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”

Shervin LainezWho: Jukebox The Ghost
What: Philly-based, fun-infused, power-pop trio whose last album was Everything Under The Sun.
Why: They’re a little ways removed from the release of their second album, but getting invited along to open up and road-test new material is rarely a bad thing. So they’re doing that.
When: Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Where: The Sound Academy in Toronto (all-ages)
Who else: They’re opening up for Jack’s Mannequin on this tour.
How: Tickets for the show are $28.50 in advance but courtesy of the band, I’ve got a pair of passes to give away for the show, and also a poster. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to Jukebox The Ghost” in the subject line and your full name and mailing address in the body. Contest closes at midnight, January 26.
What else: The band talked to PopBytes last November about their plans for album number three.

Video: Jukebox The Ghost – “Half Crazy”
Video: Jukebox The Ghost – “Schizophrenia”

Paul Valencia PIWho: Cass McCombs
What: American singer-songwriter of many accolades and no fixed address.
Why: After garnering praise for his dark and stark 2011 release Wit’s End, McCombs attempted to let a little light in with his second album of the year, Humour Risk.
When: Friday, January 27, 2012
Where: The Garrison in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Opening up are Frank Fairfield and Jennifer Castle.
How: Tickets for the show are $14.50 in advance but courtesy of Domino Records, 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 see Cass McCombs” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, January 24.
What else: College Times and The Phoenix New Times have interviews with McCombs.

MP3: Cass McCombs – “The Same Thing”
Video: Cass McCombs – “The Same Thing”

Paul HeartfieldWho: Fujiya & Miyagi
What: Brighton-based Krautrock/electro-pop devotees named for a Japanese audio equipment manufacturer and Ralph Macchio’s mentor in the Karate Kid films.
Why: They released their fourth album Ventriloquizzing last year. Why wouldn’t they want to take it on tour?
When: Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Where: Wrongbar in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Toronto’s Volcano Playground open up.
How: Tickets for the show are $12.50 in advance but courtesy of Wrongbar, 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 Fujiya & Miyagi” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, January 22.
What else: Fujiya & Miyagi showed up on that recent Mojo cover CD tribute thing to New Order – hear their contribution over at Stereogum.

MP3: Fujiya & Miyagi – “Ecstatic Dancer”
MP3: Fujiya & Miyagi – “YoYo”
MP3: Fujiya & Miyagi – “Sixteen Shades Of Black & Blue”

FacebookWho: Los Campesinos!
What: Prolific and precocious Welsh pop collective for whom constant roster turnover is apparently no impediment
Why: Album number four Hello Sadness came out at the tail of of 2011, and the North American tour for it kicks off next week.
When: Sunday, January 22, 2012 (the second of the two-night stand)
Where: Lee’s Palace in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Portland’s Parenthetical Girls support both nights.
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 (the SUNDAY NIGHT ONE). To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Los Campesinos!” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, January 18.
What else: Pitchfork, American Songwriter and The Vancouver Sun have profiles on the band.

MP3: Los Campesinos! – “By Your Hand”
Video: Los Campesinos! – “By Your Hand”