The Weakerthans lend a hand to Library Voices with club show fundraiser

MySpaceThere’s bad luck, there’s worse luck, and then there’s Library Voices luck. Back in February of 2009, the boisterous Regina-based pop outfit had approximately $10,000 worth of equipment stolen in Vancouver; despite the loss, they managed to regroup, re-equip and record a new album which was released last month as Denim On Denim and were gearing up for a Summer tour to support when disaster struck – again. This time, it was an act of god – at least as far as their insurance is concerned – in the form of a burst water main in their rehearsal space, which in addition to causing immense damage to the Regina Cultural Exchange all-ages venue and community centre, destroyed all their gear.

While the band struggle to salvage what they can out of the situation, some of their prairie brethren are stepping in to lend a hand. Winnipeg’s Weakerthans, already in town for next week’s May 26 show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, have commandeered the preceding evening’s Nu Music Nite at the Horseshoe – that’s May 25 – and turned it into a fundraiser for Library Voices. Advance tickets for the night go on sale Thursday for $25 and a portion of proceeds will go to help out Library Voices get back on their feet. I really can’t remember the last time The Weakerthans played such a small room – that alone should be incentive to go, let alone the charitable angle. So yeah, good on The Weakerthans for chipping in, and here’s hoping that Library Voices are back on their feet by the time they arrive in town to play that very same Horseshoe stage on June 19 as part of NXNE.

MP3: The Weakerthans – “Sun In An Empty Room”
MP3: The Weakerthans – “Night Windows”

Chad Van Gaalen talks to Exclaim about what he’s been up to of late, working on “an electro record, there’s a rock record and then there’s a pretty much straight-up folk record,” which may see the light of day as individual efforts of mashed together into one typically all-over-the-place Van Gaalen album. He estimates a late 2010/early 2011 release window for whatever it ends up being.

Paste catches up with Carl Newman of The New Pornographers. They will be at the Sound Academy on June 15.

Chart talks to Hannah Georgas.

Examiner.com chats with Dan Mangan. He will be back in Toronto on June 9 taking part in the Alli’s Journey fundraiser at Koerner Hall in the Royal Conservatory of Music and his album Nice Nice Very Nice will be getting a US release via Arts & Crafts on August 10; Mangan talks to Spinner about how he came to work with the label.

The Balconies are featured in a new video session with Southern Souls to go along with their first one. They will play the Steam Whistle Roundhouse on May 28, cover $5.

So it appears Arcade Fire are finally ready to start off the feeding frenzy that will surround their third record. Dose reports that the band announced via handwritten postcard (scanned and posted online, of course) that a new single will be ready in a couple weeks and various sources around the interwebs point to it a) being available as a 12″, b) containing songs entitled “Suburbs” and “Month of May” and c) available June 1. Some or all of this may be true or untrue. What is for sure is this: GUYS, ARCADE FIRE ARE DOING STUFF.

Emily Haines of Metric talks to Spinner about being tapped to write the theme song for the next Twilight film. They are at the Molson Amphitheatre on July 9.

Wednesday night’s Hurricane Bells show at the El Mocambo is now free. So if you were looking for something to do that night… there you go.

So yeah, they sold out the Sound Academy lickety-split earlier this year, but can they do it with a venue five times the size? Vampire Weekend will find that out when they play the Molson Amphitheatre on September 7. Tickets range from $44 to $59.50 – seriously – but to sweeten the deal, they’re bringing along Beach House and Dum Dum Girls as support. Convinced yet? Presale starts today, regular on sale starts Friday.

MP3: Vampire Weekend – “Horchata”
MP3: Beach House – “Norway”
MP3: Dum Dum Girls – “Jail La La”