Whether the rest of the country takes notice or not, most of Seattle is already well aware of our burgeoning and ever-growing hip-hop scene. The past few years have shown it to grow in new and progressive directions, from the heart-on-sleeve, stadium anthems of Macklemore to the forward-thinking sounds of Shabazz Palaces, and everything in between. The Emerald City is loaded with talent -- and while the bulk of it is not only recognized but also facilitated, somehow, The Physics have somehow managed to slide a just a little bit under the radar. With their newest album Tomorrow People, they’re hoping to change all that.

It’s not that the Physics haven’t already been putting out great material: their 2011 album Love is a Business is an underrated gem from start to finish. Featuring some top-notch production work courtesy of Justo, Love is a Business oscillates between smooth R&B grooves and soul-sampling feel-good jams with the greatest of ease. And it keeps on coming -- in the lead-up to Tomorrow People’s release on August 25^th, the Physics have released two songs, “Days” (a nostalgic look back on their journey to get to this point, and the city that nurtured their growth thus far) and “Take a Win” (featuring production from Jake One). Thig Nat and Monk Wordsmith’s flows are as tight as ever, and you can get a sneak peak for yourself by clicking over to the band’s bandcamp page here. Tomorrow People also features guest appearances from fellow Seattle rapper and current world traveler Sol, as well as “King of Ballard”, Grynch.

If you want the best representation of what the Physics are all about, look no further than Love is a Business’ standout track “Coronas on Madrona”, which was my own personal I can’t stop listening to this song! jam from last summer. And take in all things new at The Physics' Tomorrow People album release show at Neumos on Saturday, August 25^th. Joining them are fellow Seattle hip-hop acts Brothers From Another, The Bar, and local producer extraordinaire Jake One. Don't miss out!

{Neumos / Saturday, August 25th / 8PM / $12 Adv / All Ages. More info and tickets here.}

My love affair with The Cult began with, appropriately, the single “Love”, from their 1985 release of the same name. From there, I snapped up all the imports I could find, including a copy of the Death Cult 1988 re-release, picture CDs with remixes, a tape of Electric scored from the Lynwood Fred Myer that I eventually wore out, and spent many hours dancing to "She Sells Sanctuary" at The Underground.

After 5 concerts spent swooning over Ian's voice and wishing that Billy Duffy was my boyfriend, and stomping around in my boots wearing jean shorts with ripped up black tights and Cult concert tees, my fascination admittedly waned after 1991’s Ceremony failed to wow me like their previous albums, and I am barely familiar with the songs on The Cult and Born Into This.

But the release of their new album, Choice of Weapon, has prompted a fresh tour, and because I know someone (Hi, Jenny George!) who is as excited as I am about The Cult, I HAVE TO GO to the show at The Neptune next Tuesday night (8/21). And you should too.

{The Cult with Murder of Crows | Neptune Theatre | Tuesday, 8/21 | Doors at 7pm, Show at 8pm | Tix $38.50 online, before fees | All Ages, bar with valid ID}

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Oh how we heart all things related to the vinyl record: the warmth of the sound as the needle glides across the shiny round surface. The ritual of exploring every inch of the square cover with liner notes and enveloping artwork.  An afternoon with stack of records is an afternoon well spent!

Well, we're not alone in this assertion: the folks at the Henry Art Gallery have put together a weekend of activities celebrating the record as part of their exhibition, The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl.  If you haven't stopped by to see the exhibit, it's a look at the culture and breadth of the vinyl record mystique through the eyes of over 40 artists from around the world.  The exhibit runs through October 7, 2012 and features a slew of fascinating events throughout its run.  This weekend's special events related to the exhibit include:

Friday, August 10, 2012 - 6pm-8pm
Record Appreciation with Kathy Slade and Brady Cranfield
Visual artists Brady Cranfield and Kathy Slade will host a casual listening party that will look at the role vinyl records have played a role in their work both physically and conceptually.

Sunday, August 12, 2012 - 12pm-3pm
National Vinyl Record Day
135 years ago on this date, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph! To mark this special day, aka National Vinyl Record Day, head to the Henry for an afternoon of celebration. Festivities include a record sale and a panel discussion with both large and small local northwest labels.  The panel chat will include discussion of "production, distribution, and cultural economy of the Record as both medium and social object."

