Three Imaginary Girls - Reverb Festival 2007

Line Out posts a few words about REVERBfest

imaginary dana — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:24:04 +0000

I couldn't help but feeling like he served up the reviews with an extra smattering of vitriol because the bands played at a Weekly showcase.

REVERB 2007: Awesome

Eddie B — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:18:09 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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Where can you see a trumpet, an accordion, a bass, a banjo, a guitar, a sax, and many more instruments play together without being in the south? AWESOME!

I didn’t know anything about this band. As I was walking by I saw a cute guy in the crowd... so of course, that was my motivation to watching the show. And YES! What a show! Every person in this band had a well-tuned unique voice. Even the drummer had a little solo, where he imitated the old Ballard lady who wouldn’t sell her house and now has a huge construction zone by her house. I could rave about their musical knowledge for hours (well maybe not... but definitely a page or two). Finally. a rock band that understands major and minor chords, and uses them to their full potential. Can’t wait till their next show at the Vera. Truly an awesome show.

Finally. a rock band that understands major and minor chords, and uses them to their full potential.

REVERB 2007: No-Fi Soul Rebellion

Eddie B — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:21:22 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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Ahh! I don’t think any review can do justice in explaining how amazing and original the No-Fi Soul Rebellion set was. I should have suspected something interesting was going to happen when Mark mentioned they came from Bellingham and didn’t recognize his zip code when hollered by one of the fellow (Bellinghamian?). You know it’s going to be good if the performer doesn’t know where he’s from.

It’s all a little hazy. Before I knew it, I heard booty-popping (yeah… I popped it) beats playing and Mark was in the crowd, roaming around as Andrea (his wife) rocked out on a string-less guitar. I couldn’t keep up! As I tried manually focusing my camera Mark went from rocking the stage to rocking the WHOLE record store to literally telling everyone to follow him outside.

He was so awesome. I wont lie... I was a little jealous when he went around giving kisses (not just lady friends… also dudes), and he skipped me! I’m going to say it’s because I was holding up a camera.

From rocking the sidewalk to touching. himself on top of the counter to making us all lay down on the ground, No-Fi Soul Rebellion rocked us. You’ve got to check out at a show. You’ll leave with kisses and a giddy state of mind. If you see him, tell him I’m waiting.

(Andrea... just kidding! Unless you’re ok with it... Just kidding! But seriously...)

Oooooooh yeah!

Andrea is one lucky lady!!

Above the crowd at Sonic Boom...

Gary Gary from Partman Parthorse putting his belt on Mark, after he gave him a kiss...

Mark pulled someone out of the crowd, put a guitar on her and told her to play....

Insert your own caption here.

From rocking the sidewalk to touching. himself on top of the counter to making us all lay down on the ground, No-Fi Soul Rebellion rocked us.

REVERB 2007: PWRFL Power

Eddie B — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:19:08 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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Before I talk about the one-man Asian sensation known as PWRFL Power, I must mention the pre-show antics of comedian David Cope. Seattle Weekly had comedians from the People’s Republic of Komedy introducing artists all through REVERBfest. His set varied from jokes about his Hyundai Accent to a starring contest with Ben (some random guy with a kazoo). You can check out the People’s Republic of Komedy at Chop Suey on Wednesday nights, where they have a running show called Laff Hole. Do it, because he obviously needs money for a new car.

I unfortunately did not get a seat for the PWRFL Power show (since I felt like I had to down my coffee before entering Miro Tea). The small tea house was crammed with people of all-ages to see the show. Then, Kaz Nomura, a humble Asian man with a strong accent who performs under the moniker PWRFL Power, stepped up to mic and began to sing and play guitar.

I’m not sure what they slipped into Kaz's tea, but it sure made him perform well. He played an awesome set, where he sang about being yourself and falling in love with a boy. Can’t go wrong with that. Although he was very petite (can you use petite for men?), he was able to lug around his guitar like I did with my chop sticks later on that night at Thaiku, which was very tasty. He was entertaining to look at and listen to. I think I found my cup of tea. (Damn, I’m good!)

