Image via rogerspicnic.com

Was out late last night, so all you get today is this. Sorry.

If you’re not Chris from Toronto or Valerie from Quebec City, then you probably didn’t win my giveaway of passes to Osheaga, but don’t worry – I’ve got another opportunity for you to catch some heat stroke this Summer at no cost to you.

This is the second year that the Rogers Picnic has set up shop at Historic Fort York, though despite the name I’m pretty sure you won’t be allowed to actually bring a picnic to the show. Last year’s edition notable for finally bringing together the respective fanbases of The New Pornographers and Bad Brains under one, er, figurative roof. This year’s lineup is slightly less eclectic but still a bit of a head-scratcher in a good way. Which means that it’s probably safe to say that no matter which band it is that sells you on attending, there’ll be another that will utterly confound (and possibly annoy) you by not only their inclusion, but their very existence. Which is really the fun part.

This year’s even is headlined by Alexisonfire frontman gone country City & Colour but also features Cat Power, Tokyo Police Club, Vampire Weekend, Chromeo, Animal Collective, Dizzee Rascal, Born Ruffians and The Carps. Whoever it is in that list that makes your skin crawl, think of it less as an irritant than an opportunity to grab a bear, hit a portapottie or otherwise take a nap, guilt-free.

Update: Also just announced is the lineup for the Nokia Tent (read: DJs) – Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys, Team Canada DJ’s, Let’s Go To War, VND/LSM and a special surprise guest DJ set.

Anyways, courtesy of REMG and Embrace Productions, I’ve got a pair of passes to give away to the festival. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to picnic with Roger” in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body. I’ll let this one run a week, closing at midnight July 1.

MP3: Cat Power – “Metal Heart”
MP3: Cat Power – “Song To Bobby”
MP3: Vampire Weekend – “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”
MP3: Tokyo Police Club – “In A Cave”
MP3: Tokyo Police Club – “Juno”
MP3: Animal Collective – “Peacebone”
MP3: Dizzee Rascal – “Where Da G’s?”

Photo by Bobbi Fabian

It’s been a couple years since David Berman surprised pretty much everyone and turned his Silver Jews from a recording-only entity into a touring proposition, but that particular traveling roadshow has yet to cross the border and make it up to Toronto… until now. In support of their just-released new album Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, Berman and band will be coming to town for a show at Lee’s Palace on September 2, tickets $15.

I’ve only heard a very little of the Silver Jews’ material, but what I have heard certainly sounds like it’s something that I should be hearing more of – methinks that doing so before tickets for this particular show cease being available would be a good idea. Anyone care to suggest a starting point, though the reviews would suggest that the new record is as good a place as any to start.

There’s interviews with Berman at PopMatters, The New York Sun and New York Magazine have interviews with Berman about the new record while The Village Voice chimes in with a profile, and Largehearted Boy talks to wife and bandmate Cassie Berman. There’s an MP3 available to download from the new album while fansite The Corduroy Suit has got a few older tracks on offer.

MP3: Silver Jews – “Strange Victory, Strange Defeat”
MP3: Silver Jews – “Room Games & Diamond Rain”
MP3: Silver Jews – “People”
MP3: Silver Jews – “Black And Brown Blues”
Video: Silver Jews – “Sleeping Is the Only Love”
Video: Silver Jews – “I’m Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You”
Video: Silver Jews – “Punks In The Beerlight”
Video: Silver Jews – “How Can I Love You If You Won’t Lie Down”
MySpace: Silver Jews

Seattle’s Mudhoney – still around and with a new album out in The Lucky Ones – will be at the Horseshoe on September 19. Tickets for that one will run you $25.50.

MP3: Mudhoney – “I’m Now”

Just under a month after Paul Weller (hopefully) plays some Jam songs at V Fest, his former bandmates Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler, currently AKA From The Jam, will be at the Opera House on October 1 to do the same.

The Northwest Herald and The Colorodoan talk to Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers.

The Edmonton Sun, Montreal Gazette and The Edmonton Journal profile Constantines, who are playing day one of V Fest on September 6 at the Toronto Islands.

emusic solicits thoughts from Liz Phair on her songs from Exile In Guyville, just in time for the deluxe reissue of said album tomorrow while Newsweek and Pitchfork.tv also offer up interviews. Pitchfork gives the reissue a glowing review, which sort of balances out the not-so-glowing one they gave her a few years back.

There’s another live version of a song from Supergrass’ new album Diamond Hoo Ha available for download.

MP3: Supergrass – “Diamond Hoo Ha Man” (live)

The Tripwire recounts some comments Kevin Shields made to the BBC before My Bloody Valentine’s “official” comeback shows at the Roundhouse in London this past weekend. The Guardian, Uncut and Pitchfork report on how one of those went. They’ll be coming to punch Toronto in the side of the head September 25 at the Ricoh Coliseum.

