In case you haven't seen it yet, here's this year's Sasquatch! poster -- and it's chock-ful-o' bands we can't wait to witness first-hand this year at the Gorge!! From top to bottom, we're the most over-the-moon about The Postal Service, The XX, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Built to Spill, Bloc Party, Andrew Bird, Tame Impala, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Father John Misty, The Tallest Man On Earth, Michael Kiwanuka, Shovels and Rope, The Barr Brothers, Menomena, Telekinesis, Elliott Brood, and Sean Nelson (natch). And while those mainstage acts are always killer, we really do love the smaller-font side of the party the most -- some of the best bands in years past have been on the two smaller stages at the top of the hill, and it looks like this year will be no exception.

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(photo: Angela Dawn)

We are all kinds of nostalgic here at imaginary headquarters as we mark our 10th anniversary and look back on all the amazing bands that have held firm spots in our hearts (and on mix tapes) over the last 10 years.

One band that supplied many nights of fun in our early days (specifically between 2001-2006) is Love Hotel.  Their song, "Ahoy Supercool" was played on a repeat loop for some time and their shows were always a lot of fun.  How could they not be? Love Hotel is made up of four of Seattle's finest who have also flexed their muscles as members of Harvey Danger, The Typing Explosion, Voyager One, and Severna Park.  Members Sarah Paul Ocampo, Aaron Huffman, Mark Dibeh, and Bo Gilliland are so comfortable on stage, playing their sexy-smart pop songs that blend Rilo Kiley with early Liz Phair {and you can listen and download Love Hotel on bandcamp for free!}.

(side note: Can we start a petition to bring Typing Explosion back?!?!?)

And we feel like the luckiest imaginaries in the world, because Love Hotel have decided to get back together, for just one night, at Barboza this Saturday, June 23, 2012!  Also on the bill is a set of equally illustrious openers: Sean Nelson & Shenandoah Davis, and Tomo Nakayama (Grand Hallway).

More than just a night of looking back, this show will remind us all why the Seattle music community is second to none, as a room filled with friendly folks gets to be a part of the fun as buddies take the stage to share their superb pop songs in a cozy room.  Also reminding us, it doesn't have to be a big show to be grand and special nights like this should not be missed.

Man, are we lucky! Our friend Nate Watters piled on to the already-bursting set of photos from our Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Party {from the de-lovely Laura Musselman}, giving us oodles more to ogle at. Not only did he contribute to a set of shots over at the City Arts Blog, he also tossed a few pics in our flickr pool -- so go poke around and have a peek at all the awesome! More views of Sean Nelson, Jenny Jiminez, Cristina Bautista, Cody Hurd, Lesli Wood, and so many of our friends and fellow fans are just waiting for your eyeballs. Here's a taste:

Jenny Jiminez and Anna Banana slaying the stage!

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We can't thank you enough for helping us celebrate our 10th Anniversary in Rockstar New Wave Karaoke style last Friday {June 1, 2012} at Chop Suey!!! The evening was so much fun and having you all there really made it all super special.  There were so many amazing moments, some that we can't even believe actually happened!  If we weren't already in love with every one of the performers that took the stage, we are certainly over the moon with them now.

There were so many amazing performances it's impossible to list all the amazing moments here... but here are just a couple off the top of our heads:

Ben Hooker re-writing Duran Duran's "Girls on Film" to "Three Imaginary Girls On-Line."  We still don't know how he did it and really wish it was caught "on film." We are still blushing from the honor of having a Ben Hooker-penned song about us!

Patrick from Your Favorite Book singing "99 Luft Balloons" IN GERMAN!  We're not sure if you noticed, but the words on the karaoke monitor were in English, which means Patrick actually memorized the German version. From seeing YFB shows in the past, we knew he was going to go all the way.  But, blow up red balloons and fill the crowd with them as he broke out into song? While singing in German?

Jenny Jimenez capturing all that is "She Bop" by Cyndi Lauper. The face paint, the outfit, the dance moves, AND a spot on rendition of this classic Cyndi tune.  It was a big undertaking and Jenny nailed it!

Sean Nelson singing "Peace, Love, and Understanding."  Sean not only covered the Elvis Costello song beautifully, he got so into the moment that he left the stage with a hole ripped in the knee of his pants and a bloody knee! We admire his new wave devotion!

