Here’s a bit of consolation to residents of our nation’s capital who are looking for something to do now that the Senators’ playoff run has ended (in failure, again, if you weren’t keeping track). Kicking off next week is the Capital Idea festival, running from June 20 to 30 at clubs all over Ottawa and featuring acts such as The Walkmen, The Wrens, Sunset Rubdown, The Besnard Lakes, Destroyer, Xiu Xiu, The Fiery Furnaces, amongst many, many others.

Courtesy of Mocking Music, I’ve got a pair of festival passes to give away to one lucky Bytown-er (or maybe someone from Toronto or Montreal willing to make the trek to Ottawa and hang out there for ten days or so) that’s good for all shows except the Girl Talk show on the 29th, which is a benefit show and which you should pay for because it’s good for your karma. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with your full name and address in the body and “That’s a Capital Idea” in the subject line. The contest will close on Friday, June 15 at midnight.

Congratulations to Suzie, who won the passes.

Though it was a game-time decision, I decided to bail on the Dinosaur Jr show at the Phoenix on Friday, opting to concentrate on the Voxtrot gig at Sneaky Dee’s instead. And by “concentrate”, I mean take the time to eat something resembling a proper meal and watch some TV before heading out for the evening to catch the late half of their double-header.

The appeal of tourmates Au Revoir Simone is obvious – three pretty girls in Summer dresses playing gentle pop music over banks of whirring synths and drum machines. What’s not to like? Their latest record The Bird Of Music is pretty much a study in breeziness – pleasant and refreshing but not exactly what you’d call substantial. Live, they remedied this somewhat by simple virtue of being able to turn up the low end and move some air and hit the keyboards that much harder. Particularly entertaining was watching Heather D’Angelo banging away at her keyboards and jumping up and down like she was in Motorhead. Breezy it may have been, but sometimes that’s exactly what a Summer evening calls for (though it was actually pretty cold for early June) and their three-part harmonies would be welcome any time of the year. They return for a headlining show at Lee’s Palace on August 15.

Middle act Favourite Sons didn’t fare as well. There was a tangible hostility from the band as they took the stage to play songs from their record Down Beside Your Beauty – mayhap the early show didn’t go so well? – and it was returned in turn from the audience. Their rather ponderous, over-emoted rock came across a bit of a wet blanket on the evening and when some of the audience turned to heckling, frontman Ken Griffin flipped the bird without missing a beat. Methinks this wasn’t the first time he’d gotten such a welcome and I get the feeling it won’t be the last.

Voxtrot’s star has risen considerably since their last pass through town in April of last year, so the fact that they were still playing the same tiny club this time around guaranteed that this was going to be an intimate kind of show. The occasion for the tour was the recent release of their long-awaited full-length Voxtrot, which has been getting mixed reviews relative to the uniformly rapturous praise their EPs got. While the record’s not flawless – not at all – I find some of the criticisms to be overly harsh. The band had made their name with perfectly pop-sized discs that left the listener craving more and the album experience is considerably different. It’s a denser record both sonically – strings appear on more than a few tracks, maybe too many – and lyrically – Ramesh Srivastava’s penchant for wordiness is in full effect here – and with less overt hooks and a rather cheesy foray into piano balladry (“Real Live Version”). Repeated listens prove rewarding, though, with the strengths coming more to the fore and the shortcomings fading to the background.

But that’s the record, and this was the live show. I’d forgotten just how much fun Voxtrot were live, how easily they tap into the spirit of pure guitar pop with Srivastava full of manic energy and bounding around the stage like a man possessed (he still does his jump-up-and-down dance). The audience, still shaking off Favourite Sons’ dour set, was ready to party and the net result was a super-fun, if somewhat short, show. It seemed to me that the setlist seemed to lean more on the older material than stuff from the new album, which I found curious, but considering the great response it got from the crowd you couldn’t call it a miscalculation. I wonder if they followed the same strategy for the early show or mixed it up some more? Either way, the set we got made for a terrific time and after a quick, one-song encore the band went across the street to DJ an after-party at a bar and I went home and slept for ten hours. Everybody wins.

If you haven’t, check out the Reaching For Lasers minisite the band has assembled documenting the recording sessions for the album. Voxtrot is back in town on June 20 for a free show/television taping at the Berkeley Church – if you want to get on the guest list, email audience200@gmail.com with your name and “Voxtrot” in the subject line.

