We spent some time swooning in the front row this past Saturday, as DeVotchKa hit those croon-tastic chords they're famous for from the stage of the Paramount. The part-Russian-funeral, part-carnival sound filled the room nicely, and we were even able to get a peek at Chris Nelson's photography exhibit {opening tomorrow} as we were on our way out.

You can see the whole set over in our ever-sparkly imaginary flickr pool -- where you can also contribute photos from shows and events you've been to recently.

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Sweeping anthematic tones, booming lungs, tuba solos, a carnival parade -- if you like your indie with some orchestral firings and the twinge of a vaguely Slavic wedding-slash-funeral party sound, then DeVotchKa is the band for you. Should some gross oversight have left albums like How It Ends and Una Volta out of your back catalogue, you'd do yourself a favor to stop, drop and roll on over to your record dealer of choice and pick them up immediately. However, since you're here in imaginaryland and all, it's a safe bet that (a) you know and love DVK as much as we do and (b) you're pretty much beside yourself that you've got a chance to be within spitting distance of Nick Urata when they band takes the stage at the Paramount next week.

And as if that fact itself wasn't enough to make you giddy, get this: we've got two tickets to give away! That's right, you and your +1 have got a shot to see DeVotchKa on us. Just send an email to tig {at} three imaginarygirls {dot} com with the subject line "QueenOfTheSurfaceStreets" by noon on Wednesday, March 2nd. We'll draw a lucky winner and notify you by email, and tickets will be waiting for you at the box office the night of the show. Like magic!

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Sweet songs from some of our fave artists!

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at The Showbox

A seemingly eclectic line-up rings in the new year just right for this imaginary girl.

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I had asked some music-related friends to send me their best of 2008 lists with the promise that I'd post them here. The first to send their list in is Becca Minkoff, the lovely and brilliant assistant marketing director and 3D webmaster for The Triple Door.

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at Capitol Hill Block Party 2008

here was nothing romantic about the Main Stage at this year's Capitol Hill Block Party. How could there be? Unless you fantasize about beer gardens, massive throngs of people and hot dogs with cream cheese, there's very little dramatic atmosphere for an outside stage. The Block Party is not for lovers.

That didn't stop DeVotchKa from wooing the audience Saturday night. In fact, their lush melodies and passionate crooning brought to mind gypsy tents instead of beer tents, and made perfect strangers turn to each other with a romantic glint in their eye.

Don't believe me? Okay, here's my evidence...

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It's not Public Enemy after all. It's DevotchKa.

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at Showbox Sodo

Seeing DeVotchKa live gave me a new respect for the vast array of unique instruments that fill the songs I have grown to love on the records.

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It's not every show that you see a horn this large...

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Including The Shins, Wu-Tang Clan, Panic! At The Disco, **Crowded House, Lupe Fiasco, Steve Earle, DeVotchKa, Devendra Banhart, and many more.

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