Three Imaginary Girls - The Sunset

Can You Imagine? a perfect night at the Sunset {8/25} and a new album too!

Chris Estey — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 21:15:12 +0000

Seattle's own Can You Imagine? are playing the Sunset Tavern this Saturday night, August 25 at 9 p.m. A quintet of classy vets and charming new cherubs, their new album Romance! will be available to purchase there and I recommend you do just that. (Both, come to the show and buy the CD!) It has twelve new jittery-pop slices of girl group growls and swoons and a whole lot of jangle and bang, including twist-and-shout opener "Can You Do The Can You?", which makes me feel like thrift shopping with John Waters, and "Ghosts Are Dumb," which has piles of sweet organ and surf guitar slash.

CYI? features vivacious vocalist and songwriter Michelle Plaitis, singer-songwriter Rachel Frost on strollin' bass, and Sue Merrill keeps the rhythm section greaser duckbill-sides tight with her on the drums. Also on board is Peter Bagge, yes, that P. Bagge (of many graphic novels and the art scene) -- he's not playing drums here as he did in bands long ago, but scribes songs too and makes those amp waves glisten with his own six-string mission. Handsome fella on the side with all the keys and sound-wonkery is Smilin' Steve Fisk, the Nelson Riddle-Phil Spector of Pac NW studio recording and band-halpin'. (If you just like to hear that man PLAY, don't miss CYI? live, at the very least. But the rest of the band are slammin' fun too, as you will find out.)

This follow up to their self-titled release finds CYI? increasing the organic dance beats, keeping the shimmer-vocals careening through "Housework" and "Melody And Car Parts," placing the everyday love and money struggles and leaps in pitch-note perfect power pop fit for a timeless Saturday afternoon on the porch with a cocktail and a cute pal. Brill! Ace! Many are story songs but stand up to multi-plays due to the joys of the vocals and the BOMP! of the playing. Album for the summer, and perfect show for the end of August.

{Can You Imagine? play with Atomic Bride and Thee Midnight Creep on Saturday, August 25, at 9p at the Sunset.}

The Poison Control Center back in town this Thursday at the Sunset

imaginary keenan — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:51:08 +0000

Constant pavement pounders and Midwestern sweethearts the Poison Control Center are back on the road and will find themselves back in Seattle this Thursday, June 9th! I've expounded endlessly on my love for these boys, and have often referred to them as "Pavement with acrobatics", but their newest record Stranger Ballet, out today on Afternoon Records, finds them growing into their own brand of loud, fast and heartwarming indie rock. Come to the show to rock and leave with a grin, and possibly some bruises (but you know, happy bruises). Supporting are Seattle's own the Bismarck and Runt.

Ever Kings of the Summer Jam, PCC has done it again with the Cheap Trick playing the Who-like swingin' "Some Ordinary Vision". Check out a live version of it beyond the jump to get pumped for the show!

Spark & Shine new releases and August shows from Rusty Willoughby/Brent Amaker & the Rodeo

Chris Estey — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:39:13 +0000

We don't usually do full on label hype here at Three Imaginary Girls, as we tend to be more artist or song/album focused, but two noteworthy new releases are coming up with stunning shows behind them. And so to massacre a murder of honky-tonking crows with one big blogging, let's dive into the August (live and recorded) Americana mayhem being offered by artists recently signed to up-and-raging local label Spark & Shine:

Rusty Willoughby offers up a dozen superbly written, subtle-emotive lonely journeys on his new album Cobirds Unite. It is probably the best sounding roots-oriented album I have heard in some time, and that means a lot when you have a voice as sweet and true as Willoughby's, backing vocals from Rachel Flotard, cello from Barb Antonio, a bunch of great picking and playing on various instruments by (producer) Johnny Sangster, and Tilman Herb on violin, among others. If you listen to this without ever checking out the CV of the man in charge, you won't necessarily miss anything that's great about it, as these songs seem as crisp and forlorn as any put to post since the glory days of crossover. But Willoughby has earned his solid reputation regionally ever since he fronted Pure Joy in the mid-80s, and proves on the terse and tender "Crown Of Thorns," "Where are The Knives," and the title track on Cobirds Unite that he's not just hustling faux hillbilly hoodoo.