Photos: Voxtrot, Favourite Sons, Au Revoir Simone @ Sneaky Dee’s – June 8, 2007
MP3: Voxtrot – “Kid Gloves”
MP3: Favourite Sons – “Tall Grass”
MP3: Au Revoir Simone – “A Violent Yet Flammable World”
Video: Voxtrot – “Steven” (YouTube)
Video: Au Revoir Simone – “Fallen Snow” (YouTube)
MySpace: Voxtrot
MySpace: Favourite Sons
MySpace: Au Revoir Simone

Pollstar has got The New Pornographers as taking part in the Rogers Picnic on July 29 at Historic Fort York. This is the party that’s being headlined by The Roots and also featuring a slew of acts including the reunited Bad Brains, The Dears, Apostle Of Hustle and others. It’s unknown if it will be the full Bejar and Case-powered lineup taking to the road this Fall (but skipping Toronto for the moment) but I suspect not. They’ll surely be previewing material from Challengers, out August 21, which you can pre-order now and get a bunch of bonus goodies. The details seem rather complex so I’ll let you go read them yourself but in the meantime, check out the first MP3 from the record.

MP3: The New Pornographers – “My Rights Versus Yours”

NME has got solo dates for solo Super Furry Gruff Rhys in support of his album Candylion. The Toronto date will be September 25 at the Rivoli, so local fans had best get on that fast whenever tickets go on sale – they won’t last long.

Also coming soon – Animal Collective are at the Phoenix on September 8.

I neglected to mention before that last week, Daytrotter featured Asobi Seksu in session and in conversation.

Also for loud listening – Spinner is streaming the both discs of the deluxe reissue of Sonic Youth’s Daydream Nation, out today. File under: timeless.

Stream: Sonic Youth / Daydream Nation (deluxe edition)

The Toronto Sun talked to Lou Barlow about squeezing a new album out of the Dinosaur Jr reunion.

If I had one edict for surviving NxNE this year, it would be “no club hopping”. Coming off two weeks abroad and having already hit shows Sunday and Tuesday night, the only thing that was going to get me out of the house for Thursday through Saturday was some sort of guarantee to myself that I wouldn’t be trying to barrel around Toronto on my bike at night while at high risk of a narcoleptic attack. Thank goodness, then, for the lineup Thursday at the Horseshoe, which featured a happy grab bag of acts – some very familiar, some peripherally, some not at all – but almost certainly guaranteeing an interesting evening.

Leading things off were Future Clouds & Radar, the new project of Robert Harrison, formerly of Cotton Mather. You’d be excused for doing a double-take when told their drivers licenses say “Austin, Texas”, however, as their swirling, neo-psychedelic pop owes a huge debt to such towering English talents as Ray Davies and Robyn Hitchcock (payable in pounds sterling). Rolling out material from their self-titled debut, the band seemed a little out of sorts to begin the set, only Harrison seeming fully in the groove and periodically dancing over to his bandmates to offer some guidance or support. They quickly got it together, though, and by set’s end were firing on all cylinders and finished their too-brief set on a high note. At two CDs in length, Future Clouds And Radar is a bit overlong and probably dilutes what could be a drum-tight single disc, but the long format does lend it a charming, rambling GBV-ish quality. Recommended, both live and on disc. Houston Press Q&As Rober Harrison.

I hadn’t actually wanted to stick around for Bowling Green, Kentucky’s Cage The Elephant – they didn’t sound like my cup of tea – but with nowhere else to go for an hour, I did and am glad I did. I guess I’m learning the distinction between music that I enjoy listening to and that which can simply be fun to see live. And Cage The Elephant’s blend of snotty teenage punk and classic-styled Southern rock definitely delivers on the latter. Looking barely out of high school (if even that), the five-piece put on a show loaded with energy and antics one couldn’t help but enjoy.

Los Angeles’ Sea Wolf made a positive impression when they played our Hot Freaks show at SxSW in March so I was pleased to see them coming to town (though they’d just come by last month opening for Silversun Pickups). Their new EP Get To The River Before It Runs Too Low is a pleasant if a bit subdued bit of nicely orchestrated folk-pop and that’s my overall impression of them live. Alex Church’s compositions are hooky though at times it feels like they’re wearing gloves – there’s something that keeps them from catching too deeply. But there’s definitely potential there and the band has the tools to do something really great – and I mean that literally. They had loads and loads of fascinating instruments onstage and at their disposal.