I’m not sure what they slipped into Kaz's tea, but it sure made him perform well.

REVERB 2007: The Animals at Night

imaginary dana — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:29:41 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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The Animals at Night was a surprise discovery to me at REVERB, when my pal Jenny George suggested a detour to the Tractor to hear "Graig Markel's new electronic project." So detour we did.

The band was indeed as she said, with Markel and co fiddling on a couple of Macs onstage, as well as MIDI keys and hybrid drums (a snare, kick drums, and high hat as well as electronic drum pads), and occasionally, lyrics. The Animals at Night certainly represents a departure from Markel's more rockin' music of the past, much in the same way that Head Like a Kite was a 180 for Sushirobo member Dave Einmo (who was also at the show), a comparison brought even more to mind because I've seen Markel join Head Like a Kite onstage in the past.

I've tried to do some research on the band's history and formation, and all I've found is this paragraph from the Seattle Weekly... but it seems descriptive and apt:

The Animals at Night, the project of Graig Markel and Jeffrey McCallum, create down-tempo electronica that cascades and shimmers as much as it pulsates and throbs. Wavering synth and organ provide the foundations for their songs, which they layer with beats that sometimes bump and sometimes jab. As the songs move along at the pace of a cool breeze, Markel and McCallum pepper them with samples of R&B, soul, funk, and 80s synth pop, the kind of stuff that sounds great whether you're at the clubs, or at home by yourself tripping on acid.

Yep, what they said. I've also heard mention of a record in the works (which will feature Seattle notables like Eric Corson of the Long Winters on bass and Nabil Ayers of the Long Winters on drums, among others), due out in March 2008. You can stay posted on the goings-on of the band on their website, or go see an Animals at Night DJ set at Hazelwood on October 26th.

And check out this video from the show to hear (and see) it for yourself!

It's certainly a departure from Markel's more rockin' music of the past, much in the same way that Head Like a Kite was a 180 for Sushirobo member Dave Einmo (who was also at the show).

REVERB 2007

imaginary dana — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:11:23 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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This year the Seattle Weekly astonished us all with an incredible late season music festival, REVERBfest.

The first-ever event of its kind was held October 6th at nine (yes, NINE) venues around downtown Ballard, and featured over 50 acts, all local, and all demonstrating, yet again, the staggering amount of talent we have right here in our own town.

Three Imaginary Girls had a small fleet of writers and photographers roaming the chilly, rowdy venues around Ballard, with loads of word and photos (and even a few videos!) to share with you all.

Be sure to tell us who YOUR favorite bands were at REVERB!!!

And huge congrats to the Weekly for pulling off such a smashing good time! Here's to next year...

Reviews of the bands we caught at REVERBfest 2007, including Fleet Foxes, Siberian, Troubletown, Ms. Led, Throw Me the Statue, Awesome!, PWRFL Power, No-Fi Soul Rebellion, and many more!

REVERB 2007: Siberian

Kyle Johnson — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:06:54 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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Siberian took the outdoor stage during one of this weekends first real chilly fall Seattle days. The crowd was ready to get warmed up and rock with Siberian after hearing one two many "You might be a hipster if" jokes from the pre-band Comedian?/MC. The guys were in great spirits and appreciated the crowd staying outside on such a cold afternoon. The set included favorites from their EP Hey Celestial! {review} as well as some material from the new full-length, With Me {review}.

My personal favorite was the upbeat, somewhat shoegaze sounding track "Belgian Beer and Catholic Girls" (I'm quite partial to both).

Anyone in the crowd couldn't help but notice the two older "Drunk Ballard Residents" rocking out in the front insisting on a Guitar Battle and begging for some Santana. Siberian proved to be the confident, polite, funny guys I know and offered a brief "shred off" between guitarists Finn and Colin. Carlos Santana would have been proud.

