Just five more days till NXNE! Here’s some news!

“On the cover of the…NOW magazine?” Okay doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but you get the idea. This week’s cover stars are Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew and his recent Arts & Crafts signees, East York’s Still Life Still. Does anyone else get the sense from reading this article that Drew is getting ready to pass the torch onto younger blood? I think if you were to compare the A&C family to another infamous family, the Coreleones (immortalized in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather trilogy and the subsequent movies), Kevin Drew would be the “I’ll make them an offer they can’t refuse” patriarch Don Vito Corleone (played by the iconic Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro), Feist would be the daughter Connie, and Stars’ Torquil Campbell would be the godson and famous crooner slash movie star Johnny Fontane (hey, I didn’t say that it was going to be a good analogy). Does that mean as a potential future heir to the throne, Still Life Still’s lead singer Josh Romaniuk is Michael Corleone? While they might not be putting any horse heads in the beds of their enemies, the band certainly has a busy schedule coming up. They’ll play the Fred Perry store (964 Queen Street West) on June 17th, are part of the second night A&C showcase, and will take the side-stage at Edgefest on the 20th.

Quick, make a list of things that geeks get really excited. Star Trek premieres? Yes. Meghan Fox in a movie about giant transforming robots? Well, they might be right about the lovely Ms. Fox anyways. But as far as big events for video game and computer nerds, the annual Los Angeles’ Electronic Entertainment Expo (which goes by the time-saving acronym E3) trade show for the computer and video games industry, ranks pretty highly. This year’s E3, which took place June 1-4, however had one important unveiling that got video andmusic geeks alike excited: the first previews of a little game called The Beatles: Rock Band. You heard right, a Rock Band based on the music of the Fab Four. Awesome, right? If you can ignore the fact that somewhere John Lennon (bless his soul) is probably spinning in his grave, this is a pretty cool concept. I mean, who wouldn’t relish the opportunity to sing off-key renditions of songs like “Hey Jude” and “I Am The Walrus” with your drunken mates? The game comes out September 9th, and you can watch some trailers over at the official site.

What’s the point in writing for a blog if you can’t include a little shameless self-promotion now and again? Not much, that’s what I say. So allow me to take a minute of your time and bring your attention to my Facebook petition, “Bring The Yeah Yeah Yeahs To Toronto”. I mean, its really more of a public service announcement than anything else. If you like the YYYs or know someone who does or you just like joining Facebook groups, please join here and invite your friends. Please and thank you.

Garage rock beef! Black Lips’ singer and bassist Jared Swilley recently had some less-than-kind words for Nathan Williams, in regards to the Wavves frontman’s recent onstage meltdown during the band’s set at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound Festival, during a radio interview. Some of his choice words included “cowardly”, “baby” and “dick”. Read the full story on Pitchfork here.

Speaking of the Lips, The Almighty Defenders’ (which includes members of the Lips and King Khan and the BBQ Show) debut show will be held at the Amsterdam Brewery (21 Bathurst Street) on June 18th. Sponsored by VICE Canada and Zune, this show goes from 9:00 pm till 1:00 am, and should be a dependably solid good time. RSVP at to@viceland.com. Please watch this and this to get an idea of the craziness that may ensue from this one-off (?) gig.

Just when you think this song is dead, another band attempts to put their own stamp on it. Those that attended the Nine Inch Nails/Jane’s Addiction show in Toronto were treated to a special surprise: Street Sweeper Social Club (Boots Riley and Tom Morello) doing a heavy rockin’ cover of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” (thanks to BlogTO for this one).

As much as it pains me to watch this – as I passed on going to this show last minute – this is a gorgeous rendition of an amazing song. Grizzly Bear getting some assistance from everyone’s favourite Canadian songbird, Feist, last Friday at the Phoenix on “Two Weeks”. Thanks to our photographer Steph L. for this one.

Afraid that you aren’t going to be able to squeeze seeing Health into your busy NXNE schedule? Well never fear, as the LA noise-rockers will be returning to Toronto on September 19th at Wrongbar. This time it’ll be in support of their second full-length album, Get Color, which will be released on September 8th. I’ve read that these guys put on an insane live performance and they are definitely among my top twenty must-see-live bands. Listen to first single “Die Slow” over at the band’s MySpace.

Unfortunately for myself, not living at home this summer, and having to pay grocery, phone and Metro Pass bills has really brought me down-to-earth on my grim economic situation. As a result, I will be heading home to Nova Scotia the end of the month, and not returning to Toronto until the beginning of August. But never fear, I shall be still providing news updates and album reviews, even if there is a lack of shows to attend in my fair province (And did I mention we have an NDP government now?). I will however be covering the Virgin Mobile Festival in Halifax, and may be potentially (fingers crossed) heading on a road trip with two cousins to Montreal for the second day of Osheaga, to catch Beastie Boys, The Decemberists, Crystal Castles, The Ting Tings, Beast and Rufus Wainwright, among others.

Cheers,
Max