Frank YangWho: PS I Love You
What: Kingston-based, ’90s-college-rock-worshipping shred-tacular duo who continue to tour the hell out of their 2010 debut Meet Me At The Muster Station.
Why: As many shows as they’ve played around town, it’s usually been in a support capacity – this time they’re headlining.
When: Thursday, April 7, 2011
Where: The Garrison in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Though it’s PSILY’s show, they risk being upstaged by the debut of Matters, formerly The D’Urbervilles.
How: Tickets for the show are $12.50 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 win PS I Love You” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Don’t worry, I won’t take the sentiment literally. Entries due before midnight, April 4.
What else: There’s features on the band at The Gateway and The Georgia Straight.

MP3: PS I Love You – “Get Over”
MP3: PS I Love You – “2012”

Ben SaundersWho: Cut Copy
What: Australian dance-rock who busted out big with their 2008 debut In Ghost Colours are now following up with Zonoscope, released back in January.
Why: Seeing as how the arrival of Spring in the northern hemisphere means the arrival of Fall in the southern, it’s as good a time as any to hop the equator and play some shows.
When: Thursday, April 7, 2011
Where: The Sound Academy in Toronto (19+)
Who else: New York up and comers Holy Ghost open things up.
How: Tickets for the show are $31.50 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 Cut Copy” in the subject line and your full name in the body and have that in to me before midnight, April 4.
What else: DCist talks to bassist Ben Browning while Esquire gets frontman Dan Whitford’s thoughts on the end of LCD Soundsystem.

MP3: Cut Copy – “Blink And You’ll Miss A Revolution”
Video: Cut Copy – “Need You Now”

Radiohead have already well proven their ability to break the internet at will – most recently with the digital sneak release of their latest album The King Of Limbs back in February – but like the old-schoolers they are at heart, they still love them some physical media. Witness the cryptic “newspaper album” they were offering with digital presales, comprising a super-deluxe package of CD, two bits of 10″ vinyl and “Many large sheets of artwork, 625 tiny pieces of artwork and a full-colour piece of oxo-degradeable plastic to hold it all together”, in addition to regular CD and LP editions, all of which is going on sale this coming Tuesday.

But wait, there’s more. It was announced that in addition to releasing the album on Tuesday, Radiohead would also be publishing their own newspaper entitled The Universal Sigh on that date and be giving copies away for free at select locations – Torontonians can snag one at Yonge-Dundas Square. As for what it will contain, no one’s saying but they’ve been clear that this is a different print product than will accompany those who shelled out for the “newspaper album” pre-order. Maybe an advice column from Jonny? Rugby commentary from Ed? Hand-drawn comics from Thom? Actually that last one would almost certainly be disturbing, so maybe not.

Anyways, to do my part in feeding the Radiohead frenzy, I’ve got two copies of The King Of Limbs on CD to give away, courtesy of Maple Music (Radiohead’s Canadian distro). If you live in Canada and want one, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want the Radiohead” in the subject and your full name and mailing address in the body and maybe you’ll win one! Maybe. Contest closes at midnight, March 29.

Video: Radiohead – “Lotus Flower”

Frank YangWho: Crystal Castles
What: Infamous electro/8-bit/glitch-pop/shit-disturbing Toronto duo who put out a second self-titled record last year that even haters had to admit was pretty good.
Why: Write-ups of their notoriously volatile live shows are just as likely to show up in the police blotter as the entertainment pages, so factor in their biggest hometown headlining show yet and you’ve got, well, something that’s sure to be anecdote-worthy if nothing else.
When: Saturday, April 2, 2011
Where: The Sound Academy in Toronto
Who else: Opening up will be DD/MM/YYYY and Trust
How: Tickets for the show are $29.50 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 Crystal Castles” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have to to me before midnight, March 30.

Video: Crystal Castles – “Baptism”

Frank YangWho: DeVotchKa
What: Just another desperately romantic, cinematically-inclined Balkan-Mariachi folk-rock outfit from Denver. You know, swing a stick.
Why: With their new record 100 Lovers just released, the quartet are hittint the road and playing their first headlining show in Toronto in almost half a decade.
When: Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Where: The Mod Club in Toronto
Who else: Support will be New York hardcore act The Bronx in their Mariachi guise, Mariachi El Bronx
How: Tickets for the show are $20 in advance, but courtesy of LiveNation I’ve got three pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see DeVotchKa” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, March 28.
What else: The New York Daily News has an interview with frontman Nick Urata.

MP3: DeVotchKa – “100 Other Lovers”
Video: DeVotchKa – “100 Other Lovers”