As many of you here in Seattle have heard, local favorite Drew Grow (of Drew Grow & the Pastor's Wives) was in quite a gnarly accident recently. Reports about surgeries and physical healing reports seem to be on the up-and-up, but unfortunately, that means a pile of medical bills -- and this is where the community at large as we know it has stepped up.

We'll be bringing you more information soon on the shows and goings on around the PNW to raise money for Drew -- most notably next month's benefit at Columbia City Theater -- but so far as tonight goes, you can mosey over to the Comet and do some good while you geek on rad tunes. Lemolo will be coming in to headline the night in Drew Grow's place, as he and his band were originally booked to play there this evening. Our new favorite two-woman combo will be sharing the stage with Big Sur and See Me River, and with a lineup like that, we can just about guarantee great tidings.

The show is 21+ / 9p / $8, with a generous portion of the proceeds going directly to cover Drew's bills. Be there!

more...

{See Me River photo by Kyle Johnson}

Tonight is a three band deep jubilee of American self-expression as smart and intimate as a poem by Walt Whitman, and as big and overflowing with talent as a Seattle Carter Family.

The Tractor hosts See Me River's album release for The One That Got A Wake, their latest and best album so far. They're middle in the bill, but SMR's latest songs (among the best: "A Drink To The Kids," "Pasithea Will Try," and scopious character study and album opener "Heroine") are more ample in composition and have a flux in both lyrical insights and musical twists than ever. If you've often been blown away by the majestic pull and sweep of the Kerry Zettel and his dark-garbed collective of players' performances live but have been waiting for less minimalist and doomy undertones, the bracing, sobering wake up call of The One That Got A Wake will be the one that sucks you in. Check out the new songs and see for yourself, and I bet you'll be walking away with a copy tonight.

more...

at The Crocodile

I’d like to register a complaint against the sound guy at the Crocodile on Friday. No matter where you were standing it felt like your ears were clogged, or your head was wrapped in cellophane. Having never seen Grand Archives live before, I wrote off a lot of their shortcomings to the poor sound quality. However, upon reflection, I have to say it was truly just a boring show.

more...

Grand Archives, a group of veteran indie rockers, is touring for the upcoming release of their second full-length album, Keep In Mind Frankenstein, due out September 15th. That’s the day before my birthday. I’ll think of it as Mat Brooke’s (Band of Horses) present to me.

If you’re enamored with the idea of five part harmonies echoing out over an array of unexpected instruments, then you should probably check out this show. Their dreamy melodies manage to throttle into rollicking, knee-jerk inducing crescendos. And other times they stay subdued, and sometimes they fall into different eras but they always find a core in their folk rock roots.

They are playing The Crocodile tonight, Friday 6/12 with Seattle-based See Me River, touring for their March 2009 EP, a precursor to their upcoming summer release, Time Machine. Their acoustic sound rests on the crest of the New Wave and crashes into a gothic country ocean.

The openers for the show, The Curious Mystery, also a Seattle band, released Rotting Slowly this May on K Records. Listening to Shana Cleveland’s vocals tripping along the curb of a pot-hole ridden road, is like skinning your palms for the first time since you were ten; a bit unexpected and nostalgically pleasing.

Check out “Ed Jackson” from See Me River on KEXP’s song of the day blog.

more...

It's your Thanksgiving week imaginary podcast, featuring some of the most awesome Northwest bands (and a few non-NW bands we couldn't resist sharing). Enjoy this with your turkey or Tofurky feast!

at Neumo's

Their music smokes with fire, banjos & brimstone: visualize a dark version of the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack, and you've pinned down a lot of the shouted vocals/tinny sound of old time radio that The Builders and the Butchers utilizes.

more...

To enter the drawing to win to tickets to tonight's show, email us at tig @ threeimaginarygirls.com before 5p tonight with your full name and the subject line "Alice and Laverne". We'll let you know by 5.30p if you won.

more...

Seattle band Das Llamas just announced that they will "take an indefinite break so that its members may pursue other life interests."

more...

There are definitely some enjoyable moments on See Me River, yet it still feels like a half-baked effort. Though I suppose that’s why these things are called side projects as opposed to main projects.

more...