And looking ahead, mark your calendars for the remaining events scheduled in coordination with the exhibit:

August 24, 2012 - Record Appreciation with Matthew Green

September 13, 2012 - Record Appreciation with Rachel Kessler

We know, we know -- Pickathon? you say, with an air of disbelief. Isn't that a bunch of beardy hippies with banjos out on a farm someplace in rural Oregon? Do they even have wi-fi? Fret not, dear imaginary friends: we are here to share the good news, which is the plain and simple fact that Pickathon Is Awesome. It's kind of got everything you ever hope for in a festival -- multiple stages in the open air that vibe on well into the nighttime, it's not too crowded, there's abundant camping on-site, and it's chock full of local food vendors and boasts a purposeful, sustainable green vibe. And of course, first and foremost, Pickathon's got the bands. (And ps, apparently, abundant wi-fi.)

This year's lineup has everything from sad bastards and bastardettes {like Laura Gibson, Alela Diane, and the Bowerbirds} to full frontal shredders {Heartless Bastards, Cave Singers} and back again. Whether you like the cool, sweet croon of Neko Case or the jamtastic vibe of Dr. Dog, or those multi-faceted types like Langhorne Slim -- who gives us a little bit of everything, from scream to croon to a howl -- you'll find your groove on Pendarvis Farm. And to sweeten the deal for you not-so-rootsy folks, the weekend is parsed through with some of the best of right now's straight-up indie.fill-in-the-blank vibes, with sets by Y La Bamba, Typhoon, Thee Oh Sees, and THEESatisfaction.

Here's a little more on the folks you already know and love:

Cave Singers {Pickathon artist page}

The idea of hearing the Cave Singers rage on into the nighttime on a farm in the middle of nowhere (kind of) has got me near-giddy with delight. Imagine if they went back-to-back with Heartless Bastards? HELLO, DREAM SET. Their shreddy, full-volume indie-roots part Zeppelin, part campfire vibe is unlike anything else out there, and we are bummed out to the max that we won't be hitting town until late Saturday morning -- their Friday night set is going to be a doozy. If you're up there on time, catch these guys on Friday night from 1a - 2a (hell yeah!) in The Galaxy Barn, and on Saturday on The Woods Stage from 4:30p - 5:30p.

Neko Case {Pickathon artist page}

Fresh off of a well-recieved performance at the Capitol Hill Block Party, Ms. Case will be gracing us with her one-of-a-kind croon twice at Pickathon as well. Her stories are well-worn and beautifully crafted, and as her bio states, walk the line between contemporary and timeless with nary a mis-step. She'll headline The Woods Stage on Saturday from 9p - 10p, and the Mt. View Stage on Sunday from 8:45p - 10p.

Alela Diane {Pickathon artist page}

We're lucky to have the folks at More Dust Than Digital and our pal Greg Vandy in our midst, creating killer artist portraits like the one above for local folkster Alela Diane. She's currently on tour in Europe (per her gorgeous recent Instagram photos) and will be making her way back this way for two sets at the festival. Catch her at The Workshop Barn on Friday from 5p - 6p, and again on Sunday on The Woods Stage from 3p - 4p.

Blitzen Trapper {Pickathon artist page}

This Blitzen Trapper track ("Furr") is the one that got me hooked, and the one that keeps me coming back to this band for a contribution on about half of the mixes I make for friends looking to be turned on to 'new' music. They're fresh off of a tour supporting Wilco, will be making a stop out at Doe Bay Fest later in August, and they'll be hitting the road in late September / early October with our pals The Head and the Heart. Short version? Get hip if you're not already there. You can take them in at Pickathon Friday on the Woods Stage from 9p - 10p, and Sunday on the Mt. View Stage from 6:45p - 8p.

Dr. Dog {Pickathon artist page}

Hello, jamtown. To quote Dr. Dog on recording their latest album: "It was reminiscent of when we were starting out and were these fearless weirdos in a basement, so confident and reckelss and bold." That's exactly the vibe we're hoping to catch from them up at Pickathon, as they take us on a trip from noodle-jam to gritty rock and back again. Couple their instrument-wielding talents with an at-times unprecedented lyrical prowess, and you've got a recipe for a good time. Dr. Dog plays The Mt. View Stage on Saturday from 9:45p - 11p, and The Galaxy Barn on Sunday from 1a - 2a. 

Heartless Bastards {Pickathon artist page}

Just like the Cave Singers, I am beside myself at the opportunity to spend a set or two with The Heartless Bastards out in the starry, clear nighttime. The cut above (yep, that video is about six years old) is "Brazen", off of 2006's All This Time, but still stands up strong -- it easily could have been recorded last week. They'll be kicking ass on The Mountain View Stage on Friday from 8:45p - 10p, and again in The Galaxy Barn from 1a - 2a on Saturday night (Sunday morning).

