Urban Hymns

I was never a huge fan of The Verve but the news of them reuniting is somehow exciting. Maybe it's the fact that their song 'Lucky Man' has seeped into my subsconscious after having hearing it in the movie "The Girl Next Door" . Or the fact that it's more 10 years after their 1993 debut "A Storm in Heaven" and nostalgia for that time period has in fact set in. Chromewaves takes a critical look at the reunion. I think I''ll be happy if the band just come back to Toronto and I get to see them perform "The Drugs Don't Work" live.

If you missed this year's Glastonbury Festival, then head over to NME who have created a one stop page to revisit this year's festival highlights.

The White Stripes played a surprise, free, brief set for the townfolk of Whitehorse this past Monday. How nice of Jack and Meg. And even nicer, Jack and Meg played a surprise gig in a Burnaby classroom(apparently filmed for a future DVD according to spectator Cayley Western)[via Just Keep Bloggin']. I wonder if Toronto can expect anything as cool as this prior to the band's July 5 date at the Molson Ampitheatre.

Snowsuit Sound has a couple of videos from yesterday's Rick White/Andre Ethier instore at Soundscapes. Watch Rick. Watch Andre.

It's come to my attention that the newest Matt Pond PA album entitled "Last Light" will be released through Polyvinyl on September 25 and even more exciting that there is a definite possibility of previous cellist Eve Miller joining the band for some live dates. If you hadn't already heard, their most recent cellist Dana Feder left the band - it seems like Matt Pond PA goes through cellist like some bands go through drummers. It had to be said. A few track's from the band's recently released EP "If You Want Blood" are currently streaming over at their MySpace. The band tours this fall.

Brooklyn Vegan has tour dates for John Vanderslice and Cloud Cult, which includes a date in Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern on October 1.

New Model Army are at Lee's Palace on October 1.

It's been a few years since we last heard from The Raveonettes with the release of 2005's "Pretty In Black". No word on a new album, but the band does return to North American in October for a tour including a stop in Toronto for a show at Lee's Palace on October 14. There are some demos streaming at their MySpace that I presume will be on their next album.

Following up on The New Pornographers/Emma Pollock tour date I posted yesterday, Chromewaves confirms that the bill will arrive at the Phoenix in Toronto on October 20. Thanks kind sir.

So the Sam The Record Man building has been designated a heritage building by Toronto City Council. Apparently this means the building structure and the Sam The Record Man Sign will stay. It's going to be strange to look up and see the sign and then look through the window and not see CD's. Did anyone make it to the auction this morning?(Update: BlogTO and Torontoist were both at the auction and have commentary and some lovely photos.) I think I'm gonna try to take some photos of some of the autographed wall panels tomorrow, especially the autographed signature from Urge Overkill which reads "Sam,You'll Be A Woman Soon!".