Hometown: Newmarket, Ontario | Label: Mean Beard, mom+pop, Memphis Ind, Dew Process
It was a pivotal moment a few years back, when Tokyo Police Club played Pop Montreal, and Dave Monks (vocals and bass), Graham Wright (keyboards), Josh Hook (guitar), and Greg Alsop (drums) realized that they had something there as a band, and held onto that notion. Fast forward from that moment in time, the four-piece band from Newmarket, Ontario, has since played at a wealth of live musical festivals for audiences far and wide, and even had the opportunity to perform on Late Night With David Letterman. The band was nominated for a Juno Award for their debut album, ‘Elephant Shell’, which was released in 2008.
This year is already starting off on a strong note for Tokyo Police Club, as they are part of the Olympic celebrations for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. They will be playing the Richmond O-Zone on February 26th, and at Holland Park the next night. Both of these shows are free to the public. In addition, the band is also returning to the lineup for Coachella this summer, not to mention a tentative release date for their second full-length LP in late spring.
Tokyo Police Club has been consistent with their sound, from ‘A Lesson In Crime’— their 2007 EP that captured the attention of people with good taste in music from far and wide. The construction of their music gives off a distinct and distinguishable sound, a mix of indie rock mixed in with garage-band influence, in a polished way. One of the highlights of signing with an independent label is the amount of control you have in the making of your music, and the boys of Tokyo Police club are certainly at an advantage here, acting as not only songwriters also as co-producers.
If their success so far isn’t indication enough, it is only going to get bigger for Tokyo Police Club. And for those of you who are in Vancouver this month, be sure to go to one of their shows. Did we mention that they are free?
Check out http://www.tokyopoliceclub.com for more information and upcoming shows, or follow them on Twitter @tokyopoliceclub.
[youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa7JRuLEp-w’]