JAM reports on the Toronto connection in R.E.M.’s latest video for “Man-Sized Wreath” (which hasn’t yet been released). It was also a local production house – Crush – that was responsible for their last video for “Hollow Man”.

Video: R.E.M. – “Hollow Man”

NPR is streaming a World Cafe session with Duffy. She’ll be at the Phoenix on August 2.

Billboard reports that rather than jump to a major now that their deal with SubPop is done, The Shins intend on going even MORE indie and will release their fourth album themselves.

SF Weekly Q&As Death Cab For Cutie.

Spin goes backstage with Broken Social Scene at Bonnaroo.

Fleet Foxes queue’s up for a Black Cab Session, talks to The Times. They’re at the Phoenix on July 16.

AOL invites The Ting Tings over for a session.

Photo by Fredrik Egerstrand

That Swedish-Argentinian troubadour Jose Gonzalez is not stopping in Toronto on his upcoming cross-Canada tour might seem odd at first, but considering he’s visited us twice in the past half year – last December and this past March – it’s reasonable to think that maybe he’s just a bit tired of us.

Instead, he’s bringing his 2007 release In Our Nature to other parts of our fine nation, mixing up appearances at festivals like Sled Island in Calgary and Bluesfest in Ottawa with his own shows in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Halifax. And it’s to some of these shows that, courtesy of Ideal Friends, I have some passes to give away. Who says I don’t take care of the rest of the country?

I’ve got one pair of passes to dole out for each of the following shows:

• Thursday June 26th at St. Matthews Church in Halifax, NS
• Monday June 30th at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon, SK
• Tuesday July 1st at the Park Theatre in Winnipeg, MB

And to make sure the rest of you don’t feel neglected, six copies of In Our Nature on CD plus posters for additional winners – Canadians only, please. To enter, send me an email at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Jose Gonzalez in <INSERT NAME OF CITY>” in the subject and your full name in the body if you want to go to the shows or “I want the Jose Gonzalez CD” in the subject and your mailing address in the body if you’re seeking the album. Contest closing dates are rolling – for the Halifax show, have your entry in to me by midnight, June 24. For Saskatoon, June 26 and for Winnipeg, June 29. For the CDs, contest closes at midnight, June 30. Complicated enough? Good.

Gonzalez recently got up on a rooftop to play a song for Pitchfork.tv while The Hartford Courant and Norwich Evening News have interviews.

MP3: Jose Gonzalez – “Teardrop” (live)
Video: Jose Gonzalez – “Teardrop”
Video: Jose Gonzalez – “Down The Line”
Video: Jose Gonzalez – “Killing For Love”
MySpace: Jose Gonzalez

Photo by Mark Goldstein

Smoking is technically banned from indoor venues in Toronto, but if you think that means that Lee’s Palace isn’t going to be smelling a bit funky next Thursday night when Austin’s Black Angels and Los Angeles’ Warlocks take the stage… Well you’re just silly.

The Black Angels are touring in support of their loud and unsettling new album Directions To See A Ghost and courtesy of Against The Grain and Light In The Attic I have three pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see the Black Angels” in the subject line and your full name in the body and have that in to me by midnight, June 23.

The Chicago Tribune has an interview with guitarist Nate Ryan about their writing process and influences.

MP3: The Black Angels – “Doves”
MySpace: The Black Angels

Photo by Jeff Gros

I realize it should be totally irrelevant, but what I find most interesting about the bill rolling in to the El Mocambo next Thursday night are the artists’ significant others. After all, both the headliners are dating the king and queen of the indie kid prom – Maria Taylor having shacked up with Conor Oberst and Johnathan Rice with Jenny Lewis. I know it’s not important, I just found it interesting.

Both are continuing to promote albums released last year – Taylor with Lynn Teeter Flower and Rice with Further North – and should satisfy the most discriminating connoisseur of singer-songwritery types. Also on the bill is Nik Freitas. I don’t know who he’s dating.

Courtesy of Against The Grain, I’ve got three pairs of passes to give away for the show – to enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Maria Taylor and Johnathan Rice” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest will close at midnight, June 23.

MP3: Maria Taylor – “A Good Start”
MP3: Maria Taylor – “Lost Time”
MP3: Johnathan Rice – “We’re All Stuck Out In The Desert”
MP3: Nik Freitas – “Sun Down”
MP3: Nik Freitas – “Come To Me”
Video: Maria Taylor – “A Good Start”
MySpace: Maria Taylor
MySpace: Johnathan Rice
MySpace: Nik Freitas