Jenny and Chris of Tullycraft's version of "Come On Eileen."  The overalls, the dance moves pulled directly from a Dexy's Midnight Runners video and the over-the-top vocals. Thank goodness it was captured on video (posted below)!

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Attention "Rainbow Connection" and Sean Nelson fans! There is a Paul Williams double shot of awesomeness happening this Friday {5/25}.

In honor of the documentary Paul Williams is Still Alive, playing at SIFF, Sean Nelson has set up a night of singing Mr. Williams’ songs—with Shenandoah Davis on the piano—at The Sorrento Hotel Fireside Room. Trust us: YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS.

First off, the movie looks hilariously amazing! Second, Sean singing in an intimate, cozy venue is an experience not to be missed (coincidentally, Sean himself is also hilariously amazing). Third: If you buy a ticket to the film, you can get in FREE to the show by bringing your ticket stub with you! So, you can buy a ticket for $11 ($9 SIFF Members) and get into the movie AND Sean’s show. Sweet!

FOURTH: We have a pair of tickets to giveaway to the 5/25 screening! Let us send you to both the movie and the show. Write us a love letter (short poems also accepted) and email it to tig {at} threeimaginarygirls {dot} com with the subject line "Phantom of the Paradise". This is super-short giveaway, so we'll pick a winner early on Thursday AM. Send ‘em now, people!

FIFTH: Paul Williams is scheduled to be in Seattle to attend the documentary screenings, which means he could possibly show up at Sean’s show! Can you imagine how rad that would be? I am imagining it right now!

{Sean Nelson Sings the Songs of Paul Williams | Friday, 5/25, 9:30pm | Sorrento Hotel Fireside Room | $10, or free with SIFF pass/ticket stub to Paul Williams Still Alive. The movie screens at SIFF May 25, 6:30pm at the Egyptian, and again May 26, 1pm at SIFF Cinema Uptown}

{photo: Victoria VanBruinisse}

Even though Sean Nelson has been a fixture at many of our imaginary events, we still jumped up and down with excited glee and surprise when he agreed to be part of our Rockstar New Wave Karaoke night on Friday, June 1 at Chop Suey.

It shouldn't be a surprise that he can fearlessly take the karaoke mic and grace us with a favorite new wave hit.  He pretty much aces each theatrical and musical endeavor he takes on.  You've seen him on stage and screen showing off his acting and directing skills, read his quotable works in print, and marveled at his talents in Harvey Danger and the Long Winters (just to name a few of his many musical projects). He's so rock and roll that his new band Sounds Major is playing Barboza the night before (with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground on May 31st), and yet he still agreed to help us out and take the stage to celebrate our 10th anniversary.

We can't tell you *which* song he's going to do, but we can predict that it will knock your socks off.  Because, well, it's Sean Nelson... singing a new wave hit... celebrating our 10th anniversary.  And that is rad.

Here's a sample of Sean Nelson awesomeness, when he covered the Magnetic Fields at our 69 Love Songs cover night back in 2006:

As you may have heard, 2012 marks Three Imaginary Girls' 10th anniversary of being Seattle's sparkly indie-pop press and we can't think of a more imaginary way to celebrate than with a big bash with some of our favorite rockstars and YOU!

On Friday, June 1st at Chop Suey, we're going to host the biggest TIG birthday party of all imaginary time with some of Seattle's most stellar rockstars taking the karaoke mic to sing in the key of new wave, including:

Sean Nelson
Lesli Wood
Megan Seling
Jenny Jimenez
Shane Tutmarc
Alicia Amiri
Cristina Bautista
Anna Banana Lange
Jenny George

and members of:
Visqueen
The Young Evils
Exohxo
Tullycraft
Math & Physics Club
Tennis Pro
Mal de Mer
Black Nite Crash
Kithkin
The Mangles
Your Favorite Book
Noddy
We Wrote the Book on Connectors

It can't get any more astonishing, right?  Well, the rockstars aren't the only ones taking the mic, we want YOU to sing too! Throughout the night, audience members can volunteer to take the Chop Suey stage by storm to karaoke their favorite new wave hit.  Folks will be chosen first come, first served, so get there and turn in your song early (doors are at 8:30pm)!

To add to the birthday merriment, the evening is going to be hosted by imaginary Dana and Adrian LeFluer (of Iron Composer fame), who you might remember stealing the show as emcee at our 69 Love Songs cover night a few years back. 

Get your ticket to the night of new wave love and big imaginary fun now!