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Who wouldn't want to listen to some amazing girl powered music AND give big to charity at the same time? That's why we love the bejeezus out of the collaboration between KEXP, STG, and Starbucks that is making the magic known as the Little Big Show happen. A few times a year they put on their explorer caps, search out some great bands, bring them to the Neptune, and then donate all of the ticket sale money to a Seattle nonprofit. And this latest installment on July 28th {this Saturday!} features the dreamy indie punk/pop sounds of the Dum Dum Girls and the soft electro of Craft Spells. And did we mention that all of the money will benefit the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (that sponsors the largest youth film festival in the whole wide flippin' world, based right in our hometown)? Rad!

Are you feeling lucky? Because we have a pair of tickets to giveaway! You betcha, you could be the first to hear Dee Dee and the gals play tracks of their new EP, End of Daze, which drops on September 25. And homegirl can belt it out so you don't want to miss it! Think Joan Jett meets Joey Ramone, crossed with Robert Smith. The Dum Dum Girls are the type of badass band I dreamed of joining when I was thirteen.

So you wanna win those tickets? Just shoot us an email at tig {at} threeimaginarygirls {dot} com with the subject "LittleBigShow3" anytime between now and 2pm on Wednesday, July 25th. We'll choose a winner Wednesday afternoon, and send you an email letting you know that you +1 are on the list for Saturday's show.

Good luck!

{All ages / bar with ID / $15 adv / 8pm doors. Tickets and more info available here.}

It’s probably totally weird that I’ve never read a Harry Potter book, that I find the movies utterly forgettable, and that I just plain don’t get people’s extreme HP fandom—but, you guys. BUT.

I’ve been crushing on brothers Paul and Joe DeGeorge of Harry and the Potters since I saw them play at the UW Bookstore sometime around 2003. They are exceptionally cute, very sweet, and just all around awesome guys who play rock-n-roll about all things Harry Potter.

As if that weren’t enough, these adorable rockers put together the Harry Potter Alliance; an organization that inspires social activism based on HP themes, and the Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club: a club featuring monthly releases from wizard rock bands, with proceeds going to literary-based non-profits. To date, they’ve raised over $50,000.

This year is their 10 Year “Bandiversary”, so the boys are rockin’ their way up the West Coast with a Summer Tour, and lucky for us, they are landing in Seattle on July 31 at The Vera Project with fellow dude of awesomeness Hank Green, and The Potter Puppet Pals. Yay!

You might ask if Harry and the Potters are a kid's band, and if so, you then might ask WHY I like them. All I can say to you is that you need to experience the imaginary goodness that is H&tP yourself to truly understand. Get a taste of some “Wizard Rock” by checking out one of my personal favorites below, “Save Ginny Weasley”—and then get some tix to the Vera show, before it’s sold out!

{Harry and the Potters w/Hank Green | Tuesday, July 31 | The Vera Project | All Ages | $10 | 6pm}

With August right around the corner, the time of year has come once again to reserve every Friday for a lovely lounge with your friends on the lawns of Seattle Center, where KEXP will be presenting another fantastic year of their Concerts At The Mural series. There's a night for everyone, with bands ranging from roots to indie pop to hip hop and back again -- in some cases, all in one night! Take a look at the schedule below, and mark your calendar accordingly:

Friday, 8/3 // Hosted by DJ El Toro
Shovels & Rope
Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside
Legendary Oaks
Fly Moon Royalty

Friday, 8/10 // Hosted by Quilty 3000
Brad
The Young Evils
Posse

Friday, 8/17 // Hosted by Troy Nelson
Love Battery
Absolute Monarchs
Wayfinders

Friday, 8/24 // Hosted by Larry Mizell Jr.
Fresh Espresso
Reptar
BOAT

Don't forget, these concerts are always free and always all ages -- and for those of you looking to imbibe, there's a reasonably-priced 21+ beer garden with a great view on the back half of the Mural lawn.

We'll see you there! All shows start promptly at 5:30.

{Photo of The Head and the Heart at KEXP's 2010 Concerts At The Mural series by Victoria VanBruinisse.}

Is it mid-July already? Holy shit. That means that the Capitol Hill Block Party is here, and there are a couple of things that will be crucial to keep in mind as you head out this weekend to inundate yourself with sun, buddy hangs, and set after set of live music.

