FacebookWho: Deer Tick
What: Rhode Islanders led by John McCauley arguably as well-known for their all-Nirvana covers sets as “Deervana” as their alcohol-friendly, roots-rocking ways
Why: With this being an election year, they’re doing their democratic duty to hit the road and stump for life, liberty, and their fourth album Divine Providence,
When: Monday, June 11, 2012
Where: Lee’s Palace in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Nashville’s Turbo Fruits are supporting on this tour.
How: Tickets for the show are $22.50 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got one pair of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Deer Tick” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, June 7.
What else: A cross-Canada tour brings the band into conversation with The Calgary Herald, The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Edmonton Metro, Edmonton Sun, and Planet S.

MP3: Deer Tick – “Born At Zero”
MP3: Deer Tick – “Miss K”
MP3: Deer Tick – “Twenty Miles”

Frank YangWho: Zeus
What: Toronto quartet who want to be to ’70s-styled pop-rock what their namesake is to lightning.
Why: Though they played a raucous club set just ahead of the release of their second album during Canadian Musicfest, they’ve not had a hometown show since Busting Visions was set upon the world. That changes now.
When: Saturday, June 9, 2012
Where: The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto (19+)
Who else: It’s a Canadian power-pop jamberoo with support coming from Two Hours Traffic and The Elwins.
How: Tickets for the show are $16 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got one pair of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Zeus” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, June 7.
What else: There’s interviews with the band at Planet S, Uptown, and The Victoria Times Colonist and NPR has a World Cafe session to listen to.

MP3: Zeus – “Anything You Want Dear”

Sandlin GaitherWho: Archers Of Loaf
What: Legendary ’90s college rock outfit led by Eric Bachmann who unexpectedly reunited last year to mark the re-releases of their back catalog and also to show the kids how it’s done. How what’s done? How EVERYTHING is done.
Why: The Archers have slowly but steadily been hitting major (and minor) markets and finally, it’s Toronto’s turn. And while the show isn’t technically part of NXNE – though a number of wristband-holders will be admitted – the Archers documentary live film What Did You Expect? will be making its world premiere at the festival the night before.
When: Saturday, June 16, 2012
Where: The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Toronto’s Metz open up.
How: Tickets for the show are $25.50 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts and Merge, I’ve got a grand prize pack consisting of one pair of passes to the show and copies of both reissues so far – Icky Mettle and Vee Vee – on LP and a second prize of a pair of passes to the show to give away. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to be an “Archer of Loaf-crosse” (yes, that’s right) in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body; if you don’t want the records and just want to be entered for the passes, make a note of that in the email. Contest closes at midnight, June 8.

MP3: Archers Of Loaf – “What Did You Expect”
MP3: Archers Of Loaf – “Wrong”
MP3: Archers Of Loaf – “Harnessed In Slums”

Frank YangWho: Bry Webb and Del Bel
What: A bill featuring the creators of two of the strongest local releases of last year. That would be former Constantines frontman Webb’s solo debut Provider and local orchestral noir collective Del Bel’s debut Oneiric.
Why: It’s a little bit homecoming for Del Bel, currently wrapping up an eastern Canadian tour, and a little bit release show for their new single featuring a duet between vocalist Lisa Conway and Bry Webb, and a lot Wavelength.
When: Friday, June 1, 2012
Where: 918 Bathurst in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: Lisa Bozikovic, currently touring with Del Bel, rounds out the bill.
How: Tickets for the show are $12 in advance but courtesy of Wavelength, 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 Cure For Loneliness” in the subject line and your full name in the body and have that in to me before midnight, May 30.
What else: The Toronto Star looks at the creative process behind Del Bel.

MP3: Del Bel featuring Bry Webb – “No Cure For Loneliness”

jackwhiteiii.comCan I let you in on a little secret that probably puts me at odds with most of the music-verse, but I’ve never really been a fan of Jack White in any of his incarnations. Not The White Stripes, not The Raconteurs, not The Dead Weather, and not as just Jack White. He just mines a particular vein of classic blues-rock that I have no affinity for; but I do respect him. His work ethic, his devotion to a particular ideal of American music, his belief in the power of analog, his strong sense of aesthetic, and the fact that despite indulging his eccentric tendencies – this Guinness world record stuff is pretty absurd – he’s managed to become maybe the last bona fide rock star in popular music.

And so his solo debut Blunderbuss, released late last month, has been one of 2012’s big releases. And I would imagine that a goodly number of you out there would like it and perhaps like to own a copy. And so, courtesy of With A Bullet, I’m happy to give away one copy of Blunderbuss on vinyl LP – just like Jack would want it – and two on CD – just like Jack accepts is a necessity of the modern age. Hey, it’s better than giving away MP3 download codes, no? To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want a Blunderbuss” in the subject line and your full name in the body along with whether you want the LP, the CD or either, and have that in to me by midnight, May 31. And sorry, contest open to residents of Canada only.

And oh hey, I have a White Stripes story. You know the 2007 tour they took across Canada – documented in the Under The Great White Northern Lights film and live album – where they played a secret intimate show in each city? The Toronto one at the downtown YMCA took place right next to my apartment. And though I was at work when it went down, my cat could have watched it if there were windows strategically placed in the outer walls of the Y. Not that he would have, he doesn’t dig The White Stripes either. He’s an Iron & Wine cat.

Video: Jack White – “Sixteen Saltines”
Video: Jack White – “Love Interruption”