Review - Japandroids (Toronto, ON)

Japandroids w/ Metz
Sneaky Dee's
Toronto, ON
Thursday, September 22, 2011

Vancouver rockers Japandroids returned for a high-energy affair featuring tracks from their breakout debut Post-Nothing, as well as some welcome new songs from their upcoming release, with some other singles sprinkled in between. Plus a cover of Gun Club's For the Love of Ivy to wrap up the evening.

That's essentially how lead singer Brian King introduced the two-piece band (David Prowse on drums) to the audience, suggesting that the night would begin with some newer material and then they would get to the older stuff. Overall, happy to say this show was quite satisfying to this casual fan. Plenty of the songs were recognizable, in particular Wet Hair, The Boys Are Leaving Town, Rockers East Vancouver, and Young Hearts Spark Fire, all due to their ability to make an impression and stick out after only a handful of listens.

The originally scheduled opener Bass Drum of Death was unable to attend (border issues), so we got Metz who brought a high energy set that seemed to receive a mixed reaction from the audience. Unfortunately at this point I was towards the back and didn't really soak up this set, but it was definitely loud.

For sure I would recommend Japandroids.

Setlist:
Adrenaline Nightshift
Younger Us
Fire's Highway
The Boys Are Leaving Town
Rockers East Vancouver
Art Czars
Evil's Sway
Wet Hair
Sovereignty
Young Hearts Spark Fire
For the Love of Ivy (Gun Club)

Album Breakdown:
Post-Nothing: 5
Miscellaneous: 2
Untitled New Album: 3
Covers: 1