One, if the weather stays in our favor {right now Saturday and Sunday are looking like 74 and clear!} you'll need plenty of sunscreen -- for full coverage of your fair PNW skin, folks, it's best to put it on before you leave the house. (Wait, who let my mom in here? Ahem.) Two, if you're knocking back tons of a few drinks over the course of the day, don't forget to hydrate properly. Water = your BFF. Three, for some reason, the ATMs that are loaded up in the "festival grounds" seem to all run out of money at the same time -- so make sure you pick up cash before you head in. And four, try as you might, you can't catch every band on every stage, and that's why you should take our picks with you to make sure you don't miss the best of the fest:

Must-see #1: Lemolo {8:30pm, Vera Stage // Saturday, also at 3:30pm on the Barboza Stage for KEXP}

We can't get enough of Lemolo, and we've waxed on and on about their live shows, their video, and most recently their full-length album, The Kaleidoscope. With two back-to-back sold out shows for the album's release a few weeks ago, most of Seattle has caught the buzz about what makes this duo great -- but if you haven't yet, make sure to get yourself in front of the Vera Stage for their 8:30pm set on Saturday for a slice of their one-of-a-kind shreddy indie dreamscape bliss. Lemolo will also be playing on the Barboza stage at 3:30pm as part of KEXP's Block Party setup, similar to the secret lounge at Bumbershoot. Two shots to catch them = no excuses!

Must-see #2: Father John Misty {4pm, Main Stage // Friday}

Another performer we'd be surprised to see missing from your non-negotiable list is Father John Misty, a brilliant incarnation of everything you didn't know you needed in your new favorite band. It's a part rock, part thrust, part hip-swinging croon that manages to embody a well-read version of a great high (but maintains enough edge to keep you guessing). As if being a killer percussionist, a tremendous vocalist, and an all-around genius aren't enough, Josh Tillman is insanely hilarious -- for those of you who didn't catch it the first time around the tubes, this interview is nothing short of brilliant:

Fuck you, Joe!

Must-see #3: Alicia Amiri {as herself at 5:45pm, Cha Cha Stage // Friday, as Nightmare Fortress at 2pm, Neumos Stage // Saturday}

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Nothing can really fill the hole in my heart left by the absence of Friday Mile, but Fort Union comes close.

Two Friday Mile bandmates, Jace Krause and Jake Rohr, have come together once again to create some beautiful songs, traveling back-and-forth from Portland (where the relocated Krause runs an amazing food truck called Fried Egg I’m in Love) to Seattle (where Rohr still lives and works, at Columbia City Theater) to record an album full of them, on—wait for it—pretty-pretty BLUE vinyl. And they’re officially releasing it on Friday, July 27 with a show at the Tractor Tavern.

Jace & Jake are both good musicians AND good guys. So I have to recommend that you head down to the Tractor and show them some support! They deserve it; trust me. Take a listen to “Border Song” below for a sampling of their debut release:

{Fort Union Album Release Show with Cataldo and Widower | Friday, July 27, 9:30pm | Tractor Tavern | $8 online, or at the door | tix also available at Sonic Boom Records}

Through the course of their ten year history, Dirty Projectors have been a band of constant change and progression. From their sound and album concepts to their ever-evolving lineup, Dirty Projectors has grown from the solo project of front man and guitarist David Longstreth into it’s current six member strong incarnation. The mastermind and creative force behind Dirty Projectors remains Longstreth, who manages to find a way to expand the band’s sound with every release. As Longstreth recently told Pitchfork: “One of the things that's been consistent about Dirty Projectors is that the band reinvents itself, and that we're not one of these bands that does one thing sublimely well over and over and over again, until people don't need it anymore. It's about taking risks and with all the glory and hideous failure that that entails.”

Their sixth album Swing Lo Magellan (which came out on the 10^th) is no exception; it contains the same captivating interplay between Longstreth’s intricate guitar play and the soaring, angelic vocals of his female counterparts Amber Coffman and Haley Dekle that made their 2009 release Bitte Orca so fantastically beautiful. For proof, check out some of the goose bump-inducing high notes hit in their 2009 single “Stillness is the Move”:

And if that’s not enough to persuade you, you can listen to the fantastic Swing Lo Magellan in it’s entirety over at the New York Times (dot com).

Convinced? We figured as much. You can catch all of this amazing firsthand later this month, when Dirty Projectors bring their live show to the Showbox at the Market on Monday, July 23^rd. Opening the show is Baltimore duo Wye Oak. Tickets are available, along with more show details, at the Showbox page here.

{8p doors / all ages / $22.50 adv / $28 DOS. Photo courtesy of the band's Facebook page.}