I'm sure we will be hearing much more about these guys in the near future. Keep an eye and an ear out as they will most likely not stay Seattle's little secret much longer.

More photos of Siberian from the show...

Read all REVERBfest 2007 coverage!

My personal favorite was the upbeat, somewhat shoegaze sounding track "Belgian Beer and Catholic Girls" (I'm quite partial to both).

REVERB 2007: Troubletown

Kyle Johnson — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:05:26 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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My first time seeing Troubletown was when she opened for Neal Burton/Fences at the Crocodile Cafe last month. Although I was friends with the two other bands, I had never seen nor heard of Troubletown. The result was one of those amazing live musical experiences where you instantly feel connected with an artist you never knew existed.

Jenna (or Troubletown, as she prefers to go by) played to a packed all-ages crowd at the Miro Tea room Saturday afternoon. Her voice has a quality I can't quite pin down or closely compare, yet it really captures an audiences complete attention. The crowd seemed slightly awestruck by her sweet, honest, acoustic songs and her lovely, awkward pre-song banter. My two favorites of the set were her songs "More" and "Paper Airplanes." Between songs she shared a hilarious story about losing her much needed cell-phone as well as her plans for the rest of the REVERB festival. She attracted several other notable REVERB artists to catch her set including Siberian, J Tillman, and Cameron Elliott of Battle Hymms.

Keep an eye for Jenna performing with Damien Jurado's band during his next live performance.

Troubletown was one of those amazing live musical experiences where you instantly feel connected with an artist you never knew existed.

REVERB 2007: Ms. Led

imaginary dana — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 05:59:14 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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The REVERB festival was a time to both discover new favorite local bands (like Throw Me the Statue and the Kindness Kind) as well as revisit old favorites, like power-punk four-piece Ms. Led. It had been a good year since I saw the band, and in that time they've released another kick-in-the-pants record of feminist fury, Shake Yourself Awake.

The show opened with some comedy sketch, as did most of the REVERB sets (note to the REVERB planners: comedians are a tough sell. I'd pass on the comedic openers next year). I did find myself laughing in spite of myself at these two fellas coming up with pro-pot taglines... with quips like "Pot: it's like heroin for pussies" and "Pot: beat video games, not your wife!" I know, I know... I'm still not sure what made me giggle, except maybe the awkwardness of it all.

Luckily, Lesli Wood and co took the stage and the giggles -- and the awkwardness -- were blown away by the sheer magnitude of sound and energy they blasted from the stage. The band's newer material has a renewed sense of urgency and intensity that reinforced the name of the latest release: they certainly shook all of us in the crowd awake. Sadly, I could only stay for the first three songs before heading to the Sunset to catch Fleet Foxes (ahh, the beauty of the multi-venue music festival)... but my trusty cameraman and I did manage to catch a video of the rockin' performance before we left.

Check out the video for "New Agenda" from the release Shake Yourself Awake...

Read all REVERBfest 2007 coverage!

The band's newer material has a renewed sense of urgency and intensity that reinforced the name of the latest release: they certainly shook all of us in the crowd awake.

REVERB 2007: The Knast

imaginary stella — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 05:55:48 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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One of my favorite aspects of REVERBfest was the newness of it all: a first-year festival, featuring loads of bands on the cusp. These factors, plus the sprinkles of rain falling on grey Ballard, made for a manageable crowd size, and I loved how the small crowds allowed us to peek in the doors of each participating venue just for a song or two.

The Knast were the first band of the night I caught, and they were a great start to kick off the evening. They’re a relatively young band with local roots: lead singer A.J. was the former front man of Stagger Lee. I’d listened to a few of their tracks on their MySpace page before the gig and knew I had to make my way toward the Lock & Keel to catch their early set.

The three-piece play straight-ahead, pop-hooked rock 'n roll -- perfect for the roguish Lock & Keel, which was populated by both music-hungry hipsters and salty sea dogs popping in for a pint. While we heard only a handful of songs, including a Clash cover (“Janie Jones”), my ears were intrigued by their Kinks-ish sound, and I look forward to seeing this band again at a headlining set in the near future.

