Brad Hudson
writer
With increasing media appearances and a recent Juno nomination, Tokyo Police Club isn’t having a hard time keeping busy or securing a prominent position on Canada’s independent music scene.
The band is in the middle of its final tour to promote its second LP Champ. They will be making a two-night stop at The Starlite Room April 18 and 19.
The band agreed to play two nights instead of one in response to the overwhelming demand for tickets.
Guitarist Josh Hook comments that it “is a very welcome surprise.”
The new LP is filled with songs that are quick and concise, a trademark of Tokyo Police Club’s entire catalogue.
The album jumps around with different styles, but remains true throughout.
“There is definitely some experimentation that happens naturally,” Hook mentions with regards to how the songwriting has evolved within Tokyo Police Club.
“The real difference (between recordings) was the writing process of each album.”
Tokyo Police Club’s last LP Elephant Shell was produced a bit differently.
“(It was a) shortened, really fragmented writing process,” admits Hook.
“We’d start a song, work on it for a week, then leave for two weeks, then come back and completely forget where the song was going or where we wanted to take it,” he says. “With Champ, we knew how we didn’t want to write an album, (and) we were able to see each song from start to finish.”
The band recently played on stage at the 2011 Juno Awards on March 27, and was also nominated in the Alternative Album of the Year category for Champ.
“It was great, and definitely an amazing experience,” Hook says.
“It’s a little more nerve wracking then playing any other TV event, especially when you have The Arcade Fire sitting next to you and Shania Twain on the other side.”
The band is also no stranger to festivals.
Tokyo Police Club has been included in the roster of numerous festivals, which has garnered the band a dedicated following.
“They have all been amazing experiences,” Hook comments.
The band is scheduled to play festivals this year such as the Sasquatch! Music Festival and Edgefest 2011.
Tokyo Police Club has also received its fair share of publicity, with appearances on Desperate Housewives and The Late Show With David Letterman.
As the band becomes increasingly commercial, fans are starting to feel that Tokyo Police Club is losing touch with its roots. Hook assures this isn’t the case.
“It’s easy to see those comments coming from someone who hasn’t been there every step of the way,” he adds.
However, frontman David Monks told Spinner magazine recently that fans shouldn’t be surprised when their favourite artists commercialize their work in order to earn an income when their fans illegally download their music. Losing the income from music sales puts the artist in a tight spot.
“It’s a changed market”, Hook says in response to Monk’s comment.
“But come drive with us 16 hours overnight and you’ll see differently. It’s not like we’re flying first class across Canada.”
Listening to Champ makes this comment evident.
The band may be becoming more commercial, but the music isn’t sacrificing its authenticity in order to do so, which is what really matters in the heart of true music fans.
