Anna Isola CrollaWho: Travis
What: Scottish foursome once hyperbolically tipped as possibly being the next biggest band in the world but have instead settled for being a solidly well-liked one. Which is hardly a bad thing.
Why: While not likely to be as packed with hits as their seminal The Man Who, their just-released new album Where You Stand shows the band hasn’t lost their touch for emotive, sensitive guitar-pop that’s both bedsit- and arena-appropriate.
When: Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Where: The Sound Academy in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Luke Rathborne supports. No, he’s never heard of you either.
How: Tickets for the show 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 Travis” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, September 20.

Video: Travis – “Moving”
Video: Travis – “Where You Stand”

Frank YangWho: Patti Smith
What: Legendary punk rocker/poet/photographer/author/artist… Patti Smith. Come on.
Why: Because apparently it’s all about wish fulfillment: wish for Patti Smith to play a Toronto show, she does two super-intimate 1st Thursday shows at the Art Gallery of Ontario; wish for Patti Smith to play a Toronto show that doesn’t sell out in half a heartbeat, she plays the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in March; wish for Patti Smith to play a Toronto show with her full rock band, she comes back to do Massey Hall next month. AREN’T YOU SATISFIED YET?
When: Friday, September 6, 2013
Where: Massey Hall in Toronto
How: Tickets for the show are $79.50 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got prize pack consisting of a pair of passes for the show, a deluxe hardcover edition of her last album Banga and a special photo of some description (I have no description of this) to give away. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Patti Smith” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, September 2.

MP3: Patti Smith – “Wing”

Frank YangWho: CHVRCHES
What: The next big things out of Scotland are two blokes and a bird armed with nothing but synths, big pop songs, and a wanton disregard for the rules of spelling and grammar.
Why: Proving you no longer need something as old school as an album to stage a successful tour, the band are back for their third local show in six months – the first was back at Canadian Musicfest in March, then NXNE in June – and will pull off the impressive feat of playing a 1000+ room before their debut album The Bones Of What You Believe comes out a week and a bit later, on September 24.
When: Sunday, September 15, 2013
Where: The Danforth Music Hall in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Floridian electronic act XXYXX opens up; I expect that backstage will just be a giant bonfire of language arts textbooks.
How: Tickets for the show are $23.50 in advance but courtesy of Universal Music Canada, I’ve got a prize pack consisting of a pairs of passes to the show and an autographed poster to give away. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to go to CHVRCHES” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, September 7.
What else: USA Today introduces their readers to the band.

MP3: CHVRCHES – “The Mother We Share”
Video: CHVRCHES – “The Mother We Share”
Video: CHVRCHES – “Gun”
Video: CHVRCHES – “Recover”

Daniel CorriganWhat: Riot Fest & Travelling Exposition
Why: Riot Fest that started as a Chicago-based punk event but has expanded to other markets, including Toronto starting last year. But of course this year, it’s really just the backdrop for the much-anticipated Replacements reunion and, if they don’t play a warmup show in Minneapolis over the next week or something, Toronto will be their first show in 22 years. Of course it’s not just The Mats – the second day of the fest is further stacked with Iggy & The Stooges, The Weakerthans, Rocket From The Crypt, Dinosaur Jr, Best Coast, and more. The first day of the fest features a bunch of bands who, hand to god, I have never heard of.
When: Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25, 2013
Where: Garrison Commons at Fort York in Toronto
How: Two-day passes for the festival are sold out though single-day tickets remain, but courtesy of Union Events, I’ve got a pair of weekend passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to go to Riot Fest” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, August 21.

MP3: The Weakerthans – “Night Windows”
MP3: Dinosaur Jr – “Freak Scene”
Video: The Replacements – “Bastards Of Young”
Video: Iggy & The Stooges – “Search & Destroy”
Video: Rocket From The Crypt – “On A Rope”
Video: Best Coast – “When I’m With You”

Kevin PedersenWho: Parquet Courts
What: Texas-by-way-of-New York outfit whose musical DNA threads through Wire-ish post-punk and Pavement-esque abstract college rock for a taut, efficient, and in-your-face sound that’s so indebted to the ’80s and ’90s that it’s utterly 2013.
Why: Their full-length debut Light Up Gold was originally released last Summer, but got a wider release at the start of 2013. Buzz has built accordingly – they apparently had a very impressive SXSW – so of course they’re going to tour.
When: Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Where: The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto (19+)
Who else: They’re here in a co-headline capacity with California’s Woods; local Jennifer Castle opens up for both.
How: Tickets for the show are $15.50 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 see Parquet Courts” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, July 15.
What else: The Georgia Straight, Under The Radar, and The Oakland Press all have features on the band.

MP3: Parquet Courts – “Borrowed Time”
MP3: Parquet Courts – “Light Up Gold”
MP3: Parquet Courts – “Light Up Gold II”
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