I first saw We Wrote The Book On Connectors' Ben Baier live playing with H Is For Hellgate, and if you've seen him too you know there's few people that can charm and move a crowd's collective heiny like this vocalist/bassist can. Because he can play superbly while friskily shambling about a stage or crooning with honeyed voice, always adding a non-sequitur or "Hooray!" just when a music-loving mob needs it, he was great with that progressive-rock/riot grrrl band. 

But his own We Wrote The Book On Connectors is where his sense of humor really spikes the song-punch and intoxicates hummable, head-rattling anthems like "Almost Magical" (the delirious hand-clapper the Young Fresh Fellows would be proud to call their own), "The Saddest Wrestling Man" (keyboard-driven WWF fetish They Might be Giants funk pop a roll), and the exquisitely power ballad "Balls In The Face."

These are all on 2008's Ride It Out Like A Turbo Horse, a necessary part of any Seattle music fan's collection, and whiskey-breathed rumor has it they have another fucking-a funny and frug-inspiring full-length coming up soon. More on this soon, because I'm eagerly waiting for it. (The first album also features an ode to their drummer, Rick, featured in the video above.)

Come out to see WWTBOC play Chop Suey this Saturday, July 3, for what is called the ALL AMERICAN COMEDY & MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA, also featuring Tina Beers & The Violet Line, eight bucks advance and ten at the door. The WWTBOC site also lists Afraid of Figs and "that this will be an early one." 

(Photo by human?)

I am in luck that both rip-roaring shows are in very close proximity to each other, so it's not the time-and-mind-squeeze it could have been. But this Saturday night, April 24, my favorite band-and-trivia driven contest/concert Grudge Rock is happening at the Crocodile about the same time as my new favorite Seattle band Wehrwolve is playing at the Rendezvous. I will make it through somehow, possibly killed by over-enjoyment imminent in Belltown that evening.

Here's the drill again on Grudge Rock: Two local bands go head to head on a Rock 'n' Roll family Feud, with all the questions being about MUSIC! A very Three Imaginary Girls kind of community spazz attack. One band will win all the prize money, and the other gets a set of steak knives, you bastards! (And coffee's for closers!) Just kidding, the LOSERS get consolation prizes. The important thing is that both bands play live, and that it's hosted by velvet voiced and sexy mutton-chopped Professor Jake Stratton, who unlike Richard Dawson doesn't try to kiss everyone but instead flies the flair like he does as BloodHag vocalist (RIP now, unfortunately), and Rat City Rollergirls announcer.

Which way are you headed this Saturday night? The imaginary calendar shows there are a bunch of options...

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The planets have aligned and have brought together the mightiest of Spelling Bees for a wonderful cause: to help fund the King and Snohomish County Regional Spelling Bee.

With the folding of the Seattle PI, so went the traditional funding for the Regional Spelling Bee. Now it's up to us, the former spelling nerds / current club goers and likely drinkers amongst us to put things back on track... to raise enough money so that lil Beatrice and Baxter can show off their Western Washington know it all "i before e" chops to the Scripps professionals! It is all going down at the Crocodile this Thursday 3/25.

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This weekend, some of Seattle's best music websites (and even better friends) are celebrating their birthdays and they've got your weekend booked with fantastic shows that showcase the talent and diversity of the Northwest. Back Beat Seattle is turning one on Friday and Ear Candy is celebrating it's birthday with what its founder, editor, chief, etc... Travis Hay calls "Ear Candy's Weekend of Awesome" and has shows Saturday and Sunday night at different clubs. Also quite thrilling: Dagmar and Amelia from Back Beat and Travis from Ear Candy have all written for TIG before starting their own flourishing websites.

Back Beat's show is Friday at the Blue Moon and it features Blood Red Dancers, THEESatisfaction and What What Now. It all goes down starting at 10pm and you'll need $5 and ID proving you're at or over 21 to get in the door.

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If you've ever seen We Wrote the Book on Connectors, you know that they can bring it complete with costumes and hilarity. This Saturday {1/23} at The Crocodile, they are not only bringing on the party, they are taking it up a notch with theatrics of OPERA proportions that they have promised with reach "Queen-level bombastics and fantastic period garb" levels with fellow Seattle band Discs of Fury.

I haven't heard a lick of what the song choices will be, but I'm certain it's going to be full of thematic spectacles and well worth the price of admission (and parking).

I personally can't wait until the Thermals to write a rock opera (they pretty much got there with their third album The Body, The Blood, The Machine, we just need someone to sew up the costumes)... what about you?

Who should be the next to stage a rock opera?

{Photo: Amelia Gydé}

Imaginary liz put together a podcast featuring some of her favorite songs of the moment. A bunch of these bands are playing a Seattle show in the coming weeks (mark your calendar!) and some have just been on repeat this summer. Enjoy!

Lacrosse - "I See A Brightness" from the album Bandages For The Heart
Coulter - "Give It A Chance" from the album Sent to Coventry
The Little Penguins - "The Blame" from the album Welcome to the Celebration
The Nightgowns - "Pppps" from the album Sing Something
Tiny Masters Of Today - "Pop Chart" from the album Skeletons
We Wrote The Book On Connectors - "Almost Magical" from the album Ride It Out Like A Turbo Horse
Shotty - "Not Today, After Work" from the album Ah Here We Go
Viva Voce - "Devotion" from the album Rose City
Capgun Coup - "Social Security Number" from the album brought to you by nebraskafish
Japandroids - "To Hell With Good Intentions" from the All Lies EP
The Very Most - "You're In Love With the Sun" from the Summer EP
Andrea Wittgens - "Punchline" from the album In The Skyline
17th Chapter - "Old Folks" fro the album Around The Bend And Then Some
Unbunny - "Dental Hygenist" from the album Uncertain Tracks, 1996-2008

On Friday night, three very imaginary bands are playing what is billed as "Sweet Dreams Prom 2009" at the Crocodile. It's headlined by We Wrote the Book on Connectors, a fun rock band that will write a song about you if you pay them $18. They're a riot live, which their set consists of playing a bunch of silly but catchy pop rock songs.

They explain about this night:

Every so often this town needs to dress up, grab a date, throw some salt on the dance floor and get down like it was high school all over again. Only this time your high school is the Crocodile, and your lunch tickets get you PBR.

We Wrote the Book on Connectors, M. Bison, and Tennis Pro are ready to serve you from the punchbowl of good times at this once in a lifetime event full of formal wear, music, hairstyles from yester-year, and the sexiest chaperones you’ll ever call “coach”.  Come on down to the Croc for a Prom that would make a wallflower pull down their pants and dance.

All these bands have been a staple of the Seattle music scene and are known for putting on incredibly enthusiastic and entertaining performances.  The music is catchy fun, and they’re not afraid to have a good time on stage. Each band will be playing a few nostalgic hits to share with you a big ‘ol good time and celebrate returning to the Crocodile.  So grab your gal, your guy, or your parents, join corsage covered hands on the pedestal of rock and smile for your prom photo (yes there will be prom photos).  No expense has been spared to blow out a Prom with all the fixin’s. This show promises to get you laid, even if we have to do it ourselves.

WE guarantees their $18 songwriting service, so I full expect them to stay with their word in their promise for this show.

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Ear Candy blog's celebration has such a great bill because each band is exponentially different from the one that preceded it and the one to follow.

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at Nectar

The whole band broke out into a march-step similar to what your high school band looked like on their first day of practice...

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I've gotten a slew of exciting emails about local bands using their powers of rock for good over the past couple of days, so here's the down-and-dirty update, from my inbox to your imagi-blog...

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