The Imaginary Zine is a 60-page old school printed zine recounting our first 10 years with some of our favorite blog posts and stories from our imaginary friends. It is extemely limited with only 333 handcrafted zines made.
It also includes a cd chock full of rare, live, or exclusive songs by some of our favorite local artists, including The Long Winters, BOAT, Tullycraft, Exohxo, Tennis Pro, Math & Physics Club and many more!
Lines We Trace opens up suddenly, with all kinds of ache laced through the echoes of a well-worn Andrew Bird album, cut beautifully with strains of Matt Bishop's unmistakable vocals. It's a powerful track ("Tides"), the line I would trade ten thousand days / for one more hour with you immediately vaulting the listener into a pile of Polaroids, to sift through the sweet nostalgia of every relationship they ever had that didn't quite work out. As sudden as the physical start of this album is the realization that Hey Marseilles has matured, with a new depth to their composition, yet with that familiar I'm-telling-this-story-right-to-your-soul songwriting that we've come to know and love.
For those who have gotten by these last few years on live shows, the occasional single release, and 2008's To Travels and Trunks; Lines We Trace is the equivalent of a new apartment in a town you love: you know the roads around it like the back of your hand, but you've never seen the sunlight through the windowpanes quite like this. Everything that's wonderful and familiar about Hey Marseilles is present -- a profound earnestness, those unmistakable chord progressions, the orchestral swells and pitches -- but delivered with new perspective, more wisdom, and perhaps the sight of a first laugh line in the bathroom mirror.
Latest comment by: Kim: "I cannot wait to hear this entire album. "
True story!
The fine folks over at Daily Candy featured a playlist of ours, on the heels of Imaginary Victoria's what-you-can't-miss-at-Sasquatch post we ran last week. It's a quick drive-by of some local (and farther-reaching) favorites that we're excited to see this weekend, and includes tracks from Yellow Ostrich, Pickwick, THEESatisfaction, Hey Marseilles, We Are Augustines, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Damien Jurado, The Cave Singers, and more!
Pop on over to Daily Candy's site to check it out -- there's even a playlist with (most) of the tracks that you can spin(?) on Spotify.
{Photo by Christopher Nelson.}
It seems crazy to be talking about it already, but ready or not, 2012's Sasquatch! Music Festival is right around the corner! Next weekend, in fact, we'll be packing up our cars and celebrating the impending start of summer by spending a long weekend in the sun, poring over four days of band schedules and making the most of our annual trip to the Gorge Ampitheater in George, Washington. The last few years have given us festival weekends for the books {here's some proof from 2011 and 2010}, and this year looks like it will be no exception -- there's tons to see every day no matter what your personal taste is, and at the moment it looks like the weather is going to hold out, too! So, let's take a look at some of the highlights that we can't wait to take in -- and you can play along at home by making your own Sasquatch! day-by-day schedule here.
There seems to be a build built in to the fest, both per-day and over the course of the weekend, too: Friday starts by easing us into a warm bath with the smooth sounds of Allen Stone, who will be kicking things off at the Sasquatch Stage at 5:00p. And if that "blue-eyed soul" sound isn't your thing, don't worry -- you can take it in the opposite direction with the post alt.indie vibe that Yellow Ostrich does at 5:15p on the Bigfoot Stage instead {pop on over here for a sample of what we love about these guys}. Then, Iceland's made-famous-to-Seattle-via-KEXP allstars Of Monsters and Men take the 6:00p spot on the Sasquatch Stage, while recent buzz band Polica blow out the Bigfoot Stage at 6:30. There's plenty to experience Friday besides (and around) these four picks, but our last can't-miss recommendation is 110% for Girl Talk's set at 8:30 on the Sasquatch Stage, sure to be a power-hour that will leave the crowds (and us!) happily hopped-up in preparation for the next three days of music.
We can't really think of a better way to begin the first weekend day of Sasquatch! with back-to-back sets of awesome on the Sasquatch Stage, first with Pickwick at 12:00p, followed immediately by Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires at 1:05p. {It's worth noting that we've been buzzing with love for Charles Bradley since his set in KEXP's Bumbershoot Music Lounge last year, and we can't wait to catch him on the big stage!} Well-primed, we'll head into some modern American roots tunes from Blitzen Trapper at 2:10p on the same stage, and we'll cap the first part of the day off with what's sure to be one of the best revival-jam sets of the weekend, Alabama Shakes at 3:00p on the Bigfoot Stage. Speaking of, we're quite sure you're in the loop with AS's recent release, Boys & Girls, but just in case you haven't gotten into it yet, check it out here.
