today they are using the independence of their own label to release mixes of 2003’s Welcome to the Monkey House, that Capitol Records, their label for 8 years, didn’t see fit for distribution. The Dandy Warhols ARE Sound is Welcome to the Monkey House as Russell Elavedo mixed it.

If the techno-infused mixes on Monkey House are psych rock on e, then ARE Sound’s songs are rock ‘n roll so stoned, they think it’s the 90’s. And in the 90’s, The Dandy Warhols were making 60’s infused psych/pop. In fact, Monkey House was a breaking point with the Dandy Warhols’ fan base for its hyper-produced, late 80’s synth rock edge. This is not to say the ARE Sound’s mixes are better than Monkey House tracks, but they are the band’s original intent.

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at South Lake Union Discovery Center

Thank god for my umbrella! Hipsters were floating past me on swift running rivulets. I noticed animals marching onto the SLUT two by two.

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Portland band Blitzen Trapper have just released about the coolest cover song I've heard in ages: Heart's "Crazy on You," replete with blings and bleeps and of course, some buttrock(ish) power chords.

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Best releases of 2003, in the opinions of the imaginary staff...

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Since the top five on this list all also appear on our Top 10 overall imaginary albums of the year list, we've added some Honorable Mention local bands!

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