Munekazu ShimizuWho: Matt Pond PA
What: Philadelphia-born, Brookyln-based, Pennsylvania-saluting, orchestral-popping, always poignant indie rocker. And his band.
Why: Though their eighth album The Dark Leaves was released back in April, their touring itinerary is only bringing them up to Toronto now.
When: Friday, October 1, 2010
Where: The Mod Club in Toronto (early show)
Who else: Openers right now yet to be announced. But it’ll be someone. And they’ll be on first.
How: Tickets are $12 in advance but courtesy of Canvas Media, 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 Matt Pond PA” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight , September 29.

MP3: Matt Pond PA – “Starting”
Video: Matt Pond PA – “Remains”

Darren AnkenmanWho: Hot Hot Heat
What: Victoria dance-rock veterans who’ve outlived the scene and sound that first brought them into the public eye
Why: With their fourth album Future Breeds hitting stores earlier this Summer, it’s time for a North American tour to promote
When: Friday, October 8, 2010
Where: The Mod Club in Toronto
Who else: West coasters tap east coasters Hey Rosetta and Rich Aucoin for a coast-to-coast Canadian content bill
How: Tickets for the show are $29.50 in advance but courtesy of Union Events, 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 feel the Hot Hot Heat” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, October 3.
What else: There’s interviews with the band at Pique, Question, Seattle Weekly and The Baltimore Sun.

MP3: Hot Hot Heat – “21 @ 12”
MP3: Hot Hot Heat – “Bandages”

MySpaceWho: Van Dyke Parks
What: Legendary American composer and arranger best known for working on Brian Wilson’s lost and then found masterpiece Smile, but who is most recently known for the rich orchestral arrangements on Joanna Newsom’s Ys.
Why: Parks rarely tours and performs, so when he chooses to, you don’t ask why – just when, where and how much
When: Wednesday, September 29
Where: The Music Gallery in Toronto
Who else: New York’s Clare & The Reasons, whose debut The Movie featured production and arrangement work from Parks, will both open and act as Parks’ band
How: Tickets are $30 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 Van Dyke Parks” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, September 26.
What else: Daytrotter just posted a session with Clare & The Reasons.

Video: Van Dyke Parks with Clare & The Reasons – “He Needs Me” (live)

Arnaud BrackeWho: Holy Fuck
What: Polaris-nominated, censor-enraging, dance party-inducing, electro-instrumental Canuck quartet
Why: Following a Summer of support and festival dates, they’re finally staging a proper headline tour in support of their latest album, Latin
When: Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Where: The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Houston’s electronically-inclined Indian Jewelry are opening things up throughout the tour
How: Tickets are $20.75 in advance but courtesy of Union Events, I have two pairs of passes to give away to the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want the Holy Fuck” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, September 26.
What else: Houston Press talked to Holy Fuck’s Brian Borcherdt and Flagpole to Graham Walsh.

MP3: Holy Fuck – “Latin America”
Video: Holy Fuck – “Latin America”

FacebookWho: Menomena
What: Portland-based, Grammy-nominated (for packaging) prog-pop trio adept at balancing experimental and melodic inclinations and whose name apparently isn’t a Sesame Street salute
Why: Their fourth album Mines was released back in July – naturally extensive touring must follow
When: Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Where: The Mod Club in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Support comes from Suckers and Tu Fawning, both of whom have their own respectable head of buzz going on
How: Tickets are $15 in advance, but courtesy of Barsuk, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away to the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Menomena (do doo do doo doo do)” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, September 24.
What else: The band are marking the kick-off of the tour with a 30-minute mixtape/sound collage that they’ve dubbed “Magichat”. Seattle Weekly talks to Menomena’s Danny Seim.

MP3: Menomena – “Taos”
MP3: Menomena – “Five Little Rooms”
MP3: Menomena – “Magichat”