As an added bonus for those at the show,  you can be the first to pick up a copy of the Imaginary Zine! A printed old school zine recounting our first 10 years in stories and recounted memories from our imaginary friends. It will have a special screenprinted cover (thanks Seattle Show Posters / 112 Printworks!) and a cd chock full of rare, live, or exclusive songs by some of our favorite local artists, including The Long Winters, BOAT, Exohxo, The Femurs, Tullycraft and MORE!  It's limited to a hand-numbered print run of only 333, so you should make plans to pick up your copy at the show.

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Sure, you've got a lot on your dance card already this weekend -- date night, Mother's Day, Allo Darlin's show at the Vera -- but we'd like to take a moment to remind you about two shows full of amazing going on this Saturday and Sunday at the Moore Theater: on Saturday at 8pm, and on Sunday at 2pm, the Seattle Rock Orchestra will be performing songs from the Beatles catalog. And not just any songs, either -- we're talking the entirety of Rubber Soul and Revolver, back-to-back, with a little help from some friends around town. (See what we did there?)

Taking the stage with the SRO for this double-decker of Beatles goodness will be none other than John Roderick {The Long Winters}, Sean Nelson {Harvey Danger, Sounds Major}, Matt Bishop {Hey Marseilles}, and a peppering of local talent that you can learn more about at STG's event page here. Conveniently enough, it's also where you can get yourself (or you + your mom!) some tickets. Both performances are all ages and seats are $18.00.

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Done with your crafts? Ready to hit the town tonight? Us too! We thought we'd take a moment to hip you to a few things going on in our fair city, in case you're out and about with your sweetie, friends or bandmates:

Sean Nelson, Alex from Cumulus and Eric from Cataldo at Fremont Abbey {Facebook} {Brown Paper Tickets}
Matt Bishop, Tim from Ivan & Alyosha and Kaylee Cole at Columbia City Theater {Facebook} {Brown Paper Tickets}
Whether you're in the mood for love or in the mood for loathing, these artists will make your heart alternately soar and seize with their brilliant respective brands of wordsmithing. Take a ride out to the Fremont Abbey for a night with Sean Nelson, Alexandra Niedzialkowski {of Cumulus}, and Eric Anderson {of Cataldo}, along with poets, painters, wines and desserts -- or spend an evening at Columbia City's finest theater under the spell of Matt Bishop {of Hey Marseilles}, Tim Wilson {of Ivan & Alyosha}, and Kaylee Cole.

Love Equally: a marriage equality benefit and love song cover night at Chop Suey {info}
Chop Suey is going to be full to the seams with some great musicians tonight at their love song cover night / marriage equality benefit: stop by and catch songs from the likes of Ian Moore, The Juliettes, Ghosts I've Met, Vibragun, Kimo Muraki, Like Lightning, Jon Garcia, Dan Leary, The Horse You Rode In On, Kasey Anderson, Downpilot, and more. For a mere seven dollars, this might be the best bang for whatever bucks you have left over after that fancy dinner tonight on the hill!

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We are incredibly pleased to announce an addition to our (already uber-groovy) holiday party lineup!

Sean Nelson {Harvey Danger, The Long Winters} and Kyle O'Quin {Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground} along with Thomas Hunter and Aaron Benson {Kay Kay / Wild Orchid Children} -- who are currently performing under the working title of Temp Score -- will be taking the stage second-slot at our party, taking place on Friday, December 16th at Columbia City Theater. You may already be familiar with their new project, which made its Seattle debut during KEXP's Rekyavik Calling showcase at Neumos earlier this fall. We asked Sean to give us a little more on the band, for those who aren't yet familiar:

This will be our second show. It's piano + vocals + bass + drums. No guitars. Fairly up. Rather catchy. Very nimble, mid-'60s-esque, British-influenced piano pop in the Zombies/Kinks/Rubber Soul-era Paul mold, with a few droplets of solo Graham Nash, my usual tablespoon of Morrissey, and maybe a soupcan of pre-rock melodic influence. Mostly it's just pop songs about the usual rock subjects: girls, feelings, blame, regret, suicidal despair, milkshakes cold and long. It's a good band. Kyle is amazing.

The combination of me and him doing the writing, and those three guys (who play together ALL THE TIME) with my very different performance style, makes for a very exciting hybrid of stuff. We're hoping to make a record next month.

As if Heligoats isn't enough of a reason to get there early! Just a reminder: tickets available here, Facebook event page here.

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