MyspaceWho: Memoryhouse
What: The Wintergaze Festival is a year-end celebration featuring some of the city’s (and outlying regions’) finest sneaker contemplaters and drone merchants.
Why: For the breakout Guelph dream-pop duo, they’re celebrating the release of their new “Caregiver” 7″. For everyone else, why not?
When: Thursday, December 16, 2010
Where: The Twist Gallery in Toronto (19+)
Who else: The rest of the lineup features Foxes In Fiction, Volcano Playground, Ostrich Tuning and Heartbeat Hotel
How: Tickets for the show are $10 in advance, but courtesy of Gold Soundz, 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 Wintergaze” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, December 12.

MP3: Memoryhouse – “Lately (Deuxieme)”
MP3: Memoryhouse – “Lately (Troisieme)”
MP3: Memoryhouse – “Gian Lorenzo Bernini”

trickysite.comWho: Tricky
What: Famed British trip-hop pioneer who has never equalled the critical or popular acclaim of his debut Maxinquaye, but remains a prolific and interesting artist
Why: He released his latest album Mixed Race in October. Let him show it to you.
When: Sunday, December 12, 2010
Where: The Mod Club in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Support still TBA
How: Tickets for the show are $20 in advance, but courtesy of Domino Records I have a pair of passes and a copy of Mixed Race on CD to give away. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Tricky” in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body. Contest closes at midnight, December 8.
What else: The National talks to Mr. Adrian Thaws.

Video: Tricky – “Ghetto Stars”
Video: Tricky – “Murder Weapon”

Frank YangWho: Freelance Whales
What: Super-twee Brooklynite orch-pop project that’s been gallivanting about on the back of their debut album Weathervanes for some time now.
Why: After a number of decent-profile support slots, they’ve decided they’re ready for their own headlining tour. And this is it.
When: Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Where: The El Mocambo in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Brooklyn’s Miniature Tigers and Los Angeles’ Baths will open things up
How: Tickets for the show are $15 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 hire Freelance Whales” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at noon, December 6.
What else: Denver Westword and Rock Edition have interviews with Freelance Whales frontman Jacob Hyman.

MP3: Freelance Whales – “Generator Second Floor”

Frank YangWho: Night one: Make Your Exit Sandman Viper Command, Charlotte Cornfield; Night two: The Balconies, Clothes Make The Man, Teenage Kicks – plus special guest headliners each night
What: Local management/PR folk Audio Blood continue their tradition of making all their artists wear Santa hats and play Christmas carols* over two nights at a local venue, with everyone getting together onstage for an a capella encore reading of Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song” as the encore**
* this is not true
** this is also probably not true but would be kind of awesome if it was
Why: ‘Cause it’s the holiday season. Duh.
When: December 10 and 11, 2010
Where: The Rivoli in Toronto (19+)
How: Tickets for each night are $10 in advance and two-night passes $15 (available here), but courtesy of Audio Blood I’ve got a prize pack consisting of a a pair of passes for each night, a show poster, and Exclaim t-shirt and assorted swag (they’re co-presenting) and CDs from The Balconies and Make Your Exit. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want an Audio Blood holiday” in the subject line and your full name, mailing address and t-shirt deets in the body. Contest closes at midnight, December 5.
What else: Audio Blood have assembled a mix tape of all the acts performing for you to download and enjoy. Grab the tracks individually or the ZIP below.

MP3: Make Your Exit – “Through The Winter” (BARTEL remix)
MP3: Sandman Viper Command – “Yo Bobcat”
MP3: Charlotte Cornfield – “The Colour”
MP3: The Balconies – “300 Pages”
MP3: Clothes Make The Man – “Cruisin'”
MP3: Teenage Kicks – “Shook Our Bones”
ZIP: Audio Blood Holiday Mix 2010

Frank YangWho: Broken Social Scene
What: They’re that band from Toronto. You know the one. You probably know someone who’s been in the band. You may have even been in the band yourself. Very few people in this city are more than three degrees removed from Broken Social Scene.
Why: Ostensibly they’re still touring behind this year’s Forgiveness Rock Record but these two-night hometown stands in December are pretty much a tradition now, whether or not there’s a record to promote. Toronto loves Broken and Broken loves Toronto and as Kevin Drew will probably say about 40 times over the course of their set, it’s all about the love.
When: Friday, December 10, 2010
Where: The Sound Academy in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: Still to be announced
How: Tickets for the show are $31.50 in advance but courtesy of Canvas Media, I’ve got one prize pack to give away consisting of a pair of passes to the show, a Broken Social Scene t-shirt and a copy of their 2004 odds-and-sods compilation Bee Hives on CD. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want my Social Scene Broken” in the subject line and your full name, mailing address and t-shirt gender/size in the body and have that in to me before midnight, December 5.

MP3: Broken Social Scene – “World Sick”
Video: Broken Social Scene – “Meet Me In The Basement”