You guys! There are only a few more weeks until Dancing on the Valentine 8: A Cure for Leukemia! 

In case you haven't heard of DOTV before (what!), the fabulous Ms. Jenny George, a survivor of Leukemia, decided to start this benefit 8 years ago to give back to the organization that provides support to cancer patients, and is working hard to find a cure. The benefit has grown each year to raise more money for LLS, and this year DOTV is hoping to raise at least $10,000 to beat the hell out of last year's record-breaking $7,000+! 

The 2013 show features local bands covering the music of The Cure at Neumos on Saturday, 2/9, with all proceeds from ticket sales and raffles going to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The line-up is FIERCE this year, with Adra Boo, Daniel G. Harmann and The Trouble Starts, Erik Blood, Gibraltar, Head Like a Kite, Hotels, Lesli Wood (of The Redwood Plan) w/Jupe Jupe, NighTrain, Panama Gold, The Grizzeled Mighty, Vox Mod, and interludes by DJ Mike Steve. Plus! Our own Imaginary Dana will be emcee'ing, and Jenny's handsome son Attitcus will be making a special appearance on stage at the beginning of the night to sing some Robert Smith!!! 

We've got a pair of tix to giveaway to a lucky winner, so you can spend your donation dollars on raffle tickets instead. Email us at tig {at} threeimaginarygirls {dot} com with the subject line "Lovecats" anytime between now and 5pm Monday 2/4 for a chance to win 'em. We'll notify the winner Tuesday am. 

{Dancing on the Valentine presents: A Cure for Leukemia: A Tribute to The Cure benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Sponsored by CityArts, KEXP, and Uber | Saturday, Feb 9 at Neumos | Doors at 8pm | $15 adv, 21+} 

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Oh 80s, how I love and hate that I grew up in your giant bang/legwarmer/off-the-shoulder culture. Some things never go out of style (especially according to Urban Outfitters)—even though they probably should—but even though my fashion sense evolved, my taste in music has stayed pretty much the same. Sure, I find bands I like now, but for the most part it’s because they all remind me of the bands I loved when I was a teenager.

Lace up your Docs and dive into a pile of nostalgia as I run through three albums that helped get me through the confusion and terror of my high school years, and which I still play on repeat 20-something years later.

The Cure: Disintegration
Affectionately (?!) titled  “the wrist-slitting album” by my group of constantly black-clad Goth-y friends, Disintegration is a depressing tearjerker of an album, meant for playing just after you’ve been dumped while you write long tomes of terrible poetry, burning that candle you shoved into a cheap Chianti bottle, next to the dead rose you still keep in a vase decorated by torn black lace.

The first strains of the opener, “Plainsong” tinkles in quietly, gradually building to an explosion of gorgeous notes that fall slowly, which make it the perfect sad movie song (major props to Sophia Coppola of sticking it into Marie Antoinette at just the right moment). And then Robert starts in with his mantra of heartbreak, and any hope you have of keeping it together totally crumbles. And that’s how the rest of the album goes: 12 songs of beautiful, amazing tunes focusing on love gone wrong, obsession, and pain. Even the strange “Lullaby”, about a frightening nightmare, is really about having your hopes dashed and your heart torn asunder. And everyone remembers sobbing through “Pictures of You”—while actually looking at photos of their exes, right? "I've been living so long with my pictures of you, that I almost believe that the pictures are all I can feel..." Oh Robert Smith. You get me. You really, really get me.

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Recently, I've fallen into a rabid obsession with The Cure during the epoch where they were floating in uncharted territory between Disintegration (1989) and Wish (1992). Concerning the general musical landscape, it was an interesting time. The bloated gluttony of the '80s was passing, and the misdirected angst of grunge had not yet taken the country by storm.

Relating this to The Cure, they were still riding high on the unanticipated success of Disintegration and looking towards the future with an optimistic perspective. They had everything in their favor at this point: a stellar band consisting of Robert Smith (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Simon Gallup (bass), Porl Thompson (guitar), Boris Williams (drums) and Perry Bamonte (keyboards), a record company that appeared to offer them unquestioned artistic creativity, a reputation for being the biggest, unknown band in the world - and perhaps most importantly, the wherewithal to take whatever step they wanted to take next.

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Please, help me make the best Hallowindie Mix EVER!

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This is your chance to hear the recording in its entirety almost one week in advance of the official release with a mention of complementary drinks and prizes. You can't really go wrong here.

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The new as-yet-untitled studio record is set to be released on September 13, 2008.

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Day by day line up announced

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I kind of feel like a bit of a sucker for falling for such an obvious ploy.

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John in the Morning has played not one, not two, but THREE of my all-time favorite romantic pop songs (in order of appearance) this morning.

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It would sure be great to give our imaginary baby a name that already has an amazing song associated with it. Got any suggestions?

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