Wanna Be Your Friend

Right off the bat I want to point to Chartattack who report on an Inbreds tribute album which will be coming out on Gooseberry Records, entitled "Wanna Be Your Friend: A Tribute To The Inbreds". It'll feature a bevy of east-coast artists and as an added bonus The Inbreds return the favour by including several of their own covers of other artists' songs. On a tangent, the Chartattack link above mentions Ruth Minnikin(who is included on the Inbreds tribute album) who at the time of their interview with her had been packing for a gig in New York with The Heavy Blinkers. The Heavy Blinkers' MySpace indicates the gig is tonight(Aug 8). And my question is, where's that double album(or any album for that matter) you've been promising your fans for the last few years?

Vancouver new wave pop band Bella(who I've mentioned and have been quite fond of their music in the past) will release their debut CD "No One Will Know" on Mint Records but for the time being their record label is offering a free download of their first single:

MP3: Bella - 'Give It A Night'

Serena Ryder will play the Mix 99.9 FM Beachfest at Sunnyside Park on Labour Day(September 2). Serena goes on tour with Paolo Nutini in the U.S. this Fall. All dates at her MySpace.

Pitchfork gives a heads up that Stars has added more dates to its tour schedule, although other than their scheduled Toronto Virgin Festival appearance on September 9 the only other date in this neck of the woods is in Waterloo, ON at The Starlight Room on September 4.

Snailhouse, with Bruce Peninsula and Tusks are at the Tranzac on September 5.

Jade McNelis is at the Rivoli on September 19 to celebrate the release of a new music video(I wonder which song?) plus the rerelease of her debut EP "All The Fables" with new artwork.

Making up for some previously cancelled Toronto shows, UK's Mystery Jets return on September 20 for a show at El Mocambo.

So the previously rumoured August 13th date for the Beastie Boys at Molson Ampitheatre fell through for one reason or another but Canoe -- Jam! and Pollstar are now listing a September 21 date at Air Canada Centre. It's not listed at the Beastie Boys' official web site but I have a good feeling that the date is true.

Possibly the hardest working woman on the tour circuit, rockin' country songstress Carolyn Mark hits the road tomorrow night for a Canadian tour which basically heads eastward stopping in Toronto for a show at the Tranzac Club on September 28.

Canadian sister duo Tegan and Sara and their band plus their openers American female hip-hop trio Northern State will be at Danforth Music Hall for a two-night stint on October 7 and 8[via Chartattack]. Tegan and Sara's new album "The Con" is in stores now. Northern State's new album "Can I Keep This Pen?" comes out August 28.

Regina Spektor continues her climb towards playing larger venue, and is scheduled for a date at Kool Haus on October 11. I recall her previous Toronto appearance was at The Mod Club and before that the Rivoli. But big enough for the Kool Haus now? I don't know.

The last I heard of Unkle...I don't even recall, it's been so long. Unkle comes to Toronto for a show at Lee's Palace on October 19. Apparently Unkle never toured North America until now and will be touring with a live seven piece band. This'll probably sell out. Unkle's newest album "War Stories" is in stores now.

Tough and Go's Enon invade Sneaky Dee's on October 22.

Rogue Wave return to Toronto for a show at The Mod Club on October 27. They'll be promoting their new album "Asleep at Heaven's Gate" out September 18th on Brushfire Records. Listen to the band's cover of The Beatles "All You Need is Love" over at their MySpace. Terrific. Oh, and Rogue Wave will be touring with Feist in September although not in Toronto. Boo!

Portland, Oregon post-punk-pop trio The Thermals finally come to Toronto for a show at the Horseshoe Tavern on October 27, tickets $12.00.