Read all REVERBfest 2007 coverage!

The three-piece play straight-ahead, pop-hooked rock 'n roll -- perfect for the roguish Lock & Keel, which was populated by both music-hungry hipsters and salty sea dogs popping in for a pint.

REVERB 2007: Central Services

imaginary dana — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 05:46:12 +0000

5 Oct 2007

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Central Services played an all-ages Sonic Boom in-store about halfway through the REVERB festival, so my fella and I went down to peruse some vinyl and hear the band, who I haven't seen in... well, I can't recall when the last (non-soft-rock cover night) show was. So, it was time.

And what a pleasant surprise! With the addition of Seattle-based solo artist Andrea Wittgens on keys and backing vocals, the band sounded more melodic, more charming, and more... somehow, complete, than I've ever heard them sound before.

To me, Central Services has long felt like they've been living in the shadow of local indie-pop band Math & Physics Club (the two bands have shared members, notably MAPC drummer Kevin Emerson, who drums and sings for Central Services). Perhaps it's because I knew and loved MAPC first. They've also held a special place in my heart as the finest players of 70s soft rock and Yacht Rock I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing (and I mean that without the teensiest smidge of irony).

Tonight's performance proved the band has a vibrant sound of its own. While the addition of Wittgens on female backing vocals did evoke a sense of Belle and Sebastian, Central Services' sound is less precious and fey than B&S (or MAPC, for that matter), at times reminscent of the mid-tempo melodies of the 70s soft rock classics they can emulate so well. At one point, after a particularly ripping (in an indie-pop way) guitar solo, Emerson quipped, "We searched on wikipedia to see if Thin Lizzy guitar solos were still allowed in this day and age." I'm not sure how many of the band's all-ages fans got the reference, but I chuckled nonetheless.

Overall, the set was a delight. Here's the setlist, for the superfans (and you know who you are, up in the front, hugging and dancing along):

Tear Me Down
She Was My Ride
Fun While It Lasted
Can't Let Go
New Coastline
Over and Over
Hey Hey
Move On
Song 89
Get to You

And hey, we did find some awesome vinyl....

Read all REVERBfest 2007 coverage!

With the addition of Seattle-based solo artist Andrea Wittgens on keys and backing vocals, the band sounded more melodic, more charming, and more... somehow, complete, than I've ever heard them sound before.

REVERB 2007: The Whore Moans

imaginary dana — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:01:18 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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Imaginary photographer Eduardo Brambila can be a man of few words... but man, what words he selects! When I was tragically too late to REVERB to catch Seattle band the Whore Moans play the Outdoor Stage (c'mon, they went on at 3p! That's tricky!), I asked if he could share his thoughts on the Whore Moans. His reply?

"The Whore Moans were a pleasant start for my Reverb festivities. Although the bassist lacked the typical hard rocker hair (you know, all gross, sticky, uncombed, and 13” strands), he was still able to flaunt it about as if he’d spent all morning in the beer gardens. They had the crowd bouncing along, including the winos in front of the stage (which yes, I confused them for a band!)

Don’t let the name of this band deceive you… You don’t have to be a whore to moan for more."

Ouchie, that joke smarts! But while we're on the subject of puns, he went on to add on the imagi-blog...

It took me a while to get the play on words...

the whore moans

hormones

It's due to my immigration status...

but

The whore moans were AWESOME!

There ya have it. He's of few words, but many awesome photos. Here, let us share a few...

Read all REVERBfest 2007 coverage!

They had the crowd bouncing along, including the winos in front of the stage (which yes, I confused them for a band!)

REVERB 2007: Fleet Foxes

imaginary stella — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:14:04 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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The highlight of the night had to be Fleet Foxes — by a landslide. This band has received lots of praise on this site, though I admit I’d heard only snippets of their songs prior to the show. Somehow we lucked out and ended up at the front, albeit smashed against the wall next to the speakers, for this packed-house, much-talked-about, transfixing set at the intimate Sunset.