Saturday shakes up at 3:30p, with a turn for the funkier side: THEESatisfaction will be bringing all the goodness from their latest release {and then some!} to the Yeti Stage right about then, and there's tons to check out over the course of the afternoon and early evening (Portlandia, Kurt Vile and the Violators, and Dum Dum Girls stand out as choices worthy of your festival time) before Helio Sequence's Bigfoot Stage set at 6:30p and Metric's Sasquatch Stage set at 6:40p. Those bleed into our absolutely-can't-miss pick for Saturday, tUnE-yArDs on the Bigfoot Stage at 7:30p {!!!!!}, and the night caps off with The Shins and Jack White back-to-back to close out the Sasquatch Stage starting about 8:10p.
Sure, you've got a lot on your dance card already this weekend -- date night, Mother's Day, Allo Darlin's show at the Vera -- but we'd like to take a moment to remind you about two shows full of amazing going on this Saturday and Sunday at the Moore Theater: on Saturday at 8pm, and on Sunday at 2pm, the Seattle Rock Orchestra will be performing songs from the Beatles catalog. And not just any songs, either -- we're talking the entirety of Rubber Soul and Revolver, back-to-back, with a little help from some friends around town. (See what we did there?)
Taking the stage with the SRO for this double-decker of Beatles goodness will be none other than John Roderick {The Long Winters}, Sean Nelson {Harvey Danger, Sounds Major}, Matt Bishop {Hey Marseilles}, and a peppering of local talent that you can learn more about at STG's event page here. Conveniently enough, it's also where you can get yourself (or you + your mom!) some tickets. Both performances are all ages and seats are $18.00.
{John Roderick/Long Winters photo by Victoria VanBruinisse}
Tonight {Friday, March 9} some of Seattle's Best are set to take the stage to raise funds for the McGinn mayoral campaign at the regal Showbox at the Market. Not to get all political on you, but it's fair to say that McGinn has done some very fine things for this city and another term would be a great thing for Seattle, the city of music.
And we're not the only ones who think so! Folks much smarter than we are feel so strongly that they have volunteered to perform at this Friday's fundraiser. Short performances by John Roderick, Hey Marseilles, and a ***Special Surprise Guest*** are ours for the taking for the suggested donation price of $25. For those who want to feed their ears AND tummies, local food truck legends Skillet and Molly Moon's will be parked out front.
If you're looking for hot VIP action, there's a Special VIP Reception option available. Give a gift of at least $35 per month or a one-time gift of $250 or more, and you can attend the VIP reception with the artists and Mayor McGinn.
The evening's festivities start at 7pm and the event is all ages.
Anyone have an inside scoop or entertaining guess on who the special surprise guest is?
Oh, and after you mix and mingle, head over to the High Dive for the {sure to be amazing} Blue Skies for Black Hearts show!
In the throes of a killer party at the Neptune last night, we were thrilled beyond belief to find out the details on another most excellent year for the Sasquatch! music festival, taking place out at the Gorge on Memorial Day weekend {May 25-28}. Sasquatch! is by far one of our favorite fests every year, and 2012 is going to be no exception.
We're particularly excited about partying down with the likes of Jack White, Beck, Tenacious D, Beirut, Girl Talk {hell yes!}, The Head and the Heart, Tune-Yards, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Mark Lanegan Band, The Cave Singers, Grouplove, Ted Leo, Deer Tick, Alabama Shakes, We Are Augustines, Shearwater {!!!!!}, Charles Bradley, Pickwick, Hey Marseilles, Sallie Ford, Dyme Def, Fresh Espresso, and Katie Kate -- but by no means does that even scratch the surface of the seemingly-zillion fantastic bands included on this year's lineup. As usual, there's a thoughtful mash of notable locals and squee-worthy headliners, so much so that slapping down the ticket price to spend the long weekend with twenty-plus thousand of your closest friends is an absolute no-brainer.
