inside LG15

Music by: Tokyo Police Club
Suggested Listen: Elephant Shell
Recommended Tracks: “Juno”, “In a Cave”, “The Harrowing Adventures of?”

Two weeks ago Tokyo Police Club made their network debut on Desperate Housewives. This week, they make their debut on the LG15 network as the Chapter 11 featured artist (way more exciting). And as things are simmering to a boil on the first season of LG15: The Resistance, we couldn’t have a better band to take us on our journey this week.

Tokyo Police Club is a key fixture in the indie-rock world Hundreds of bands are trying RIGHT NOW to break down their success and are just tearing the bottom out of the scene in the process. It’s not the hooks, it’s not the intensity…it’s the grittiness of playing rock n’ roll every night to survive and writing songs inspired by the tension and excitement of everyday life. It shows in TPC’s relentless touring and commitment to breaking the molds of the traditional music business by releasing music in small bursts AND on full releases. Having been lucky enough to see these guys a couple of times I get the distinct feeling their recorded music has a bit of catching up to do to match the insanity of the live show.

Their first full-length record, “Elephant Shell” arrived about 18 months after the now legendary “A Lesson in Crime” (perhaps the best rock EP in recent memory). Lots of expectations. We’ll find out this week if the guys have what it takes but every indication is that Tokyo Police Club is here to stay and is not just another buzz band. They buzz because they are that good.

Singer/bassist David Monks describes TPC’s sound as “wide-eyed post-punk with a tendency to get over excited-so much that someone has to come and tell it to settle down.” It’s figuring out when to mellow out that ‘tendency’ that makes “Elephant Shell” a great record.

Tokyo Police Club will tour all of December in a cross-country Canadian trek with Metric, The Dears, and Sebastian Grainger and the Mountains. Go see this show. Go see live music. Happy Thanksgiving!

Dec. 12, 2008 Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
Dec. 13, 2008 Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
Dec. 15, 2008 Burton Cummings Theatre - Winnipeg, MB
Dec. 16, 2008 Prairieland Centre - Saskatoon, SK
Dec. 17, 2008 Shaw Conference Centre - Edmonton, AB
Dec. 19, 2008 MacEwan Hall - Calgary, AB
Dec. 21, 2008 The Vogue - Vancouver, BC
Dec. 22, 2008 The Vogue - Vancouver, BC

On the Fly. Off the Cuff.
“In a Cave” – Things are moving too fast.

“Juno” – Almost perfect.

“The Harrowing Adventures of?” - I remember so well.

LG15: The Resistance (updated weekly)

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 2:09 pm and is filed under LG15: The Resistance, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.