There have been other projects for Willougby in the meantime (for the grunge years, Flop) but like those of us who jumped with The Dils to Rank & File and never minded hearing a Joe Ely bootleg opening for the Clash, a natural born punk is often just a pony boy exiled in the city. There are a lot of people making less fetching racket sort of like this every night in Ballard, but from these songs you can tell the musical workaholic chose this art-form for the ability to marry mature outlook with considered form. Thus when Rusty Willoughby plays with Black Francis on Saturday, August 21 at the Triple Door, both performers should be getting much hollering back.

Get your drink on early with Drunken Soundtracks at the Sunset Saturday, August 14; solo Graig Markel opening

Chris Estey — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:38:11 +0000

This Saturday, August 14 loyal Walkabouts followers are in for a treat at the Sunset, with doors opening at 6 pm (during happy hour). Carla Torgerson, Michael Wells, Glenn Slater, Paul Austin, and Terri Moeller (otherwise known in Terri Tarantula) will be playing songs written and/or recorded with Walkabouts leader Chris Eckman, who comes back to Seattle to work with the band in autumn.

Just because Eckman lives in Slovenia now doesn't mean the other vibrantly creative members of the Walkabouts shouldn't be able to play for their hometown fans, right? Thus, the Drunken Soundtracks, the moniker the Walkabouts play under while Eckman is away, taken from a sublime double CD compilation of lost songs by the group released in 2002. The show will be opened by Animals At Night leader Graig Markel, putting down production duties in his new home studio for one night to come out and deliver an also rare solo set. Walkabouts fans are a fervent and loyal throng, so be sure to buy your advance tickets here if you're as excited by this news as I am.

For fans of roots-based, poetic but dynamic rock, who want to sample more of the Walkabouts oeuvre by also legendary alternative artists such as The Minus 5, Jon Langford (of the Mekons), Steve Wynn and Linda Pittman, Gary Heffern and Beautiful People, etc., check the 2010 anthology in the meantime: Got No Chains: The Songs of the Walkabouts. They'll probably have some copies for sale at the show this weekend, and it is as highly recommended a taste of the talents of the band as their own Drunken Soundtracks.

Recommended for Saturday: The "K-Streets" sing "It's Your Birthday" at the Sunset {7/31}

Dear Mr. Oswald — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:38:36 +0000

Ah, the K-Streets... I last saw them in the winter, and I guess now is the time to see them in the summer - a banner year, I know! No information is available about them, but if you were to ask me what it's like and what to expect, I'd say parts of their songs sometimes sound like they were taken out of the charts, and you will maybe think "is it familiar?" Anyways, you should do the right thing and find your way to the Sunset for an exciting night.

Let me just say that sitting on your hands on the couch (even in someone's else's room) would really be a waste of time and so wrong, wrong, wrong. The Runaway Trains and Girl Trouble open the show, but I'm always full of impatience, and if I have to wait it out for one more hour, that would be everything I don't need! I just ask that if you find your way to the front fast enough, save room for me. Oh, and be sure to ask Niffer, who is celebrating a birthday that night, to "please make a wish, it's your birthday!"

Here's a video of the last time the K-Streets played at the Sunset. It's not to be missed!

Carolyn Mark makes the moon shine this Thursday, April 29 at the Sunset

Chris Estey — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:59:46 +0000

I can't wait to see Carolyn Mark live again. She's back at the Sunset this Thursday night, April 29, with long-time troubadour Ian Moore and Texas' own Buttercup coming up first.

