Three Imaginary Girls are getting out into the cold

Here in Seattle the weather is getting colder and colder and it’s been raining more often lately (in Seattle? I know), so in theory, staying in sounds more and more appealing. Considering that I’m moving in a few weeks, I should be staying in where it is nice and warm and I should be boxing my CDs and DVDs and such. Instead, though, the show calendar is so strong that procrastination seems both desirable and prudent. Here’s what I’m excited for this week:

Final Young Sportsmen show at the Sunset Friday, November 14

The Young Sportsmen have been one of my favorite local rock bands over the past few years. They’ve release two excellent LPs, Death to Palaces and If You Want It. Their songs are catchy, upbeat rock and roll numbers that bring to their powerpop elders like Sloan, Cheap Trick and You Am I. Live, though, they always deliver a consistent and energetic set that brings the excellent songs to life – especially bringing out the dynamic rhythm section and the melodies that support singer/guitarist Wesley Nelson’s harmonies.

For whatever reason, the band has decided to call it a day and tonight closes the book on one of the most dynamic Northwest bands in recent memory. The Young Sportsmen are playing their final show at the Sunset with Peter Parker and Guns and Rosetti Friday night. I can’t imagine anything that would keep me from saying goodbye to a band that I’ve so thoroughly enjoyed over the past few years and wish the band members each well in their future endeavors. Still, knowing that there won’t be another Young Sportsmen show to look forward to is saddening.

Here’s a clip of their second to last show, last month at Jules Maes Saloon:

Dead Confederate with Feral Children and Apollo Sunshine at Chop Suey, Wednesday, November 19

About two weeks ago I interviewed Dead Confederate’s singer/guitarist Hardy Morris and we had talked about how a few members of the KEXP staff were taken by this band after being blown away by an in-studio appearance at last year’s CMJ festival and were asked to play the station’s Christmas Yule party almost immediately afterward. Since then, they’ve completed an excellent full-length record, called Wrecking Ball that is a steady rock record that blends equally elements of Southern rock, country and psychedelia.

My favorite song from Wrecking Ball is “The Rat”, which is the tale of a rodent questioning the values of religious fellows that are the first to condemn and judge others. Considering how much money and time that originated from churches to pass Proposition 8, a ban on homosexual marriage in California, last week, I found the song somewhat comforting. Here’s the video to that song:

The Rosebuds and The Kindness Kind at the Tractor Tavern, Thursday, November 20

The Rosebuds are touring to support their latest album Life Like, and it is one of my favorite records of the year and my favorite record of theirs yet. It is a smart and complex record that has some very lush and multilayered melodies. I also really love the dual and rotating harmonies from Kelly Crisp and Ivan Howard.

Joining them for this show is The Kindness Kind, another local band that I have been enchanted with for the past year. They also have expertly crafted melodies (both instrumentation and programming) that compliments lead singer Alessandra Rose beautifully. With their lush and intricate songs, they are a great addition to the bill with The Rosebuds. Tonight they’re celebrating the release of their fantastic self-titled record. It should make for quite the evening.

See you out and about,

Chris Burlingame

Three Imaginary Girls

In high iPod rotation:
Nick Lowe

The Trucks

The Helio Sequence

(Three Imaginary Girls is a Seattle-based website that showcases the great music of the Northwest and beyond to music lovers worldwide. We post a Seattle live show calendar to help you fill your day-planner with loads of great shows, as well as record reviews, live show reviews, and an imagi-blog to entertain you throughout the day.)