Three Imaginary Girls May 2024
April was a magical month for shows and imaginary stories. We have highest hopes May will be as well!
Greetings, imaginary friends!
First off, apologies that our April newsletter isn’t sending until Cinco de Mayo. I have many reasons why, but the most fun one is: because I spent last weekend in San Francisco, seeing my all-time favorite band — the Magnetic Fields — play the entirety of their opus album 69 Love Songs over two magical musical nights. It was incredible; re-entry to real life has been a bit bumpy.
But better late than never, here’s our May newsletter, coming at you with stories from last’s month theme of Best. Concert. Ever. plus an R.E.M. moment of synchronicity, the only weekly top 40 from 1984, and our writing prompt for May. Enjoy!
April writing prompt: Best. Concert. Ever.
We had an incredible response to this writing prompt, and April had a record number of submissions tas a result. We absolutely loved reading every one of your live show stories — thanks to all of you who submitted them!
I Saw a Secret R.E.M. Show Thanks to a Rockstar Crush
About 500 of us were in the right place, at the right time — the Crocodile Cafe on October 23, 2001 — for the show of a lifetime.
By Dana DuBois
Neil Young Live: It Felt Like a Dream
My mother understood some things about me; she understood the Neil Young about me.
By Terry Barr
The Beastie Boys at The Academy, NYC ‘94
Music is very much the soundtrack of our lives.
By M.J. Flood
My “Best Concert Ever” Had Little To Do With The Artists And Everything To Do With My Mother
We got our “Graceland Too” moment after all.
By Beatrice Rose
Five of My All-time Favorite Concerts
I do have a favorite in this round of great shows.
By Nella DiCarlo
Blood, Snow, and Bif Naked
The defining event of my sophomore year
By Oscar Rhea
I Didn’t Like You Very Much When I Met You
Best. Concert. Ever.
By Stuart J Thomas
What Is All The Screaming About? My First Encounter With Rock Fans Losing Their Minds
Not my best concert ever, but the best one to teach me everyone experiences concerts differently.
By Jen D. Clark
What’s Unforgettable?
Somehow I narrowed down decades of concerts to five.
By Sarah Lazarz
Emily and Amy in the Green Room
I met the Indigo Girls at the best concert I never went to.
By M. J. Carson
Don’t Tell My Kids, But I Just Bought Us Tickets to See Taylor Swift in Europe
One of the least practical — but most exciting — decisions I’ve made.
By Dana DuBois
We had a bit of a superfan R.E.M. moment on TIG this month…
In addition to Dana DuBois’ story about about seeing a secret R.E.M. at an intimate rock venue in 2001, Melissa Corrigan wrote this beautiful story about the (also beautiful) song “Nightswimming,” as she reflects on her final moments of young adult innocence sent to this song. And finally, Stewart Mason sent us 40 Years Ago: R.E.M.’s Reckoning, a deep dive and reflection on the band’s iconic sophomore release.
Oh heck, while we’re here waxing nostalgic about R.E.M., I can’t not share Imaginary Liz’s The Tale of a Teenage R.E.M. Superfan in New York City, which chronicles her misadventures in crashing the band’s Saturday Night Live performance way back in 1991. I mean, just look at her…
And the weekly Top 40 from 1984 marches on…
ICYMI, Stewart Mason has been posting a week-by-week analysis of the Top 40 from 40 years ago. I never knew there was so much to learn about 1984, but every single week, he dazzles us with his knowledge bombs as he sends us on the best trip ever down memory lane.
Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1
May Writing Prompt for Three Imaginary Girls: Traveling for Music
Have you traveled to see a band, or do you have forthcoming adventures? We want to hear about them.
Memorial Day is mere weeks away, and summer looms just out of reach, but essentially right around the corner. And I don’t know about all of you, but I’ve got travel and music on my mind — often, together.
I just returned from a weekend in San Francisco to see the Magnetic Fields, and it was incredible. I’ve got a pile of tickets for future shows later this year, a couple of which involve out of state (or even out of the country) travel.
For a few years there, both travel and live shows felt impossible. I’m giddy to experience them both again.
I have to think I’m not the only one.
So this month’s writing prompt is Traveling for Music. You can tell us about a past show you traveled to see, or tell us about what you’ve got on your musical dance card. We want to know why this show, in that location.
Let’s get a vicarious music travel thrill!
We can’t wait to read your stories. Please tag them with “Music Travel” so we can find them and share them. If you’re not yet a writer for Three Imaginary Girls but would like to be, please leave us a note in the comments and we’ll be happy to add you.
Are you going to see any shows in the next month or so? If so, let us know which ones in the comments section!
XOXOXOXO,
Imaginary Liz and Dana DuBois
