Zach HollowellWho: Conor Oberst
What: Bright Eyes and Desaparecidos frontman, one-quarter of Monsters Of Folk, solo artist, Saddle Creek impressario, and perennial cover star of Non-Threatening Boys Magazine. You know who he is.
Why: Though he’s performing under his own name, he hasn’t released a solo record since 2009’s Outer South, which was technically credited to him and the Mystic Valley Band. Prior set lists indicate this is more a revue of his entire prodigious career – regardless of project – rather in support of anything specific. That there is the sound of absolutely none of his fans complaining.
When: Saturday, December 8, 2012
Where: Massey Hall in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: Cold Specks is the very worthy opener for this show.
How: Tickets for the show range from $39.50 to $69.50 in advance, but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got one pairs of tickets to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Conor Oberst and I promise I won’t cry” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, December 3.
What else: The Philadelphia Inquirer has an interview with Oberst.

MP3: Conor Oberst – “Danny Callahan”
MP3: Bright Eyes – “Lover I Don’t Have To Love”
MP3: Desaparecidos – “The Happiest Place On Earth”
MP3: Monsters Of Folk – “Say Please”

James MinchinThe almost-last minute free show from Welsh so-much-power-trio The Joy Formidable show at The Mod Club next Monday night, November 26, announced earlier this week was unequivocally good news, but there were some questions on just how one would go about getting tickets seeing as how it was being sponsored by Virgin Mobile and CFNY 102.1 The Edge. Would you have to change cellphone providers? Subject yourself to the Dean Blundell show? Maybe, but also no. You could just keep doing what you’re doing right now – reading this site.

Thanks to the good folks at Union Events, who’re actually putting the show on, I’ve got a handful of passes to give away. I’ve given away a couple pairs via Twitter already – if I didn’t @ you this morning, you didn’t win so keep reading – but now also have five pairs to give away here. To throw your proverbial hat in the ring, email me at contests@chromewaves.net with “I want a Joy Formidable” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me by, say, 6:00PM on Sunday night.

Their new record Wolf’s Law is out January 22.

MP3: The Joy Formidable – “Austere”
MP3: The Joy Formidable – “Greyhounds In The Slips”

Whilst on the topic of joyful bands, a rather stellar-sounding Joy Division bootleg circa February 1980 at the University Of London has surfaced and is available to download in FLAC form at The Power Of Independent Trucking.

Frightened Rabbit have released a video from their forthcoming album Pedestrian Verse, due out February 5.

Video: Frightened Rabbit – “Dead Now”

Filter and Lees Music Scene have interviews with Dry The River.

Interview and Nylon talk to Kate Nash about her new Death Proof EP and forthcoming Girl Talk album, due out in March.

Blur have made another live clip from this Summer’s Hyde Park show available to watch. The live set Parklive is out December 3.

Video: Blur – “Young And Lovely” (live at Hyde Park)

Electro-soul man Jamie Lidell will release his new self-titled album on February 18 and will be in town at Lee’s Palace on April 8 in support. Tickets for that are $15 in advance.

Stream: Jamie Lidell – “What A Shame”

PopMatters talks to Pete Wiggs and Under The Radar to Sarah Cracknell, both of Saint Etienne.

Justin BroadbentWho: The Wooden Sky
What: Toronto roots-rockers known once upon a time as Friday Morning’s Regret who’ve turned relentless touring and raw-yet-richly refined songcraft into an international following.
Why: Since releasing Every Child A Daughter Every Moon A Sun at the end of February, The Wooden Sky have taken it all across the country and around the world; this last show brings it all back home.
When: Saturday, December 1, 2012
Where: The Phoenix in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Opening up are Wildlife and Fiver.
How: Tickets for the show are $17.50 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got a pair of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want a Wooden Sky” in the subject line and your full name in the body and have that in to me by midnight, November 28.
What else: The Halifax Chronicle Herald and Nelson Star have features on the band from either side of the country, and Secret Sessions have a session with the band from ssshh it’s a secret.

