Words and photo’s by Michael Dickinson

“If we fuck up and you notice we’ll get everyone a free drink” so proclaims guitarist Brian King who could, very well, become everybody’s new best friend by the end of the song. Drummer David Prowse isn’t too worried about where his next drink is coming from as he takes another swig from a bottle of Maker’s Mark perched on the amp next to him.

It’s a win-win situation for the crowd. They fuck up, everyone’s a little bit more merry. If they are note perfect we’ve just enjoyed their newest song in a night littered with thunderously memorable and enjoyable tunes. Truly this is music to rock out with one’s cock out. Brian King and David Prowse, from the lovely city of Vancouver have developed a loyal following over here which is set to grow judging by the skills on show tonight. The pair make for easy company on stage, always looking like they are enjoying themselves and loving the appreciative crowd. Despite there being only two you could be forgiven for thinking that a band the size of Polyphonic Spree had turned up. Prowse bangs the drums without mercy creating an almost tribal effect in the process. King’s guitar takes us from punk energy to industrial feedback to riffing ‘Enter Sandman’.

The crowd is split between to definite groups. The polite, Mojo readers, stood with drink in hand and enjoying the show and the long haired, “YYYYEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHH” rockers who do their best to start a mosh pit going. (Plus two drunk morons stood in front of me who decide to touch themselves up and dance “real funny like”). That alone shows the bands appeal across the rock boundaries.

The set includes tracks from their EP collection ‘No Singles’, album “Post-Nothing” and new single “Art Czars”. It’s an interesting proposition to listen to all these tunes recorded over the last four years. You can almost hear the duo’s writing abilities in development with each newer song. Toward the end of the set when King announces “this is a really old song” and you can tell, from the simple words and the basic tune. Compared to their new stuff which is some kind of wonderful hybrid of Charlotte Gainsbourg and AFI.

Japandroids offer a very rare thing in these times, unpretentious music for an unpretentious listener. They’re not trying to sell you any ideals, image or style . They play music. They play damn fine music. Dark riffs and devastating drums all done with a wink and a smile.

“Fuck you that was perfect” King tells us as they finish their brand new song. “No free drinks”. Cheers sound louder than a few scattered groans. Placing a fiver in my girlfriends hand I tell her to get us both a drink “and make them singles”.

13th, 14th and 15th May, 2010 – Brighton, UK

THE GREAT ESCAPE UNVEILS FIRST WAVE OF BANDS FOR 2010

DELPHIC / CHASE AND STATUS /

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE / MARINA & THE DIAMONDS /

ELLIE GOULDING / CRYSTAL FIGHTERS / SLOW CLUB /

COLD CAVE / ESBEN AND THE WITCH / HURTS /

JAPANDROIDS / REAL ESTATE / TIMBER TIMBRE /

DARWIN DEEZ / BEST COAST / THE CHEEK / WILD PALMS /

THE RUBY SUNS

www.escapegreat.com

The Great Escape, Europe’s most anticipated new music festival and Industry conference event is pleased to announce the first wave of acts for its landmark fifth annual Brighton outing. Taking over 30+ venues throughout the city and hosting over 350 bands playing across three days, the event will once again bring to light the most vibrant new bands getting those in the know hot under the collar, as well as giving you the opportunity to see some of the most loved bands around in pleasingly intimate surrounds.

Opening the 2010 festival season in style and running from May 13-15th, this year’s Great Escape is ecstatic to confirm that Manchester’s finest young sons Delphic will be bringing their much lauded indie-rave hybrid to southern shores. Tipped as ones to watch by all and sundry in 2010 and already garnering almost universally high praise for the debut album ‘Acolyte’, this may be the last chance you get to see the band before they make the leap to filling the stadiums that their anthemic warehouse-pop deserves. Also confirmed for this year’s event are Drum ‘n’ Bass overlords Chase & Status. Having built a reputation as one of the most blisteringly on-point live acts in dance music, it’s guaranteed to be nothing short of breathtaking to witness them dropping the heavy bass pressure.

Canadian über-group Broken Social Scene, who are currently putting the finishing touches to their fourth album, will be crossing the Atlantic to join the action with their incredibly engaging baroque-pop. The festival will also be set alight by quirky new wave bliss from the sublime Marina & The Diamonds, hooky electronica from the BBC’s top tip for 2010 and BRITS Critics Choice winner Ellie Goulding, cutting edge Basque folk funk from Crystal Fighters, intergalactic rockabilly-esque folk from Sheffield duo Slow Club, experimental synth sounds from Philadelphia’s Cold Cave, Brighton’s very own Esben & The Witch, lush and icy electro-pop from Hurts, garage rocking duo Japandroids, psychedelic surf rock from Real Estate, swampy ragged blues from Timber Timbre, indie rock with a side of calisthenics from Darwin Deez, hazy bedroom pop from Best Coast, punky power-popsters The Cheek, primal soundscapes from Wild Palms and psych action from Kiwi band Ruby Suns.

Early bird tickets, that not only get you in to see all the bands but will also get you access to outdoor gigs, afternoon shows, club nights, after parties and much more, are on sale now from www.escapegreat.com for a mere £45.00.

Rockers East Vancouver is a highlight of the duo’s debut album: a bedlam of riotous garage rock that thunders past in a fit of youthful nostalgia. What marks Japandroids out from other guitar/drums duos is their hooks and melodies are never compromised by the band’s visceral energy and lo-fi production.

February 2010 dates:

Monday 22nd February – Freebutt, Brighton
Tuesday 23rd February – ICA, London
Wednesday 24th February – Cockpit 3, Leeds
Thursday 25th February – Deaf Instuite, Manchester
Friday 26th February – King Tuts, Glasgow
Saturday 27th February – Korova, Liverpool