The first time I saw her was in 2007 for a free noonday Seattle City Hall set, harmonizing and rollicking her heavenly and hale hillbilly miniature masterpieces in the Seattle sunshine downtown, opening for Visqueen. The pair of lead performers really fit as a perfect set, the one-two punch of swinging, sassy folk-rock matched to Ms. Flotard's blend of blues-pop punk. Canadian singer-songwriter Mark learned her licks and crowd-allure as in a duo with Neko Case called the Corn Sisters, and has the same verve, humor, and je ne sais quoi they had starting back in the late 90s, and Ms. Case is ultra-known for today.

The sometimes dark, beat, but still boisterous quality of Mark's top quality song-craft can be seen in the cover art representing her collaboration with Juno-award winning NQ Arbuckle, and their song "Officer Down."

Terri Tarantula and Trespassers William cast a beautiful Sunset

Chris Estey — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:17:35 +0000

5 Feb 2010

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Early shows are always fraught with a wee tension: Will fans turn out early to hear the bands, while many people are just finishing up their happy hours and lining up the soirees and situations for later in the evening?

The music of Terri Tarantula in particular seems to call for deep dark past midnight status, but that's because on craggy trouble in mind maps of alternate Seattle like "Mulligan" and pendant whispers like "Bag Of Bricks," this is all precise biomapping. Vocalist and new-keyboard enthusiast Terri Moeller has taken everything brisk and bitter about her last band Transmissionary Six and freshened it with a creamier, less heavy sound.

Her new group Terri Tarantula played their first show and self-titled CD release last Friday night at the Sunset, and unlike a T6 show or two there, it was packed to the gills. This was partly due to several reasons: Trespassers William opened and they had happy, devoted people there too, and then members from TW stuck around and played with TT.

Graig Markel came in during Trespassers William's sonorous, mesmerizing set, and then proceeded to help Terri kick off their half of the early evening with a vivid cover of "Baby's On Fire." Using Brian Eno as a creative touchstone for a band more about piano and drums than the guitar and bass driven T6 was a daring way to start things. Speaking of daring, it all ended on KEXP's lovingly rotated single from the debut, "The Daredevil Way."

That track and "Shaker Star" are the two perfect singles on the album, with witty lines about scrambling through life with broken hearts and reset bones in warm dirty Nevada rains.

(Photo by Chris Pugh, friend of Terri and the band.)

Recommended Show: The Tripwires this Friday, 10/30 at the Sunset

Chris Estey — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:55:23 +0000

The Tripwires' new (second) album House To House sounds jolting from joie de vivre even when crabbing about everything falling apart. The hale musical energy never weakens from drummer Mark Pickerel (Screaming Trees, Truly, Praying Hands), strummer and sizzling lead chef Johnny Sangster (Sharing Patrol and producer of Mark's other band, as well as Mudhoney, the Briefs, Steve Turner & His Bad ideas), elder brother Jim Sangster (Young Fresh Fellows, Thee Sgt. Major III) and John Ramberg (Minus 5, The Model Rockets). Wow, that's a whole lot of prestige between those parenthesis!

Dejha Record Release to intoxicate the Sunset tonight

Chris Estey — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:27:48 +0000

If you live in Seattle, you might hear her work with say the Rotten Apples spun again and again overhead at hang-outs like Linda's, remember when she played bass for Daylight Basement, or actually saw the raw diamond diva hit the jag-line between J. Jett and P. Houston live with bands Ragazza or 3-D S&M or The Pin-Ups.

Dejha Colantuono sounds as tough and tender as her suave songs, which get an expansive feel from Matt Bayles (Pearl Jam, Murder City Devils, Minus The Bear, Patrol) and no less than twelve musicians helping out on her next-level new solo LP, "Tea & Vodka."

It definitely has more finesse with its ferocity, but I'm still listening to it to acquire enough ideas for a review. However, if you're a fan too we should both hit The Sunset tomorrow night for the hometown record release, as Dejha is starting her nine date tour appropriately in Seattle to introduce new songs like "Color Blue," "Plus Minus Plus," and "Waltz For Lucy."