And then the headliners, at least for as late as I was planning to stay – the resurrected Buffalo Tom. I had thought that seeing them in Austin at SxSW in March would be a once-in-a-lifetime, can’t-miss opportunity… then they show up in my backyard not three months later. That’s not a complaint, though. They may be years removed from their Sassy “Cute Band Alert” but Buffalo Tom play with the energy of a much younger band. Well, mainly Bill Janovitz who kept in game shape during the band’s hiatus selling houses – throughout the set, he was bounding, lurching and generally all over the stage, powering through material both classic and new (from their forthcoming album Three Easy Pieces, out July 10). Chris Colbourn stayed pretty much stationary over on his side of the stage trying not to get caught in the line of fire. It’s funny that some of the sloppiness I noticed at their show in Austin and wrote off as the band getting back into gear were still evident three months later. Maybe that’s just how the BT are live? I never saw them back in the day so I can’t compare. However, if I might make a suggestion, Bill – for the straightforward style of guitar-pop that the band excels at, you really doesn’t need so many distortion pedals. SG -> cable -> Marshall = goodness. Just saying. But stompbox navigational difficulties aside, Buffalo Tom’s set was a terrific stroll down memory lane but kept an eye towards the future.

Photos: Buffalo Tom, Sea Wolf, Cage The Elephant, Future Clouds And Radar @ The Horseshoe – June 7, 2007
MP3: Buffalo Tom – “Three Easy Pieces”
MP3: Sea Wolf – “You’re A Wolf”
MP3: Sea Wolf – “The Garden That You Planted”
MP3: Future Clouds And Radar – “Drugstore Bust”
MP3: Future Clouds And Radar – “Quicksilver”
Video: Buffalo Tom – “Sodajerk” (YouTube)
Video: Buffalo Tom – “Velvet Roof” (YouTube)
Video: Sea Wolf – “You’re A Wolf” (YouTube)
MySpace: Buffalo Tom
MySpace: Sea Wolf
MySpace: Future Clouds And Radar

The Cleveland Free Times and Daily Press talk to Son Volt’s Jay Farrar.

The Guardian discusses the influence of family on Elvis Perkins’ Ash Wednesday

Pitchfork offers up details on Josh Ritter’s new album The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, due out August 21 on Sony/BMG.

CokeMachineGlow checks in with John Darnielle on the status of all things Mountain Goat – new album being record in August in September, to be released some time after that. Obviously.

Billboard reports that the new Iron & Wine album, The Shepherd’s Dog, will be out September 25. Look for the first single in a month or so.

Now translated into English, last week’s Takeaway Shows featuring Loney, Dear.

And the final batch of Europe photos – sets from Switzerland, brief stops in Leichtenstein and Austria and finally, finishing up with a few stops around Germany. I particularly love the ones of the Swiss Alps, taken atop the Stanserhorn. Majesty doesn’t even begin to describe it. But that’s it for the vacation shots – henceforth, my Flickr account will again focus on concert shots and pictures of my cat – like this one, which has been selected to be published in the 24 Hours Of Flickr book. Naturally, he’s been a total diva since he found out. No, wait – he was always like that.

Having hit up five shows in the past seven nights – and another tomorrow – the last thing I want to do is more show-going. But you might have had a lighter time of the past week than I or maybe are just more dedicated to the rock. If so, I salute you and offer you this.

BrakesBrakesBrakes (still just “Brakes” in the UK and to their moms) are the sorta side-project, sorta-full time job for the brothers White from Electric Soft Parade and Eamon Hamilton, former British Sea Power keyboardist. They recently released their second album The Beatific Visions and are on tour in North America to promote.

Courtesy of World’s Fair, I’ve got a pair of passes to give away to their show on Tuesday night at Lee’s Palace in Toronto as well as a copy of the new CD – they’re playing with Electric Soft Parade and New York City’s Pela. To enter, fire me off an email to contests AT chromewaves.net with your full name and mailing address in the body and “I want to see Brakesbrakesbrakes” in the subject line. Contest closes at 5PM, Monday June 11.

MP3: BrakesBrakesBrakes – “Hold Me In The River”
MP3: BrakesBrakesBrakes – “Hold Me In The River” (YouTube)
MP3: BrakesBrakesBrakes – “Spring Chicken” (YouTube)
MySpace: BrakesBrakesBrakes

So right now everything is all NxNE but there’s another Canadian industry type thingie going on right now with initial nominations for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize wrapping up this evening. Music writers from across the country are nominating their five best Canadian albums from the past year (June 06 to May 07) and the results will be distilled into a 10-record shortlist to be announced July 10 and the final winner to be announced at a gala on September 24.

