{Total sweetness: Rachel and Ben after the last Visqueen show / photo: Jason Tang}

We haven't been the same since Visqueen rode into the sunset last November, when they played their last show at the Neptune. It was a glorious affair.  Every song rocked like it was the first time we heard it.  Genuine love and appreciation (on both the part of the band and the audience) filled the air and as the final notes of the last song we're strummed, we all broke down into tears.  Sure we were sad that we'd never get to see another Visqueen show or pick up another new Visqueen album, but mostly the tears were grateful ones, that we were there and they were there and we were all together sharing this amazing moment of rad songs, rad people, and BFFs forever (video proof below).

BUT, come Friday, June 1st at our 10th Anniversary Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Bash at Chop Suey {tix}, dry those tears and wildly spray your Aussie Scrunch hairspray, because Ben Hooker (and possibly a member or two of his entourage) will take the stage to sing a favorite new wave hit.  

You might remember Ben's karaoke skillz as illustrated in his spot on performance of Iron Maiden's "Aces High" (with Cory Murchy of Minus the Bear) at our 2003 Rockstar Buttrock Karaoke Party, a performance which earned him the award for "Best Falsetto."  This time will be even better, because we will be celebrating a wonderful 10 years of imaginary togetherness (a love affair detailed in the 10th anniversary imaginary zine, which you can be the first to pick up AT THE SHOW!).

How can Ben possibly top "Aces High?"  We will see… oh we will see!!!

It's hard to remember imaginary life before Math & Physics Club came along.  We are forever honored to have been one of the first places they sent their demo to back in the summer of 2004.  With their sweet indie-pop blend of The Smiths with The Lucksmiths, and all things Sarah Records with Matinee Records, their beautiful songs (even as demos) immediately made us both jump with glee and fill with pretty heartache.

Besides being hella nice folks who write hella nice songs, we adore them because they have been kind enough to be a part of many of our (even wackiest) show endeavors.  They are brilliant when they play their own songs (as we've written about countless times), but they are also really great at covers! They did a couple magic Magnetic Field covers at our 69 Love Songs cover night and they even perfected a Stone Roses cover at one of our showcases (video of them performing it in CA below).

Ethan Jones from MaPC is going to represent the band on at 10th Anniversary Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Bash on Friday, June 1st at Chop Suey {tix}. You might also remember Ethan as a touring member of Eux Autres in addition to his MaPC responsibilities of bass guitar and harmonies.  Besides rumors swirling that MaPC are possibly talking about one day maybe recording something perhaps sometime, Ethan is also currently working on an EP of his own.  And, also of very important indie-pop note, Math and Physics Club donated a very rare and very exclusive song to the 10th anniversary commemorative imaginary zine, which you can be the first of your friends to pick up AT THE SHOW!

He was one of the first folks to send over their requested song, so we can only imagine that he's spent ever single moment working on his new wave poses.

{photo by Victoria VanBuinisse}

Alicia Amiri is quite the lady-about-town, especially within the Seattle music community. During the day (and some evenings), she's the local booker and marketing assistant at the world famous Crocodile.  If you haven't crossed paths with her there, perhaps you know her from her days at Neumo's. 

Or perhaps you recognize her from one of the many music-making (rather than music-booking or promoting) endeavors in bands Lovesick Empire, Nightmare Fortress or as a solo artist.  Her songs have a confident bravado, with vocals that seep with sharp recollections of love and regret.

With all that going on, it's a wonder she has time to help us out at our 10th Anniversary Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Bash on Friday, June 1st at Chop Suey {tix}.  But, we are so grateful she will take the stage to belt her heart out in the key of new wave for the big celebration!

For more Alicia-time, be sure to catch her set at Folklife on Saturday, May 26 and Nightmare Fortress (video below) is playing Barboza with The Tempers on Thursday June 7.

(photo by Jason Tang)

If there's one lady in this city who's earned a Wonder Woman cape, it's Lesli Wood.  For as long as TIG has been around (reminder: 10 years!), Lesli has been a part of Seattle's most noteworthy bands.

I remember the first time we saw her in action.  It was with Saeta at the Sit and Spin in 2002. It was a completely dark room, with Saeta's sublime, flowing songs filling the space.  Lesli lit up the stage with her beautiful vocals and heart-wrenching piano melodies… and her imaginary fanclub was formed. 