Last night's secret Long Winters show at the Sunset

imaginary dana — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:23:12 +0000

9 Jul 2009

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The Long Winters played a secret show at the Sunset last night, and it was actually like, a secret!

Generally speaking, "secret" shows in Seattle go a bit like this -- that is, they're an extremely loudly whispered secret, at best. Barsuk Records are better secret keepers than most. (Remember that secret Death Cab show at the Croc back in 2003? Of course you don't -- because only like 50 people knew about it and actually showed up. But boy oh boy, was that ever a treat for those of us who did make it.)

Last night at the Sunset, the few people who got wind of it had a similar treat -- the Long Winters and Telekinesis played an understated secret show, to celebrate Grant from Barsuk's 30th birthday (happy birthday, Grant!).

The Long Winters haven't played out in ages, and the band's set was gloriously sloppy though far too short, and featured Michael Lerner of Telekinesis filling in (magnificently, I might add) on drums. Connsumate frontman John Roderick called out for requests from the audience to fill in the band's five-song set, consulting with Michael and birthday boy Grant on the final song picks. While they didn't pick any of mine requests ("Unsalted Butter" and "Stupid"), my imaginary posse and I were thrilled to bits with the songs they did play:

Car Parts
Medicine Cabinet Pirate
Pushover
Cinnamon
Nora

My favorite highlight: when bass player Eric Corson stopped "Medicine Cabinet Pirate" about a minute in and insisted John move his capo and start over. Lerner was enthralling to watch; his enthusiasm and obviously excitement for the set was just obvious. Does anyone else think he bears a resemblance to a young Ben Gibbard, or is it just me? He's got that cute little mushroom cap head going on...

Anyhoo. We rushed over to the show so quickly, we didn't have proper cameras or anything, though the lovely imaginary victoria did capture this short and lo-fi video of the tail end of "Car Parts" as proof of the whole event:

Despite the setlist shown above, "Freebird" wasn't free and made no appearance in the far-too-short setlist, nor did we get to hear a sneak peak at any of the alleged "new songs" John has been twittering about. He did suggest that those of us attending the Doe Bay Music Festival next month might get to hear a sampling.

I'll be there.

Cause Freebird isn't free. Erm, or something.

The Long Winters played a secret show at the Sunset last night, and it was actually like, a secret!

KEXP's Audioasis: Live broadcast, rad bands, good cause

imaginary victoria — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:21:13 +0000

This Saturday's show at The Sunset benefits Real Change Newspaper, with Weekend, Jason Dodson (of the Maldives), and slew of great bands!

5 hours + 4 artists + 3 venues = a very imaginary Saturday

imaginary victoria — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:59:43 +0000

17 Jan 2009

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With such an array of amazing live local music spotlighting this past Saturday's calendar, I did what any good photographer-slash-show enthusiast would do: I laced up my running shoes, charged an extra battery, and set out for four performances at three different venues with camera in tow. What a truly awesome night I was able to witness and shoot as a result! Here's how it all went down:

The first stop on Saturday's mini-tour was the Triple Door, for Jon Auer's much anticipated headlining set. With an expanse of well-lit stage at his feet, Auer broadened the selection from Thursday's opening performance at the Fountains of Wayne show with over sixty minutes of beautiful songstry. As he did two nights prior, the Posies / Big Star frontman pulled from a deep catalog of older hits and newer tracks that showcased his masterful songwriting, skilled technique and clear, clean, bell-like vocals -- and even took time to treat the crowd with covers of Fountains of Wayne's "Hackensack" and the Beatles' "Blackbird." Gavin Guss provided the perfect compliment to Auer, giving the both Steinway and his lovely vocals a workout for a solid, well-matched opening set, as well as support on a few songs.