We were lucky enough to catch up with our friends Hey Marseilles this past weekend at KEXP for their Audioasis in-studio. Stopping by for a few songs before heading off to their sold-out show at the Neptune Theater {with Nick Jaina and Bryan John Appleby supporting}, they managed to wow the airwaves with some gorgeous new sounds that left us chomping at the bit for their next release.
Check out the archived performance over at KEXP, and more photos in KEXP's flickr pool here.
We've told you before, and we're going to keep telling you again and again until you get on the water wagon with us: Hey Marseilles is a fan-fucking-tastic band. If you're already down, you know the goodness of which we speak. And on the odd chance you've been living under some type of musical rock these last few years in Seattle, fret not: we are about to introduce you to your new favorite band.
Hey Marseilles is everything we like about a group: mostly due to the fact that they make good, smart music. Typically billed as "orchestral indie pop," we like to add in the fact that their sound is intelligent, with something lush and layered about it -- but not too layered, these guys are on the money in their mixes -- and recognizably familiar, without being predictable. Add in that sometimes-present vaguely European-tinged funeral parade -slash- carnival vibe {think DeVotchKa, minus the pomp and overwhelmingly sad angst they're prone to} and Hey Marseilles literally have a sound on the block that no one else has got.
Sold? Of course you are! Whether you're a long-standing HM fan or are just getting hip to their sound, there are two things you need to do if you haven't already: one, pick up To Travels and Trunks on every format imaginable if you don't have it already, and play it until it wears out. And two, get yourself a ticket or five to their upcoming show at the Neptune this Saturday. {Tickets are available for purchasing here.} They'll be taking the stage with Bryan John Appleby and Nick Jaina, and the whole night is in celebration of their new 7", Elegy. And PS: we've got a pair of tickets to give away to the show!
Latest comment by: Lisa b: "I'd say a touch of Beirut, too. As if you needed another reason to love them!"
Autumn is upon us, and once again, we've found ourselves happily submerged in a sea of grey mornings at the local cafe with headphones on, poring through new releases and marking our calendars for upcoming shows. And in case you're in one of those spots where you had to put New Release Tuesday on the back burner for a bit, we'd love to help you catch up! Part one of two, this post features stuff we heart to the maxx that also has a live show coming up in November -- and PS, we've got tickets to give away for almost everything featured here! Read on:
Who: tUnE-yArDs, aka Merrill Garbus
What: new(ish) album from earlier this year, upcoming show, all-around awesomeness
Sounds Like: super-melodic, experimental freak-out tribal chanting over sweet beats + some very catchy sing-a-long-y vibes
More info at: http://tune-yards.com/
Playing: The Neptune on Sunday, November 20th
Short version? One of the stand-out small-stage acts at Sasquatch! 2010, plays huge venues now, not to be missed. Long version: tUnE-yArDs -- which is comprised mostly of a lady-genius named Merrill Garbus, along with some loops and accompanying musicians depending on where and when you catch her -- is not like any other band out there today. It's part crazy catchy beats, part tribal warpaint, part musical catch-and-release, and all amazing. 2009's Bird-Brains kicked our asses, and 2011's w h o k i l l took things to a whole 'nother level. Buy both albums and make sure you're front and center for her Neptune appearance later this month.
Who: We Were Promised Jetpacks
What: new album, upcoming show, mosh potential
Sounds Like: straight-up indie rock, big guitars, angst, Scottishness
More info at: http://wewerepromisedjetpacks.com
Playing: Neumos on Tuesday, November 15th
Latest comment by: Ryan: "I have heard many songs sung by Anastacia. Heavy Rotation is one of the albums sung by her. I have tried to download it, but unable to do this. Just wants to know the site from where we can download this. Also can anyone tell me other songs by her? It will really ...
Summer wouldn't be summer without a sweet lineup at the Mural at Seattle Center during the month of August, and this year is no exception: our friends over at KEXP have put together another killer series of shows for 2011. As usual, it's all ages to rock, 21+ to hit the beer garden, and f-r-e-e FREE. (Although donations are gladly accepted at the KEXP tent, we're sure!) "Doors" are at 5, bands start at 6, and each Friday is hosted by a different DJ. It just doesn't get much better than that. Check out these bands and hosts!
Friday 8/5
Host: DJ El Toro
The Maldives /
Hey Marseilles
/ Black Whales
Friday 8/12
Host: Troy Nelson
Seapony /
Gold Leaves /
Math and Physics Club
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