As a long-standing fan of both the "warm crackle" and one of our fave honorary locals, I'm happy to share the following imaginary goodness... the best things come in groups of three.

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I had asked some music-related friends to send me their best of 2008 lists with the promise that I'd post them here. The first to send their list in is Becca Minkoff, the lovely and brilliant assistant marketing director and 3D webmaster for The Triple Door.

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They're only the nicest band, ever.

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The holiday season hasn't started yet, but I've just added my top item to my "I've been a good imaginary girl" wishlist: a limited-edition Nada Surf vinyl box set featuring all five of the band's studio albums (and loads of other goodies).

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at Bumbershoot 2008

Bumbershoot is a musical extravaganza, spanning the three-day Labor Day weekend with more bands, arts, and elephant ears than anyone can possibly capture. We had a posse of imaginary writers (ChrisB, Chris Estey, imaginary elle, imaginary dana, and Cory), and photographers (Chona, Kyle, Nathan, and Andrew) all over Seattle Center, trying to capture the frenzy and mayhem of Bumbershoot 2008. Below you can see and read about our adventures during the first day, which kicked off with local electronic duo Beehive and ended with superstar Beck, and covered over 20 other bands in-between.

Enjoy!

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While a few review is coming soon, I couldn't resist sharing this video, shot during the glorious Nada Surf set in the KEXP Studios. Enjoy!

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Not to lose any momentum from last Saturday's fantastic Old 97's show, the band has just been added to the 2008 Bumbershoot roster. Can I get a woot, y'all?

Also joining the 97's at the fest are Nada Surf, Flobots, and, yes it's true, the Offspring.

Bumbershoot is also going green, and no, I don't mean they're serving up weed (that's Folklife, people). The festival is taking strides to save the planet, encouraging patrons to bring their own non-disposable water bottles, reducing the number of printed programs and brochures, reusing signage from previous festivals, and powering the festival with net-zero energy (via Seattle City Light) and biodiesel generators, and more. You can even purchase carbon credits to offset your travels to the festival at bumbershoot.org.

Current lineup is as follows, and the Bumbershoot peeps claim even more will be announced in about a month:

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Great news for all you Nada Surf fans out there (and I proudly include myself among you): Nada Surf just announced a slew of West Coast and European tour dates, including a Seattle stop at Bumbershoot!

Here are all the dates, straight from the Barsuk press release:

20-Jun Germany, Southside Festival
22-Jun Germany, Hurricane Festival
27-Jun Germany, Darmstadt, Central Station (part of Sommerperlen)
28-Jun Germany, Jena
2-Jul France, Orleans, Campo Santo Festival
5-Jul France, St. Dewis de Gastines
13-Jul Belgium, Liege Festival Les Ardentes
17-Jul Spain, Benicassim Festival
18-Jul France, Angouleme, Garden Party
20-Jul UK, Latitude festival
7-Aug Salt Lake City, UT, Gallivan Center
15-Aug Spain, Aranda de duero-Burgos, Sonorama Festival
22-Aug Spain, Galicia, Villagarcia de Arousa
23-Aug France, La Ferme du Rock
28-Aug Costa Mesa, CA, PAC-Samueli Theatre
30-Aug Seattle, WA, Bumbershoot
2-Sep San Francisco, CA, Great American Music Hall
3-Sep San Francisco, CA, Great American Music Hall
4-Sep Portland, OR, MusicFest NW
5-Sep Los Angeles, CA, Troubadour
6-Sep Los Angeles, CA, Troubadour

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Plan your budget accordingly.

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at Showbox Sodo

"They were so good. I've seen them probably 20+ times, and this may have been the best I've seen them."

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