With a copy of Auer's Songs from the Year of our Demise (2006) firmly in hand, I bid my goodbyes and hightailed it to Ballard for Pablo Trucker's second-slot set at the Sunset. I arrived side-stage with about fifteen minutes to spare, all warm and glowing and full of show from the Triple Door. A few of our friends from Telekinesis were present for the night's lineup, and I gushed about Pablo Trucker's last performance amidst congratulations about their recent sign to Merge.

Quite literally, there is not enough to be said about Pablo Trucker that I haven't already brought up in prior posts -- except for the fact that they're even better than they were last time, which seems near impossible. Their two-man full-force setup managed to simultaneously blow out my eardrums and break my heart in half, with achy lyrics screamed out over a big-bodied electric and the perfect amount of percussion. At one point, the soulful delivery of pure, anguish-infested emoting practically knocked me off my feet. This band is nothing short of an utter triumph, and one to watch for sure. We all stood mouths agape, frequently motioning over the deafening bliss to remind each other that all of this sweetness was coming from two - two - people, who often seemed to share a very consciousness during their extended set.

Amidst shouts of "Thank you! That was brilliant!" and "Thanks for coming!" I headed over to finish out the night with Visqueen. Walking into the sold-out crowd at the Tractor, with a nothing more than a casual knowledge of the band, I could tell immediately that I was in for a treat. Perfectly punky feminine lead vocals and amped-up electric guitars descended over the gleeful crowd that was two songs into the set, and loving every instant of it. It was easy to see why these people were practically bouncing off the walls in reaction to the band -- on top of the sheer energy and talent, there was a chemistry between the crowd and the stage that was tangible. And the talent and connection was no song-related fluke -- they delivered a truly tremendous set, from start to finish. Had I not been tempted by such amazing music at the other venues I visited Saturday, I would have been front and center for the whole night to see the Tripwires opening, Dept. of Energy second slot, and every minute of the Visqueen set.

And that's not all!

More photos of Visqueen, Pablo Trucker, and Jon Auer on flickr.

See you around town!

A night full of local all-stars with Jon Auer, Gavin Guss, Pablo Trucker, and Visqueen.

Such an imaginary weekend!

imaginary victoria — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:55:42 +0000

Got sneakers?

REMINDER: Final Young Sportsmen show Friday night

ChrisB — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:43:16 +0000

The Young Sportsmen will be playing their final show at the Sunset on Friday night with Peter Parker and Guns and Rosetti. :-(

Pablo Trucker, Jack Wilson & the Wife Stealers at the Sunset

imaginary victoria — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:09:29 +0000

27 Oct 2008

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I went into the Jack Wilson & Co. set on Monday night with expectations defined and met: heartbreak and fistfights, simultaneous; "falling in love is like going insane", circa seeing them open for Elliott Brood last month at the Tractor. They're firmly lodged for me somewhere between indie rock and Americana, the Space Needle and a dusty front porch somewhere in the midwest. You know... Wurlitzers and well-worn guitars. It was the last night of their October residency at the Sunset, and they brought it. Brought. It.

I was unprepared, however, for the unabashed mouth-agape in disbelief that was (is) Pablo Trucker. After some friendly interaction over the espresso machine at Victrola with their percussionist, Andrew, and a quick spin around the MySpace page, I was all in for staying late to see the set.

But beyond that... I feel like I should have worn more layers, or prepared somehow otherwise, for what wound up transpiring. One guitar. One drumkit. Two voices, red spotlights, and enough ache to last all of us well into next year sometime. Beyond that, I don't even have any words for it, except go buy the album the minute it comes out, and go see them live next time you have the chance. Seriously. They're my new favorite everything.

(Photos: Victoria / Hot Avocados Photography)

Holy _____ on a _______.