Fleet Foxes definitely deserved the talk. As they wend through the 40-minute set, frontman Robin Pecknold joked that they were all feeling a bit “under the weather,” as they’d played a late-night gig the evening before at Chop Suey. But hangovers or hoarseness be damned: Peckhold plowed through with a strong, haunting voice (I’d have never known him parched had a sweet audience member not fetched him a bottle of water during the set, for which he was profusely thankful). The band’s mesmerizing numbers, which mix jangly-pop with a tinge of acoustic folk, won me over. Especially lovely was “White Winter Hymnal.”

I suspect that if REVERB happens again next year (I hope! I hope!), Fleet Foxes won’t be fit into a 7pm start-time, but rather closing the night in a headlining time slot.

More Fleet Foxes photos from Kyle Johnson...

Read all REVERBfest 2007 coverage!

The band’s mesmerizing numbers, which mix jangly-pop with a tinge of acoustic folk, won me over.

Throw Me the Statue video from REVERB festival

imaginary dana — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 03:10:29 +0000

We got some video footage on our fancy schmany imaginary video camera last night, and one of the best moments has to be this acoustic number Throw Me the Statue played mid-set.

Another photo tease from last night's REVERB festival...

imaginary dana — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 21:14:59 +0000

After seeing Eduardo Brambila's photos from the No-Fi Soul Rebellion show at Sonic Boom Records last night, I CAN'T WAIT to read the full review.

REVERB 2007: Throw Me the Statue

imaginary dana — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 20:40:03 +0000

6 Oct 2007

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Throw Me the Statue is one of those bands I've had a massive musical crush upon for what feels like ages, but that the fates keep preventing me from seeing live. I first blogged about the band for KEXP a couple of months back, after hearing sunny sing-along tracks like "Lolita" and "This Is How We Kiss" on the band's MySpace page.

Since then, a series of mishaps and scheduling conflicts have kept me from fulfilling my dream of seeing them live. When I saw they were playing at REVERB, I planned my schedule around their 5p at Bop Street performance.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one; the overflowing landmark record store soon had bodies of expectant music fans in all the available nooks and crannies among the vinyl, awaiting the band.

Throw Me the Statue delighted the crowd, myself most definitely included, with their sonorous, skilled brand of bright indie-pop, replete with Rhodes keyboards, glockenspiel, and gorgeous three-part male harmonies throughout. The band's overall sound was charming yet substantial, melodic with the right splash of earnestness, twinkling without falling toward the fey. My musical crush blossomed with each song in their eight-song set. Pitter patter.

The band also charmed the late afternoon crowd with some entertaining banter and trivia, asking the audience if we had any questions ("What's your favorite color?" one fan yelled; "Red," they immediately answered. How Heathers of them!), wondering who else we were excited to see at REVERB ("Fleet Foxes" I yelled, and they agreed wholeheartedly), and humbly requesting that we vote for them for the Best of REVERB performance (I can't find the link on the Weekly's website, or I'd link it. Got it? Share it!).

They also shared that their debut record (Moonbeams) has the same title as a Bill Evans record from the mid-60s."I'm going to look for it here after the show" quipped frontman Scott Reitherman, "because if they don't have it here, then it really must suck."

While they still feel like a very new Seattle band, according to the Seattle Weekly, they've already been signed to Secretly Canadian records (!!!!!), a rumor substantiated by their forthcoming west coast tour with the amazing Jens Lenkman (They'll be playing in Seattle at the Nectar Lounge on November 6th).

If this rumor proves true, I consider we folks munged into Bop Street as the lucky few who saw them during the proverbial "when."

Oh, and the quirky band name? Apparently, it comes from an old mixtape that Reitherman made for a friend back in the day...

Read all REVERBfest 2007 coverage!

The band's overall sound was charming yet substantial, melodic with the right splash of earnestness, twinkling without falling toward the fey.