June, 2004

CUFF THE DUKE’S JEEF PEERS HELPS OUT WAVELENGTH ON JUNE 19

WAVEBASH II: THIS TIME IT’S DANCEABLE
No fucking around. On June 19th there is a fundraiser for the Wavelength Zine, to help fight the ongoing war on printing bills. It is tentatively titled Wavelength Zine Fundraiser II: Dancing Shoes Required, and will be at the Dovercourt House (just north of Bloor, on Dovercourt) with Ultra Magnus, Cuff The Duke, Lullabye Arkestra, Ninja Nigh School and DJs Denise Benson and K.P. Regina. Tickets are $8 advance at Rotate and Soundscapes, or $10 at the door.

STARS OF TRACK & FIELD YOU ARE
On June 5 and 6 there is an event called Track & Field taking place just outside of Guelph. Track and Field is a two-day music and sports event. Participants will celebrate summer and being alive. Right now, the following bands are going to be playing, so it should be hot: The Bits, Kids On TV, The Phonemes, Alight, The Singing Saw Shadow Show, Jonathan Inc., Lenin I Shumov, These Are My Beating Heart, Two Minute Miracles, Tamara Williamson, Bahai Cassette, Matias Rozenberg, 8 Bit, Jason & The Imaginaries, Les Mouches, Great Lake Swimmers, Fox The Boom Box, The Chesnuts And The Trees, The Barcelona Pavilion, Rick & The Stables, The Hamilton Electronic Music And Dodgeball Team, Hank And The Hank Collective, We’re Marching On..., Ninja High School, The Creeping Nobodies and Three Ring Circuits Feat. Jenny Omnichord. So that leaves about 15 Wavelength readers left in the city that weekend. www.socialartsclub.org

GIRLS WHO ROCK, GIRLS WHO READ
There is a new(ish) bi-monthly party/show called Hey Ladeez put on by two very nice gals at Stones Place. You’ve already missed two of their events by the time you’ll be reading this but there will be another party in late July, so stay tuned. On the subject of "girls who read," Shameless are releasing their magazine at the 360 on Saturday June 5 (an all ages event -- duh). Hosted by two up-and-coming teenage girl comedians the night will include readings, music, and maybe some free food. There will also be radical cheerleaders in front of the 360 to lure you in. It’s five bucks to get in and that will get you a free issue of the magazine. www.shamelessmag.com

PLEASE SIGN HERE...
Who would have guessed that The Arcade Fire would sign with a large indie label in the States? We all would have. It was so obvious! In fact, I’m surprised it took so long. Supposedly there was a bidding war as well. The winner: Merge. The North Carolina-based label is officially riding the gravy train after signing The Arcade Fire. Without a doubt, this is the most highly anticipated release of 2004. The album is due in late summer (which means November). P.S.: A seven-inch will be released soon, keep your eyes and ears open. www.arcadefire.com.

AND HERE...
Wolf Parade, friends of the Arcade Fire, were also signed. They were picked up by a little label called Sub Pop. Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock is said to be recording the band’s first official release in Chicago over the next few months. Don’t expect the final product until 2005. www.wolfparade.cjb.net.

AND HERE TOO...
Everything flows better in three’s so I thought I’d mention another Montreal band making it big. Alien8 Recordings is excited to announce the re-issue of Deux Hot Dogs Moutarde Chou from Montreal’s most notorious post-punks, Les Georges Leningrad. Their completely over-the-top stage show and totally unique sound has made them one of the city’s most beloved bands. www.alien8recordings.com.

OH, YOU FORGOT, SIGN THIS ONE AS WELL...
Definitive Jux Records, a solid hip-hop label in the States signed their first Canadian (Toronto) artist, 4th Pyramid. After returning from a North American tour with De La Soul, Raekwon and Aesop Rock, 4th Pyramid is set to release his album in June 2004. Keep on the lookout for a CD release party this month. www.4thpyramid.com, www.definitivejux.net.

NXNE IS THIS MONTH
Big fuckin’ score. www.nxne.com.

THE CLOSEST THING TO TOM WAITS PLAYING TORONTO IN JUNE
The Silver Hearts will perform Raindogs, the Tom Waits album, at the Annex Theatre on Saturday June 12. If you don’t know The Silver Hearts they are a blend of accordion, fiddles, piano, brass, theremin and more. Their music is described as a mixture of Western roots, tin-pan-alley, blues and ragtime. The band performed Raindogs once last year and they’ve been hounded to do it again. Shows at 7 & 9:30pm. The Annex Theatre is located at 730 Bathurst St. www.thesilverhearts.com.

MEAN RED JACK
Greg and Lisa from the Mean Red Spiders just had a baby boy named Jack Gregory Porter Nighswander. "Jack was born Tuesday, May 18 at 2:19pm, eight pounds, nine ounces; a long mean dancing machine he is. Mom and Baby are doing fine and we look forward to showing him off at a Wavelength some time in the future," says Greg. Congrats.