(Photo of Kay Kay and His Weather in 2009 by Andy Aupperlee / Explosion 5000 from the TIG Flickr pool)

The weekend is upon us... and boy have we earned it. Even though the festivities in Austin have stolen some of our local hotties, there's still plenty of music  (and sunshine in the forecast) to be had.

One of the many things going on tonight is BirthDIYfest at the Vera Project. The all ages show will feature BOAT, Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground, Feral Children, Kids and Animals, and the Nextdoor Neighbors and the venue will be filled with booths for local DIY organizations, artists, venues, record labels, and the like. A full roster of whosies with links is on the BirthDIYfest MySpace page. Also, rumor has it that there actually will be some actual birthdays celebrated there, another reason the space will be full of sweetness.

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I think everyone's ears might still ringing from Saturday's The Big Pink and A Place To Bury Strangers show at Neumo's... in the best way possible. I love how jandrew33 captured the mesmerizing A Place To Bury Strangers set with this shot. Big thanks to him for adding to the TIG Flickr Photo Pool.

Have you recovered from the show and ready to head out this week? There are a bunch of options... my favorite being tonight's White Stripes film showing (FREE!!!) at the Crocodile. Other options over the next couple days include:

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As with most weekends around SXSW time, the clubs were packed with music this weekend. What shows did you see?

Each night had a bunch of choices from Rocky Votolato, Laura Veirs, Mike Watt, The Big Pink, a Wooden Birds instore at Sonic Boom, and some Hollow Earth Radio fest action with Sir Richard Bishop... just to name a handful of the many options.

On Friday night, I found myself at Goldie's where some friends did a killer karaoke version of "Empire State of Mind" (totally YouTube-worthy) and on Saturday at the grand opening fun at Jigsaw Records (photos and recap coming soon) with performances by Math and Physics Club and D. Crane from BOAT.

And you? Add your photos to the TIG Flickr Photo Pool and tell us all about it!

(Rocky Votolato photo courtesy of Kirk Stauffer Photography)

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{Photo: Hot Avocados Photography from the Three Imaginary Girls Sparkly Flickr Photo Pool}

Being Friday night, there are so many stellar options of what to do! Thee Oh Sees at the Funhouse, The Pharmacy at the Comet, or Hey Marseilles all-ages style at Vera are all wonderful paths to take... but when the Young Fresh Fellows are in town (this time at the Tractor with Girl Trouble), I'd be remiss to recommend anything but a full night of their songs which, as our own Chris Estey poignantly wrote, connect the dots between "The Sonics and The Wailers to The Posies and Death Cab with that sweaty, fun, beer-soaked, Puget Sound-smelling, back-yard stomping garage band life."

Want to know all the options at your fingertips? Here's what we've got on the Friday imaginary calendar:

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It may feel like we're a bit obsessed with Seattle songster Fences as of late... but with performances like the one of this past Friday {opening for St. Vincent} and photos like the above {courtesy of fabulous photographer Lori Paulson}, we can't help it!

Did you make it into the sold-out show? How was it?

Or, did your weekend include other stops... whatja do?!?!

Want to see what other folks did this weekend? Check out the TIG Flickr Photo Pool {and add your own photos too}!

Tragos Amargos, a side project of Portland's Y La Bamba, opened last Saturday's completely sold-out show at The Crocodile.  The amazing folk music lineup also showcased fellow Pacific Northwest favorites Loch Lomond and headliner Hey Marseilles.

The rest of the photos from the set can be viewed here and in the TIG Flickr Photo Pool.

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This weekend was jam-packed with possibilities! Did you go to a free instore? The WE rock opera? Shoegazer? Ben Gibbard/Jay Farrar/Long Winters love fest? Or stay home to watch and phone in to the Haiti telethon hoping to have Taylor Swift answer your call?

Big props to imaginary photographer Jason Tang for sharing photos from the Fences / AA Bondy show on Saturday night.

Tell us all about it!

Only a few more hours and the weekend will officially be upon us (that is, unless you started it last night... is so, my hat is off to you!).

There are so many good shows to thrust us to and fro. Tonight, the Fruit Bats will be at the Vera Project with Sonny Smith and Tu Fawning while another TIG recommended show, Drew Grow and the Pasters Wives will be at the Comet.  And then there's Steve Earle at the Moore (zow!).  Here's the full list of tonight's choices:

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As I was picking out my favorite shots from this past year, it quickly became apparent that I couldn't just leave it at ten.  I've posted my top picks below (in no particular order), but you can check out the rest here.

Huge thanks to the TIG crew, especially Chris and Keenan, for giving me the opportunity to share these amazing moments with all you lovely people! And thanks to all my fellow photographers, both in Seattle and elsewhere, for giving me inspiration every day. Hope you all have a safe, prosperous, and Happy New Year! Here's to an even bigger and better 2010!

2009-09-05: Hotels @ Bumbershoot - EMP | SFM's Sky Church

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During The Maldives' sold-out Christmas party at Neumo's last Friday, Hey Marseilles was joined on stage by the Sugarplum Elves for a holiday medley super jam to close out the set.

And aren't we a lucky bunch, the Sugarplum Elves will be joining us at the Imaginary Winter Holiday Spectacular this Wednesday {December 23} at Chop Suey. They'll be hanging out with Santa and joining in all the fun.

The rest of the photos from the set can be viewed here.

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