I got caught a bit flat-footed last year, realizing when I went to compile my list that I actually had very few qualifying Canadian albums in my collection (my favourite releases were mostly EPs which aren’t eligible) so I swore that for 2007, I’d have a much deeper pool of Cancon that I’d be familiar enough with to choose from. Well, it’s a funny thing about plans… I definitely listened to more Canadian music this past year, both because I made and effort and because a lot of what came out was too good to pass by regardless of country of origin, but when I sat down to assemble my list, I was again left a bit more frustrated than I’d expected. Land Of Talk won’t be releasing their full-length until the Fall at earliest. Same for The Acorn, though if they’d put out Blankets! and Tin Fist as a single release instead of two EPs they’d be a slam dunk nomination. And Basia Bulat’s Oh My Darling, though out in Europe, still doesn’t have a Canadian release and is thus ineligible. Grr.

But even so, my biggest problems were trying to decide which records to exclude rather than trying to find enough records I could get behind to fill out my five (as was the case last year). Particularly difficult was trying to rank them in order of preference, something I generally abhor when compiling lists. But it had to be done and when the dust settled, this is what went into the Polaris Music Prize supercomputers for crunching:

1. Ohbijou / Swift Feet For Troubling Times
2. Feist / The Reminder
3. Great Lake Swimmers / Ongiara
4. Arcade Fire / Neon Bible
5. The Besnard Lakes / Are The Dark Horse

A list that I can happily put my name on, I think. The Ohbijou might seem like a bit of a dark horse number one (no matter what the Besnard Lakes might think) but I can’t think of a Canadian band and record that has come out of nowhere (in my world anyway) to so utterly beguile me more in the past 12 months. The Feist record, though I haven’t done a formal review (and may not because really, do we need more?), has been an entirely satisfying follow-up to Let It Die, a record that set the bar pretty damn high to begin with. The same can be said for the Great Lake Swimmers record, which I expected to be superb and which mostly is. The Arcade Fire I went back and forth on a bit, admittedly with part of the thought process being “do I really need to nominate such an obvious record?” – a no no criteria as far as the official rules go, by the by – but after giving it another listen the other day, it couldn’t be denied that it’s really a very good record. And finally, the Besnard Lakes has been a real grower since I got a copy months ago but like the Arcade Fire, I sat down and gave it a real critical listen this week and yeah. Another really good record.

For the media content of this post, some MP3s and videos from the my nominees.

MP3: Ohbijou – “Misty Eyes”
MP3: Ohbijou – “Steep”
MP3: Great Lake Swimmers – “Your Rocky Spine”
MP3: Great Lake Swimmers – “I Am A Part Of A Large Family”
MP3: Arcade Fire – “Black Mirror”
MP3: The Besnard Lakes – “And You Lied To Me”
Video: Ohbijou – “The Woods” (YouTube)
Video: Feist – “My Moon My Man” (YouTube)
Video: Feist – “1 2 3 4” (YouTube)
Video: Great Lake Swimmers – “Back Stage With The Modern Dancers” (YouTube)

Paste, The Washington Post and The Hartford Courant talk to Feist. Spinner also has video from a session she performed for their DL program.

The New York Daily News has an interview with Great Lake Swimmers’ Tony Dekker. NPR will be broadcasting a Swimmers’ show from Philadelphia live at noon today.

The Denver Post has a pretty extensive interview with Land Of Talk’s Elizabeth Powell.

Paste declares Miracle Fortress, whose Five Roses nearly made my top five, their band of the week. Maybe I’ll regret passing it by in a few months – we’ll see. Miracle Fortress is at the Whippersnapper Gallery on June 23.

Hillside has released a list of around 50 bands who will be performing at the festival this year, scheduled for July 27 through 29 in Guelph. While the big names in the lineup were rather underwhelming, the rest of the lineup is – as expected – very solid.

Pitchfork offers up some details on the forthcoming solo record from Broken Social svengali Kevin Drew – it bears the unbearably but unsurprisingly precious title of Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew, “Spirit If…”, and a release date of September 18.

Harp talks to Leonard Cohen about his current projects, namely working on the new album from girlfriend Anjani and reissuing expanded editions of his first three albums. He’s expecting to release a new album of his own later this year.

The Guardian talks to Emily Haines. She’s at Harbourfront Centre July 25.

Torontoist wraps up their NxNE previews by offering their picks for Saturday night.

And not Can-rock related at all but worth mentioning – Spoon is coming to town in support of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga with a show at the Phoenix on October 15. Tickets will be $21.50. The album is out July 10 and you can check out the first MP3 from it below. Also note that early pressings of the CD will come with a 12-track, 22-minute bonus disc of this and that called Get Nice! – more details at Pitchfork.

MP3: Spoon – “The Underdog”

And also unrelated – my photos from Venice, Italy. A man, a plan, a whole crapload of canals.