Jonathan TaggartWho: Dan Mangan
What: Vancouver singer-songwriter who had one of the best years any artist could ask for over the course of Fall 2009, when his second album Nice Nice Very Nice was generating buzz, through 2010 when it landed him on the Polaris Prize shortlist.
Why: Mangan’s very nice follow up to Very Nice – Oh Fortune came out earlier this month and he’s already back on the road to tour it.
When: Friday, October 28, 2011
Where: The Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: Support comes from The Daredevil Christopher Wright and The Crackling
How: Tickets for the show are $27.50 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got a pair of tickets to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Dan Mangan” in the subject line and your full name in the body and have that in to me before midnight, October 25.
What else: The Waterloo Record, Halifax Chronicle-Herald and Post City have features on Mangan.

MP3: Dan Mangan – “Oh Fortune”
Video: Dan Mangan – “Rows Of Houses”

Grégoire AlexandreWho: Metronomy
What: Brighton-based electro-pop/New Wave outfit whose released their third album The English Riviera in April
Why: Their curiously detached yet irresistibly melodic soulfulness was intriguing enough to garner them a spot on this year’s Mercury Prize shortlist. There’s worse ways to celebrate than touring the world.
When: Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Where: The Mod Club in Toronto (19+)
Who else: New York’s Elizabeth Mitchell and her electro-pop outfit Class Actress open things up.
How: Tickets for the show are $16 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 Metronomy” in the subject line and your full name in the body and have that in to me before midnight, October 24.
What else: Metro talks to bandleader Joseph Mounts.

Video: Metronomy – “Everything Goes My Way”
Video: Metronomy – “The Look”
Video: Metronomy – “The Bay”
Video: Metronomy – “She Wants”

Nicole NodlandWho: Lana del Rey
What: New York singer-songwriter who has, on the back of two torchy throwback songs and corresponding videos, become the flashpoint for debates about artistic – and cosmetic – authenticity in the world of indie-dom.
Why: The aforementioned two songs will be released as a single next week. Presumably by the time this show rolls around, she will have more songs released and the buzz will have either blown up or blown over. But the show will be completely sold out either way. Probably already is.
When: Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Where: The Mod Club in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: The show is almost two months away. Even the opener doesn’t know who’s opening.
How: Tickets for the show are $13.50 in advance but all Ticketweb ducats are already gone, the allotment for retail probably not far behind. But courtesy of LiveNation, I have two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Lana del Rey” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, November 9.
What else: There’s been plenty of media around Ms del Rey/Grant, but I already linked most of it earlier this week before I knew I had these passes to give away. This Complex interview is new, though. Read that.

Video: Lana del Rey – “Video Games”
Video: Lana del Rey – “Blue Jeans”

giversband.comWho: Givers
What: Supremely peppy Louisiana quintet responsible for one of the most infectious songs of the Summer in their single “Up Up Up” from their debut In Light.
Why: Their last time through in June, the buzz was just starting to grow – now a few months on they’re looking to satisfy those who were shut out of that show with another go-around
When: Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Where: Wrongbar in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Los Angeles’ Lord Huron – no strangers to the art of buzz themselves – will support
How: Tickets for the show are $13 in advance but courtesy of Embrace, 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 Givers” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, October 23.

MP3: Givers – “Up Up Up”
Video: Givers – “Up Up Up”

Frank YangWho: X Avant VI
What: Sixth annual celebration of new and experimental music, with “new” being in the sense of genuinely doing something original, previously unheard and usually pretty outside.
Why: This year’s lineup includes, amongst others, Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo, Tim Hecker and Buke & Gass; the theme is “Tales of Two Cities”.
When: October 15 through 23, 2011
Where: The Music Gallery and Polish Combatants Hall in Toronto (All-ages)
How: All-access festival passes are $85, with individual show admission ranging from free to $30, but courtesy of Webster Media Consulting, I have one festival pass to give away. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to X Avant” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in before noon, October 10.

Video: Lee Ranaldo & Leah Singer – “Drift” (clip)