Frank YangWho: Veronica Falls
What: English-Scottish foursome who on their self-titled debut, resurrected the spirit of ’80s indie-pop and gave it a dark, zombie-like edge. Found love in a graveyard, indeed.
Why: They toured North America in the Fall supporting The Drums – Toronto was lucky enough to get our own headlining show – but now they’re doing their own tour.
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Where: The Garrison in Toronto (19+)
Who else: San Francisco’s Brilliant Colors support. You can tell they’re American from how they spell “Colors” – incorrectly.
How: Tickets for the show are $10.50 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got one pair of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to be Valentines with Veronica Falls” in the subject line and your full name in the body.
What else: Scout checks in with drummer Patrick Doyle.

MP3: Veronica Falls – “Come On Over”
MP3: Veronica Falls – “Found Love In A Graveyard”

Ross GarrettWho: Die Antwoord
What: South African hip-hop outfit as dedicated to shock and spectacle – and viral videos – as beats and rhymes.
Why: Their second album Ten$ion is set to come out on Tuesday and they are wasting no time in taking it on the road in North America.
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Where: The Phoenix in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: No idea who is opening.
How: Tickets for the show are $29 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 Die Antwoord” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, February 10.
What else: The Philadelphia Inquirer talks to Die Antwoord’s Ninja. That’s his name, not his title.

Video: Die Antwoord – “I Fink U Freeky”
Video: Die Antwoord – “For Julie Naaiers”

Frank YangJust so as we’re clear, I don’t imagine that in the realm of Leonard Cohen giveaways, I’ll ever be able to top the one I held in February 2009 wherein I got to send a few people to the Hamilton date of his comeback tour. That said, having a copy of the master’s new album Old Ideas to give away on CD isn’t shabby at all, either.

It comes courtesy of With A Bullet and if you’d like a shot at having it for your own, leave a comment below with a bit of Cohen-inspired poetry; a simple stanza or haiku is more than sufficient. Make sure to include your email address for contacting – it will be hidden from prying eyes and spambots – and have that in before midnight, February 2. And contest open to residents of Canada only.

There’s an interview with Cohen about the 2009 tour, “Hallelujah” and the new record at Rolling Stone, wherein he reveals that there will indeed be a tour for this new record.

Stream: Leonard Cohen / Old Ideas

thekills.tvWho: The Kills
What: Anglo-American electro-blues duo who’re sexier than you and probably most people you know.
Why: They’ve already toured through once in support of last year’s Blood Pressures but they’re back for another visit, ostensibly because they’re releasing a 12″ EP for “The Last Goodbye” on February 14 and also because it’s the 10th anniversary of their first gig.
When: Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Where: The Kool Haus in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: JEFF The Brotherhood and Hunters will open things up.
How: Tickets for the show are $26.50 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, 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 Kills” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, February 2.
What else: The Broward-Palm Beach New Times and Chicago Tribune interview Alison Mosshart and a video featurette on the making of the video for “Last Goodbye”, directed by actress Samantha Morton, is also available to watch.

MP3: The Kills – “DNA”
Video: The Kills – “Last Goodbye”
Video: The Kills – “Baby Says”
Video: The Kills – “Future Starts Slow”
Video: The making of The Kills’ “Last Goodbye”

Sigurd GrunbërgerWho: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
What: A six-piece cosmic-electro-jazz-disco-psych-pop party-time ensemble from Copenhagen. Yeah, another one of those.
Why: Their second album Out Of Frequency is coming out this Tuesday, January 31, and they’re touring it across the asteroid galaxy we call North America.
When: Monday, February 6, 2012
Where: The Hoxton in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Vacationer open things up.
How: Tickets for the show are $16.50 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 take the Asteroids Galaxy Tour” in the subject line and your full name in the body and have that in to me before midnight, February 1.
What else: Go Pride interviews vocalist Mette Lingberg.

MP3: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – “Major”
MP3: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – “Around The Bend”