Since then she's lead the way in Seattle's music scene with not one, but two more amazing bands: Ms. Led (r.i.p.) and The Redwood Plan (currently ruling the streets).  She was even a mentor on an episode of MTV's "Made" (in which she illustrated *extreme* pose, compassion, and patience).  And while doing all this, she's been a practicing attorney. The lady totally deserves a superhero cape!

If you heart Lesli as much as we do (which we *know* you do), mark your calendar for the next Redwood Plan show on Friday, June 8th at The Crocodile with Seapony, Land of Pines and Young Evils for the Noise for the Needy Benefit.

We heart Lesli for so many reasons. She's talented, kind and she's been gracious enough to take part in many an imaginary party (and rocked them all). Remember her performance of "Divorce Song" at our Exile In {Imaginary} Girlville Liz Phair cover night back in 2008 (video below)?!

I wonder what amazing new wave song she's going to sing at our 10th Anniversary Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Bash on Friday, June 1st at Chop Suey {tix}.  Get your video recorder ready!

Your Favorite Book have been writing songs that pair candid Weakerthans melodies with early Mountain Goats lo-fi acoustic guitar strums since their first release in 2002 (hooray for all the peeps celebrating their 10th anniversary this year!).  It isn't just YFB's original songs that make me weak in the knees, I still grin from ear to ear remembering the time YFB covered a Bright Eyes song for my birthday at our 2007 holiday show (why isn't there a video of that?!).

If that's how YFB marks my birthday, how is Patrick, lead YFB-er, going to celebrate our 10th anniversary with a new wave song?!? All I can say is that he wanted to actually sing his chosen in a foreign language. Yes, it's going to be *that* kind of party!

As Patrick describes it, "The song I shall perform is a heartfelt plea for sanity in a world gone mad, and a not-so-subtle rebuke of power-hungry leaders who think nothing of using the little people as cannon fodder on their way to global domination. I would like to dedicate it to my fellow Germans, and to anyone else who yearns for true peace."

Besides spending the last few weeks preparing for our 10th Anniversary Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Bash {tix} on Friday, June 1st at Chop Suey, YFB has been readying their new album for release in early summer 2012.  Remember the Narwhal is the seventh YFB full length and the first to feature a full-band.

YFB was even kind enough to donate a sneak peek track from the album for our imaginary zine mix cd, which also features rare and exclusive tracks from The Long Winters, BOAT, Tullycraft, Exohxo, Tennis Pro and a ton more favorite bands.  Sidenote: You can pick up a copies of the 10th anniversary zine at the June 1st bash so get there early before we run out (it's limited edition)!

If you don't already know the name Cristina Bautista, you soon will. She's been part of some of our favorite Seattle bands over the last few years (Visqueen, Paxil Rose) and currently, her most recent release--the Gold Parts EP--is in high rotation in the imaginary offices (listen to it on bandcamp or get the ltd. ed. cd version).

Brimming with boundless enthusiasm, Cristina is a shining light in Seattle's music community with the voice of a mischievous angel and the sass of a gal who's seen equal parts happiness and heartbreak.   It's a surprise that there isn't a Glee character based on her (or that she hasn't been snapped up to be on the cast).

She's had so many great ideas for songs to perform at our 10th Anniversary Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Bash on Friday, June 1st at Chop Suey {tix}, I can't wait to see which one she settles on!

I mean, look at her go!

{photo: Victoria VanBruinisse}
 

One of my favorite songs of 2011 is Mal de Mer's "Bubble Bobble".  The relentless drum, guitar, and keyboard rifts overtop a striking chorus balancing fuzzy distortion and falsetto… yes please! It's no surprise then to find that the band is an imaginary supergroup, comprised of members of some of our favorite bands past and present: Jimmy Curran (the Divorce), Lesli Wood (Redwood Plan, Ms. Led, Saeta and also taking the stage during the night), and Eric Wennberg (Slender Means).

At our 10th Anniversary Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Bash {on Friday, June 1st at Chop Suey - tix}, Mal de Mer lead singer/guitarist Michael Lee is going to take the stage with his special guy (Joe Randazzo) to sing one of the more touching new wave songs in the catalog. Perhaps it will turn into an audience sing along (if we can't help ourselves!)?