MP3: The Wooden Sky – “Malibu Rum”
MP3: The Wooden Sky – “Child Of The Valley”
MP3: The Wooden Sky – “Angelina”

Jody KivortI’m not diversifying into the adult entertainment industry, despite what some ads that occasionally get served here might imply, but am instead talking about New York’s Escort. Sometimes a lean five-piece band, sometimes a proper orchestra numbering as many as 17 – but always fronted by diva Adeline Michele – Escort have been busting out old-school yet thoroughly contemporary dancefloor disco electro-soul since 2006 but only just released their full-length debut Escort earlier this year and are now taking their legendarily slick and irresistibly fun live show on the road.

They’re hitting The Horseshoe this Saturday night, November 10, and if you’re thinking there’s no way they’d fit 17 people on that stage, you’re right – it’s going to be a smaller-form Escort that rolls into town, but if you think that means it’ll somehow be a smaller party… no. Just no. Tickets for the show are $16.50 in advance, but courtesy of Webster Media Consulting, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests@chromewaves.net with “I want an Escort” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, November 8.

Metro has an interview with Michele about the genesis of the band, and the band’s just-released remix album – Escort Remixed – is available to stream in full.

MP3: Escort – “Love In Indigo”
MP3: Escort – “Make Over”
Video: Escort – “Why Oh Why”
Video: Escort – “All Through The Night”
Stream: Escort / Escort Remixed

School Of Seven Bells have made a track from their new EP, Put Your Sad Down, available to download. It’s out November 13.

MP3: School Of Seven Bells – “Secret Days”

The Antlers have released a new video from their last EP, Undersea.

Video: The Antlers – “Drift Dive”

Ahead of their appearance warming up for Titus Andronicus at Lee’s Palace later that night, Ceremony will play an in-store at Sonic Boom’s Kensington location on November 27 at 6:00PM.

MP3: Ceremony – “Hysteria”

And speaking of Titus Andronicus, The Village Voice has a profile piece on the band. As mentioned – Lee’s Palace, November 27. Them.

Passion Pit will team up with Matt & Kim for a Winter tour that stops in at The Kool Haus on February 16; tickets for that are $32.50 in advance.

MP3: Matt & Kim – “Let’s Go”
Video: Passion Pit – “Take A Walk”

Denver Westword and The Seattle Times have interviews with Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs, who also just recorded a World Cafe session with NPR.

Benjamin Gibbard submits to a questionnaire from Exclaim and answers some more questions beyond that. He also performs video sessions for The Fly and NPR, and has released a video from his solo joint Former Lives.

Video: Benjamin Gibbard – “Teardrop Windows”

MTV Hive talks to Jason Lytle, opening up for Band Of Horses at Massey Hall on December 5.

Nicole Atkins talks to The Village Voice about the damage that Hurricane Sandy did to her beloved New Jersey shore. She’s re-recorded the title track of her 2007 debut album, Neptune City, and re-released it to raise funds to rebuild the shore.

Stream: Nicole Atkins – “Neptune City (For The Shore)”

Bob Mould plays a video session for NPR.

Sam Fogarino reflects on Interpol’s past ten years to Spin. The Turn On The Bright Lights anniversary edition is out November 19. They’ve also shared a live video taken from their first Los Angeles show in 2002.

Video: Interpol – “Obstacle 1” (live at The Troubdaour, 2002)

Congratulations on doing several right things last night, America. First time I haven’t been bitterly disappointed by the outcome of an election in, oh, four years. I’ll be down there later this week to give some of you a big hug.

BarsukWho: Yellow Ostrich
What: Brooklyn-based trio led by Alex Schaaf who deal in indie rock the way it used to be – jagged guitars, keening vocals, hooks a-plenty.
Why: They already released a new full-length in Strange Land earlier this year, but have just put out a follow-up EP in Ghost. And of course touring in support of two releases instead of just one is just efficient.
When: Monday, November 12, 2012
Where: The Garrison in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Pennsylvania’s Timothy Showalter, aka Strand Of Oaks, supports.
How: Tickets for the show are $12 in advance but courtesy of Barsuk, I’ve got two prize packs to give away consisting of a pair of passes to the show and a copy of Ghost on vinyl. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want the Yellow Ostrich” in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, November 8.
What else: The Diamondback talks to Alex Schaaf.

MP3: Yellow Ostrich – “Ghost”
MP3: Yellow Ostrich – “Marathon Runner”
Video: