Why, it’s Stephin Merritt week in Seattle! Hopefully you caught the excellent Strange Powers at SIFF Cinema eariler this week, but if not, you’re not completely out of SM luck (though it was a great movie for Magnetic Fields fans!). He and Gothic Archies contributor/Lemony Snicket writer Daniel Handler have scored the 1916 silent movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and will be performing it on Wednesday, June 9th at the Paramount.

Like many of you, I could watch Stephin Merritt do anything and still be pleased. I’ve been positively fascinated with his opera and musical theater output, and I can’t wait to see what he’s done with this score. I have no idea what the music will be like, but I’m positive it will contain wonderful SM wit, and probably some wonderful Merritt/Handler chemistry (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, go pick up your copy of 69 Love Songs and read the interview in the booklet). Plus, I hear there’s a song called “I Don’t Want to Wear Pants”. This will probably be one of the best music fan SIFF events. Don’t miss it!