FacebookWho: Tycho
What: San Francisco-based DJ/producer/electronic artist Scott Hansen, who deftly blends beats with live instrumentation on last year’s Dive.
Why: He already came through town in January, but Dive is much more a Summer record than Winter and if you hadn’t noticed we’ve had Summer to spare lately. A little (electro) chill-out is very much in order.
When: Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Where: The Hoxton in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Portland’s Onuinu supports.
How: Tickets for the show are $15 in advance but courtesy of Embrace, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Tycho” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, July 8.
What else: Hey Reverb has an interview with Hansen.

MP3: Tycho – “Hours”
MP3: Tycho – “Coastal Brake”
MP3: Tycho – “The Daydream”
MP3: Tycho – “Dive”
MP3: Tycho – “Lapse”

IpecacWho: The Melvins Lite
What: The kinder, gentler side of sludgy grunge forbears The Melvins. Yes, they have a kinder, gentler side. And it sounds pretty much like the regular Melvins but with a double bass.
Why: The Melvins just released a new album in Freak Puke, which it should be obvious from the title was actually recorded in their stripped-down, Lite configuration. And since we don’t fit in their “50 States in 50 Days” record-breaking US tour this Fall, they may as well play it up here now.
When: Thursday, July 5, 2012
Where: The Opera House in Toronto (19+)
Who else: SoCal’s Retox opens up.
How: Tickets for the show are $26 in advance but courtesy of Union Events, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see The Melvins” in the subject line with your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, July 2.
What else: King Buzzo talks to Paste about the aforementioned attempt to conduct the fastest ever tour of the USA.

Stream: The Melvins – “Tommy Goes Berserk”

Frank YangWho: JEFF The Brotherhood
What: The Nashville-based Orrall boys, who are both brothers and bros and masters of hooky yet snotty garage rock.
Why: They were here in February opening up for The Kills but are now back on their own to pump up the upcoming release of their major label debut Hypnotic Nights, due out July 17.
When: Saturday, June 23, 2012
Where: Wrongbar in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Montreal’s Uncle Bad Touch – who are presumably better than their name implies – open up.
How: Tickets for the show are $13.50 in advance but courtesy of Embrace, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see JEFF The Brotherhood” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, June 20.
What else: As mentioned, Hypnotic Nights isn’t out for over a month but as a teaser, they’ve made a preview EP entitled Hypnotic Knights available to stream right now. The News & Observer has an interview with Jake Orrall.

Stream: JEFF The Brotherhood / Hypnotic Knights

Alex LakeWho: Keane
What: Vanguard of the British piano-rock scene, which currently includes such acts as Keane.
Why: They released their fourth album Strangeland at the start of May, and while not the arena-scale, chart-topping act that they are back home, their fanbase in North America is still devout enough to fill large halls and follow them around on tour.
When: Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Where: The Sound Academy in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: England’s Mystery Jets support, making it a super-solid bill.
How: Tickets for the show are $46.50 in advance but courtesy of Universal Music Canada, I’ve got one grand prize consisting of a pair of passes to the show and a copy of Strangeland, and an indeterminate number of 30 secondary prizes consisting of Strangeland CDs to give away. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want Keane” in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body – if you want to be eligible for the passes, please say so and if you just want to enter for a free CD, note that as well; have that in to me before midnight, June 13. Contest is open to residents of Canada, though obviously if you want to go to the show it helps to be in the 416/905. Maybe 519 if you’re really – wait for it – keen. OH! Update: And courtesy of LiveNation, I now have a second pair of passes for the show to give away so that’s two grand prizes!
What else: There’s features on the band at NME, Alternative Addiction, and USA Today.

Video: Keane – “Disconnected”
Video: Keane – “Silenced By The Night”
Video: Keane – “Sovereign Light Cafe”

Steve GullickWho: Mogwai
What: Scottish post-rock legends who entered their second decade of activity with last year’s excellent Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will.
Why: Though they already toured Hardcore through town last Spring, but the band have publicly stated that this is “the last extensive touring we do for some time”, so if you were on the fence… let that be a nudge.
When: Monday, June 18, 2012
Where: The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Balam Acab opens up. I know nothing about Balam Acab.
How: Tickets for the show are $30.50 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 to see Mogwai” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, June 14.
What else: Having gotten one film score under their belt with 2007’s Zidane, Exclaim has details on their next cinematic venture – a score for the still-to-be-made documentary film Hudson River Project.

MP3: Mogwai – “San Pedro”
MP3: Mogwai – “Pano Rano”