Three Imaginary Girls - Funhouse

Start off the week with free Slurpees and The Kissing Party

imaginary liz — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:08:40 +0000

For those of us who enjoy a mix of nostalgic shoegazy fuzz and bittersweet delicate melodies with their FREE SLURPEE, this week is going to rule! Denver's very own Kissing Party have made their way to our fine city for not one, but two shows this week and, because Monday is July 11 (numerically translated to 7/11), our convenience store friends at 7-11 gift everyone with a free slurpee!

Sure it's only 7.11 oz and just enough to only give you a minor brain-freeze, but a free frozen treat is a free frozen treat. Try a new flavor or mix two together. Go wild on the slurpee tip, man!

But the radness doesn't stop with the slurps. Get your fill of Primitives meets Pains of Being Pure At Heart with a splash of Belle & Sebastian at the the Funhouse on Monday (7/11) as the Kissing Party shares the bill with Death's Three Daughters and The Chimanimani.

If you miss them on Monday or want to get a double dose (because who can blame you), they'll be at the Comet on Wednesday 7/13.

Recommended show: The Cute Lepers album release at the Funhouse this Friday {1/29}

Imaginary Mimi — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:06:05 +0000

{Photo credit: dan10things from the TIG Flickr Photo Pool}

The Cute Lepers are the sonic equivalent of a Payday bar. They satisfy many cravings in a tasty, self-contained unit. They are a little punk, a little pop, a little 70's, a little 80's and a LOT of energy. Cleverly non-de-plumed Steve E. Nix and company incorporate the noise, crunch and jangle that makes punk rock so much fun, but make it more accessible for pop fans with their sweet harmonies, tight instrumentation, and almost breezy, playful attitude. This is a band that loves music and musicians and it shows.

Upon a close listen, you can hear elements of Buzzcocks-inspired punk, the Come Ons or Von Bondies-style garage, and an Elvis Costello / Jim Carrol hybrid in the vocal stylings of Nix. There are whiffs here and there of an almost new-wave sound, in the vein of the Waitresses or the Plimsouls, to whom they are often compared, which creates an altogether innovative and interesting approach to pop-punk as a genre and exceeds expectations of a band with that label. Though the genre "pop-punk" often inspires a wave of eye rolls, The Cute Lepers serve as the band that will make em stick mid-way, just like your mama warned you. They do not simply repeat the same three chords on every track. There are actual variations in the music and vocals! No song sounds the same, and none of them sound like a pastiche or parroting, a welcome game changer to the genre on the whole.

This Friday marks the release of their second album Smart Accessories at the Funhouse.

Mad Rad v. Champagne Champagne Beard/Off tonight at the Funhouse

ChrisB — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:19:44 +0000

I've written enough about beards and Seattle that a) a friend recently asked me if I feel the urge to shave more often than most people, lest I be seen with a five o' clock shadow and b) a special category on TIG was created called "Beard Alert".

Having said that, there is a bazillion good reasons for recommending this Beard/Off tonight at the Funhouse. That it is one event that is guaranteed to reduce Seattle's beard population is but one of many. This event begins with a 1-on-1 basketball match between Champagne Champagne's Sir Thomas Gray and Mad Rad's Terry Radjaw. The contest is simple and is spelled out on the poster: "Loser shaves; winner gloats".

I don't have a dog in this race as I like both Champagne Champagne and Mad Rad equally (ie, a lot) but it gets even better as following the game there will be performances by some of the best local hip hop acts, including They Live and Fresh Espresso (which features Radjaw's Mad Rad bandmate P. Smoov).

It's $8 and begins at 7pm, 21+. I really hope this takes off and becomes so successful that the next Beard/Off pits Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav against Iron & Wine's Sam Beam.

Here's the video to They Live's "My Weed" (and one more video that features no performers from this event but one that I couldn't resist including):

Tonight's recommended show: Motorik rocks The Funhouse

Chris Estey — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:51:52 +0000

In the case of Motorik, one of my favorite local bands based on their spartan, sinewy Killing Joke-infused bat-cave blitzkrieg bop nine track debut "Klang!" I will get to see them live for the first time AND at the Funhouse just across the street from the opening night commencement at the Pop Con.

Whew! My whirlwind weekend in show photos

Amelia Gydé — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:03:39 +0000

I caught three great shows this weekend - and there were so many others going on all over town it was difficult to decide which ones to attend. Here's where I ended up...

Photo of the day: Partman Parthorse at the Funhouse

imaginary keenan — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:02:05 +0000

Looks like Amelia chose the Partman Parthorse show on Friday at the Funhouse, and it looks like they put on a fantastic show. I absolutely love photos that articulate exactly how fun the show was, and this shot illustrates that perfectly.

PartMan PartHorse vs. Sky Cries Mary vs. Kinski – Friday promises a great night of local music

Amelia Gydé — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:52:37 +0000

very time I turn around, a new option presents itself for Friday night (tomorrow!).

Monday night local show alert: Telekinesis!

imaginary keenan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:33:13 +0000

They play tonight (10/13) at the Funhouse with Of Meaning and Molly Rose at 9:30. It's bound to be a fantastic show.

Coconut Coolouts/Head/Thee Sgt. Major III at the Funhouse

Imaginary Shrie — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:33:39 +0000

6 Jun 2008

cocobag.jpg

I don't feel like I'm a true Seattle indie rocker. In the near two years that I've lived here I had never been to the Funhouse until last Friday night. Fortunately, the Coconut Coolouts, Head and Thee Sgt. Major III were the bands fated to pop my Funhouse cherry.

With a name like the Coconut Coolouts, one might expect to see four slightly hair individuals donning grass skirts, pina coladas in hand, romping about onstage. They were definitely cool, and there was a banana costume involved... but sadly no coconuts. The Coconut Coolouts are an energetic mutt; equal parts Hawaiian surf, proto-punk and bashed-out garage rock. They thrashed around, amusing the crowd with their rehearsed between-song banter. The Amazing Bananas (in full costume) stole the show though, showing his true party spirit whilst still playing his instrument! The Coconut Coolouts' strength is their campy humor and their Stooges-riff Tiki party vibe. This is the band that you book for your keg party, coked-out stripper party and every cocktail party in between.

With an appropriately vile name, Head followed up the Coolouts with a cold shot of punk rock. Sounding a bit like Screeching Weasel grounded in fuzzy feedback and darker vocals, Head continued the party and readied the crowd for headliners Thee Sgt. Major III. Squealing punk vocals and big drums introduced the five-some to a crowded Funhouse. They were all sweaty energy, flipping off the crowd and indulging in perfectly executed guitar solos. Leslie Beattie hopped around onstage beating that tambourine to death, and the crowd loved it. Their hard-edged grimy sound was reminiscent of "Anarchy in the UK" era Sex Pistols, but that could have just been the whiskey neat that I'd been drinking on top of healthy doses of Pabst Blue Ribbon talking. The vibe at the show was straight-up punk rock and the bevy of party-goers that I lugged with me couldn't agree more, as they pushed their way to the front, shaking their asses all the way.

My first Funhouse experience was exactly what I'd been hoping for: a whisky-drenched party-punk blow to the brain. Friday night fixed everything that was wrong with my entire shitty week.. and I have these three wonderful bands to thank for that.

Quote of the night (as heard from someone onstage from Thee Sgt. Major III): "No shortage of barbs in this band."

The Coconut Coolouts are an energetic mutt; equal parts Hawaiian surf, proto-punk, and bashed out garage rock.