Jim NewberryOriginally coming to prominence as part of the great American garage rock wave of the early aughts, Detroit’s Von Bondies have managed to stick around beyond that scene’s expiry date despite undergoing a number of lineup changes and not being especially prolific – Love, Hate & Then There’s You, out Tuesday, is their first album in five years and just their third since 2001.

But back they are and with the new record comes touring, starting off with a visit to Canada that brings the band to the Horseshoe in Toronto on February 13 and courtesy of Universal Music Canada, I’ve got a pair of passes to said show to give away. But that’s not all – to the rest of Canada, and to any Toronto folks who can’t make the show, I’ve also got four prize packs consisting of a copy of the new album on CD alongside either a copy of the album on LP or a 7″ of their new single “Pale Bride”. So that’s five winners in total. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with a subject line of “I want Von Bondies live” if you want to see the show, “I want 7 inches of Von Bondie” if you want the CD and single or “I want 12 inches of Von Bondie” if you want the CD and LP. Also include your full name and mailing address. You can enter for the show and either of the records, but only one entry for either of the record prize packs please. And as mentioned, contest is open to residents of Canada only. It closes at midnight, February 2.

Exclaim! has an interview with head Bondie Jason Stollsteimer about the band’s extended, involuntary half-decade layoff while Filter asks one question of drummer Don Blum.

MP3: The Von Bondies – “Pale Bride”
Video: The Von Bondies – “Pale Bride”

BlurSo it seems the holidays are officially upon us. I know this because I skipped out of work early yesterday, and the streetcar was packed with people doing exactly the same thing. And as things everywhere wind down, so too will things around here. I’ll still post as long as there’s stuff to post about, but I intend to utilize the downtime to catch up on some reading, movie watching, shopping… real world stuff.

But I’ll wind out the week with this really interesting piece from The Guardian, wherein they talk to the people who served as inspiration for famous songs throughout the years. Like the guy who owned Blur’s “Country House”, the girl whom The Beatles said was “Leaving Home”, she whose name is “Geraldine” and is Glasvegas’ social worker and Patti Boyd, who both had something in the way she moved and also went by “Layla”. Worth a read, perhaps this afternoon between glances at the clock every few minutes, waiting for 5:00.

And if that’s not enough, there’s a variety of sessions that’ve gone online in the last couple days that are worth your while.

NPR gets Mercury Rev to record a session with legendary producer Steve Lillywhite. The Montreal Mirror and Chicago Reader have interviews.

Daytrotter has a Crooked Fingers set available to download.

Bandstand Busking gets Asobi Seksu to play a few songs, busker-style. Their new album Hush is out February 17. And digging through the archives also reveals similar sessions with The Acorn (session) and Frightened Rabbit (session). Nice.

MPR has Longwave over to play a few. They’ve got a new vid from new album Secrets Are Sinister and The Columbian has an interview with frontman Steve Schlitz.

Video: Longwave – “Shining Hours”

Stereogum’s Decomposed puts on The Uglysuit.

NPR talks to School Of Seven Bells.

The Age profiles Fleet Foxes.

I’d mentioned in my favourites of 2008 post that the Woodpigeon record which made the list was a limited release and currently unavailable, but that it’d re-released soon – as Exclaim reports, “soon” means February 3. On that day, Treasury Library Canada will be available again in regular retail outlets and come with a ten-track bonus disc entitled Houndstooth Europa. And if that’s not enough Woodpigeon for you, their next album Die Stadt Muzikanten will be released in the Fall.

Von Bondies have a date at the Horseshoe on February 13, full tour dates at Plug In Music. Their new album Love, Hate And Then There’s You is out February 3.

Part of Drowned In Sound’s year-end coverage has involved soliciting “best of year” picks from various artists including Sky Larkin, Shearwater, Frightened Rabbit and School Of Seven Bells, the results of which are available in three parts. Filter has also been collecting Top 10 lists from a slew of acts and compiling them at eRockstar.