REVERB 2008: Brothers of the Sonic Cloth

Chris Estey — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:05:22 +0000

6 Oct 2008

reverb2008.jpg

Seattle band Brothers of the Sonic Cloth -- the latest project from Tad Doyle of Tad -- sounds priestly, and the astral musical communion it offers is both deeply spiritual sounding and perhaps death rattle bone shaking at the same time. Obviously adored by adorable-herself KEXP Audioasis DJ Hannah Levin, the band played tribute to Doyle's power and beloved place in the history of Seattle music, but also reminded the future that the past is chewing on its ass (and vice versa).

6 PM may have seemed a little early for a space rock buzz this strong, but the lean set was filled with so much delirious expectation and delicious tension from the club's packed pile of fans that the pay-off, played out by Tad on his guitar and from-the-hollow-earth vocals, the drumming of Eric Akre, and the mesmerizing bass playing of Tad's gal Peggy, could have happened in any arbitrary frame of time.

As Brothers of the Sonic Cloth drew whoops of tribute from deep in the lungs of younger fans who have discovered that Tad was one of the very best things on Sub Pop, and not as many older grunge-hounds as you might have guessed, it's clear that Levin's choice for the first Audioasis broadcast was canny and astute. This could easily silence any KCMU fans who think that KEXP still doesn't have the raw guys to obliterate the airwaves with pure rock and roll apocalypse.

Tad Doyle kicks a hole in the wall of space-time with new band.

Photo Essay: BOAT w/ Tullycraft and Fishboy at the Sunset

Steve Louie — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:01:53 +0000

12 Jul 2008

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It was predicted to be a sweaty night of indie pop goodness at the Sunset and this it was.

Fishboy opened the evening right on time around 10PM. You have to give it up for Fishboy who flew in from Denton, TX to play this show. This was their only west coast date and its kind of out of the way with their current tour stops.

Adam "Sweatpants" - going all out with the tambourine, horns and keys. He even had this massive green pencil to hit the tambourine with. Where do I buy one of those?

Fact: Fishboy's album Albatross: How We Failed To Save The Lone Star State With The Power Of Rock And Roll is listed as one of the best albums of TIG in 2007. After hearing their songs from their earlier acoustic performance at the Fremont Troll and hearing the full band play - yes I can agree their album would be nothing short of pure, no hassles sing-a-long fun.

The long awaited set by Tullycraft - a band I have heard of in twee circles frequently but have never had the pleasure of seeing live. The dedicated crowd at the front, already sweaty from the Fishboy set went full out grooving to this infectious brand of twee pop.

"Wild Bikini", "Rumbling With the Gang Debs", "Georgette Plays a Goth" and "The Punks are Writing Love Songs". These are but a handful of the songs that I know of. The Beach Boys have their summer classics. Well, let me tell you - I'm sure these songs will definitely be some of Seattle's summer classics.

BOAT - they are all about Baseball, Bubblegum and the Chicago Public Schools. They didn't play "Elephant Ears" but I think we can forgive them. We know who you are.

What a better way to move the party onto the stage - introducing homemade red plastic cup shakers - an exclusive Boat party favour.

"Last Cans of Paint" such a short two minute song - they could easily play it twice and no one would ever blink an eye.

Oh yeah, this was a tour kick off as Boat would leave right after the show to California for a week full of dates before coming back home at the end of month and then go on a summer east coast tour for the month of August. Go Boat!

(more photos of Boat w/ Tullycraft and Fishboy)

A sweaty night of indie-pop songs about taqueria girls, vampires, baseball, bubblegum and Chicago public schools.

Ball of Wax showcase tonight at the Sunset

imaginary dana — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:09:22 +0000

For those of you not in the know, the Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly is a compilation that highlights up-and-coming, under-the-radar from the Northwest and beyond.

Flickr photo of the day: BOAT

imaginary dana — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:12:42 +0000

BOAT at the Sunset. Photo by spookythecat.

Mystery guests at Sunday Bloody Sunday

Chris Estey — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:59:37 +0000

It's going to be as exciting as those old Velvet Elvis Sunday afternoons for me, except I'm going to be drinking Bloody Marys! Woot!