Besides working feverishly on the first Mal de Mer full length album (a follow-up to their fabulous debut single), Michael Lee is also a part of the Young Evils (Cody of the Young Evils is also taking the karaoke stage to sing his own new wave hit).  The YEs finished up an EP earlier this year with producer Shane Stoneback (Vampire Weekend, Sleigh Bells, Cults) and it will hit the record store shelves in July and summer touring and festivals (and The Young Evils will be at Bumbershoot!).

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We feel like the folks in Black Nite Crash are our siblings. We pretty much grew up with them over the last 10 years and, during that time, have gathered so many fantastic memories of time spent together.  One of my earliest imaginary memories is the moment I heard them covering one of my favorite songs of all time (Adorable's "Homeboy", a track that, it's fair to say, is equally brilliant and unknown) while standing in the back bar in line to get a drink at the Crocodile on a Sunday night back in 2003.  

I immediately ran to the front of the stage cried with joy (having never seen Adorable play live and this being such a spot on rendition).  After the show, I followed BNC to the back bar and tried to communicate how amazing the show was. It was a classic TIG move that would be repeated (though never perfected) thousands of times in front of hundreds of brilliant bands over the course of the next 10 years. 

Since that show, they've kept it real; writing beautiful songs in the key of shoegazer and playing stellar local showcases, including many an imaginary event (remember how amazing their performance of the Fixx's "One Thing Leads to Another" was at our 2nd birthday bash?).  And, huge hoorays, they have their second album coming out and are celebrating it up and down I-5:

- In Seattle on Friday, June 8th at the Rat and Raven with Blood Red Dancers and Sundaze
- In Portland on Saturday, June 9th at the Ella Street Social Club with Sundaze

I can't wait to see what song they choose for our 10th Anniversary Rockstar New Wave Karaoke Bash {on Friday, June 1st at Chop Suey - tix}.  I'm sure it's going to make me run to the front of the stage and cry… and then follow them to the bar and buy them a drink.

Here's a video we shot of them a few years back, playing a very dark Chop Suey:

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{Photo by Matthew Gilbertson}

I've been a huge Kithkin fan ever since they blew me away as the opening band for Los Campesinos a few months back.  I wasn't the only one. Even Los Campesinos mentioned they felt a tad bit inferior following them.  Kithkin songs are full of infectious clashes of sound from every angle (and nearly every type of percussion instrument). "Ampersand," my favorite song on their latest EP, is a jar full of rackous jangle that stops and bangs and claps all at the same time (in a good way). Far from chaotic, there is a mischievous method to their joyous brand of pop madness as each song explodes with charged confetti of happiness. 

You can listen to their latest EP (their second release and first studio effort) on the Kithkin bandcamp page, where they offer the kind option of "name your own price" to download the album.

And for imaginaries in Vancouver, BC, you can see Kithkin at the Five Sixty on May 31st (the night before our karaoke bash!).  They are also slated to play this year's Capitol Hill Block Party!  Obviously, those Kithkin guys don't tire out easily.  The drive to and from the border will surely provide lots of new wave karaoke practice time. 

We can't wait to see how they kick it new wave style... and if they will be wearing shirts!
 

{photo: Victoria VanBruinisse}

Even though Sean Nelson has been a fixture at many of our imaginary events, we still jumped up and down with excited glee and surprise when he agreed to be part of our Rockstar New Wave Karaoke night on Friday, June 1 at Chop Suey.

It shouldn't be a surprise that he can fearlessly take the karaoke mic and grace us with a favorite new wave hit.  He pretty much aces each theatrical and musical endeavor he takes on.  You've seen him on stage and screen showing off his acting and directing skills, read his quotable works in print, and marveled at his talents in Harvey Danger and the Long Winters (just to name a few of his many musical projects). He's so rock and roll that his new band Sounds Major is playing Barboza the night before (with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground on May 31st), and yet he still agreed to help us out and take the stage to celebrate our 10th anniversary.

We can't tell you *which* song he's going to do, but we can predict that it will knock your socks off.  Because, well, it's Sean Nelson... singing a new wave hit... celebrating our 10th anniversary.  And that is rad.

Here's a sample of Sean Nelson awesomeness, when he covered the Magnetic Fields at our 69 Love Songs cover night back in 2006: