Heard of Mal de Mer? No, not that Mal de Mer. This Mal de Mer. If you're anything like me, you've heard of them, as well as lots of good things about them, but haven't done nearly enough listening to them.

Today, my friends, is when that changes for the good. Because MdM is a hell of a good band. Period. If you haven't caught an earful yet -- well, they're hard to describe. The vibe varies from a Henry Clay People-esque alt.dirty-pop on songs like "Bubble Bobble" to the more melancholy, moderately anthematic sad-pop sound of "All I Want" -- but there's a running consistency through all the songs they've put out, and that consistency is one of No Bullshit. MdM isn't out to please the herd or become the next-best-something-or-other, they're just making the sounds that they need to get made. This, coupled with their all-star lineup (Michael Lee, Lesli Wood, Jimmy Curran, and Eric Wennberg), would make it appear as though the band itself could do no wrong. And based on the attention they've gotten so far, that might just be the rightest thing we've heard all week.

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{Photo courtesy of Sarah Jurado, all-around gorgeous human.}

A few thoughts on why you should find yourself at the Crocodile this Saturday, March 5th:

1. Damien Jurado is a king amongst men. He is a beautiful person who makes music so personal, it's hard not to shed copious tears upon hearing the opening notes of a song, or when he opens his mouth to sing. Saint Bartlett is his newest release, and has been called everything from "an achievement" (Pitchfork) to a "welcome fork in the road" (PopMatters) in terms of sound, which may have a lot to do with his collaboration with Richard Swift for this album.

He'll be headlining the evening, the frosting on top of a delicious indie rock cake of awesome.

{Photo courtesy of Laura Musselman, expert kitten wrangler.}

2. There is a rumor floating around that Viva Voce will be playing the show on Saturday as a two-piece. Not that the Viva Voce extended family is a bad thing, because it's quite the opposite -- however, there is something soul-affirming and lift-you-to-the-risers exciting about the core duo performing. There's less people to watch, more time to spend on marveling at how G-D amazing Anita Robinson is as a guitar player. The shredding she unleashes is unstoppable. And there is nothing like watching Kevin Robinson play drums, keyboards and guitar at the same time, without missing a beat. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT miss their set.

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Fantastic news (just in case you haven't heard) - Dancing on the Valentine 6 SOLD OUT The Crocodile for the 2nd year in a row on February 11th! Event organizers are still calculating the total donation monies, but we'll keep you posted on the results. For now, enjoy a preview of the amazing work of photobooth master Ben Haley - I think this year's B&W with pops of color theme is my favorite!

{Ben is working furiously to get all photos up, but with 500+, he's got his work cut out for him. Check the DOTV6 flickr pool & FB page for updates}

More photos after the jump...

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Us Imaginaries are getting SUPER EXCITED for this year's Dancing on the Valentine benefit show next Friday, February 11! Host and organizer miss Jenny George has outdone herself; putting together a Depeche Mode cover night entitled Strangelove to satisfy our nostalgic Goth hearts. Photographer extraordinaire Ben Haley will once again be manning the fun photo booth.

Here's a preview of what to expect using photos from DOTV 2010: the David Bowie tribute. (psst: you should totally buy your tix now at Sonic Boom or The Croc!!! $12/$10 of which goes to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.)

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I recently heard some tracks from Tennis, and it resulted in an insta-crush! I love this husband and wife team's fun, 60s-ish poppy tunes and the story behind their music - they took a year off and sailed all over the place, writing songs along the way. I'm beyond excited that their full-length album, Cape Drory, was recently released by Fat Possum Records. Tonight, they're playing at The Crocodile with the mellow/joyful stylings of Lord Huron and Air Waves.

Take a listen to "Marathon" above...and once your own crush kicks in, head on over to The Croc tonight for a bouncy, sun-shiney, feel-good show.

Tennis
Lord Huron
Air Waves
The Crocodile
Tuesday, 2/1
Doors @8pm
$14 | 21+

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This seems like a perfect show for this grey weekend: Tomorrow night, Sean Lennon & Charlotte Kemp Muhl take the stage at The Crocodile as The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (also known as GOASTT).

GOASTT plays dreamy, trippy, sway-inducing songs with beautiful harmonies that make me all squishy inside. I'm particularly fond of their acoustic version of "Jardin Du Luxembourg", but the regular version is awesomesauce also. IN addition, their costume-tastic video for "Schroedinger's Cat" fills me with giddy indie-pop glee.

If you're in the mood for an intimate indie-pop-folk rock show, I definitely recommend you head over to The Croc on Saturday to see these guys. Bonus: they're both pretty damn easy on the eyes (I'm just sayin!).

The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger
Laura Gibson
Duma Love
The Crocodile | 2200 Second Ave
Saturday, January 29
8pm | $14 at the door

My brain fell out of my head when I saw the poster for this show, because it combines 3 things I love to death: the Seattle School of Rock, The Smiths, and The Cure (ok, so secretly maybe I want The Cure to win).

Head over to The Crocodile tonight at 5:30pm to see a bunch of rockin' kids (ages 7-18) take the stage and duel each other with vintage Goth melodies. It's totally unfair that I didn't get to go to rock school when I was young, but at least I can live through these guys vicariously!

And I know I already recommended Another Rainy Saturday's show for tonight, but I also have to recommend this because SERIOUSLY. This show is going to be the most adorable thing ever in the history of ever. Also it starts so early you'll totally have time to go to both!

Saturday, 1/22 @The Croc
Doors @5:30pm/ Show @6pm
Cover: $12 at the door
All Ages

{Sailor Jerry presents Unnatural Helpers and The Intelligence @The Crocodile, Wednesday, 12/22. FREE WITH RSVP ONLY}

Chances are, if you live in Seattle, you may have played in the Unnatural Helpers. I hope to someday play in the Unnatural Helpers (note to band: slow the songs down 80% and I am so down). A few things I enjoy about this band: their songs are short, which means you get more rock for your buck - which is economical! They care about your wallet! Also, I heard Dean Whitmore likes to save baby seals from poachers in his spare time. And their songs make you want to fist pump  and jump around.

The Intelligence's Boredom and Terror is one of my favorite albums. It would do fans of sloppy post-rock (with a dab of noisy) well to check this band out. If you're a fan of the Helpers there's a good chance you will love The Intelligence. If you like music in general, there's a good chance you will enjoy them. Get what I'm saying here? The Intelligence + Unnatural Helpers = YES SIR MAY I HAVE ANOTHER?

AND Sailor Jerry is bringing this all to you on Wednesday. For free. At the Crocodile. Doors at 8pm. If you can't buy booze without a fake i.d. then don't bother coming. You just have to RSVP here!

Oh! I almost forgot! Show up way early because you'll want to start the night off right with Seattle's own Dancer & Prancer. I heard there might be free pizza - which you will only get if you watch their set! Get in the holiday spirit! Surf rock Christmas jamz for all!

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Let's face it folks: it's wintertime, and you're gonna need all the sun-drenched pop that your ears can handle to make it through the next few months. Our current suggestion is the UK band Stornoway, a group that is tearing up the overseas charts but just starting to get traction on this side of the pond.

If you haven't heard the band's "Zorbing" single, point your computer at iTunes and pay the cost. And if you need more warmth in your life, follow up on this music suggestion from Brian Briggs, lead singer of Stornoway: "Teenage Fanclub make some of the warmest, most unaffected pop songs about unashamedly heartfelt emotions," Briggs told Rocktorch.com in this original post. "With their close harmonies and gently distorted chiming electric guitars they instantly transport me to the highlands in the sunshine everytime."

Be sure to warm up with Stornoway at The Crocodile on December 9 {and enter to win tickets to the show from TIG!}.

One of my favorite albums of the year comes from the Oxford-based band Stornoway.  It's an understatement to say they craft sumptuously understated melodies that draw from ponds of the Decemberists, later-era Lucksmiths, and Nick Drake and would sit comfortably on mixtapes between Teenage Fanclub, Belle and Sebastian.  Given the line of influence, it's no surprise that the band members met while attending Oxford University and that there is an ornithologist and a Russian translator among its ranks.

The songs on their 2010 release, Beachcomber's Windowsill, craft a soothing journey that meanders with graceful guitars and strings, playful keyboards and drum section, and shiny hopeful vocals that pierce your heart, summoning the memories you hold closest. 

Stornoway will play their first show in Seattle at the Crocodile on Thursday, December 9, 2010 with Head and the Heart opening up.

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