By: Luke Ottenhof –
Tokyo Police Club. (Photo: Scott Penner/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
The oft-seen, but scarce overused, dream double-bill of Hollerado and Newmarket indie-champs Tokyo Police Club stopped at Algonquin College in Ottawa last night for a comprehensive lesson in indie charm and fun.
It’s no stretch to say Canadian indie-rock school was in session at the Algonquin Commons Theatre, and Holleradodrummer Jake Boyd was head of the disciplinary committee.
“Jake was a badass back in the day,” grinned singer/guitarist Menno Versteeg as the Ottawa feel-good rockers neared the end of their typical set.
Let me explain what typical is for Hollerado: riotous sing-along vocals, jangly dual guitar riffing, thumping bass bits,coordinated geysering of water from their mouths, and general unruly behaviour. These are business-as-usual items for the quartet, and coupled with an endless amount of energy, it’s a wonder that they don’t burn themselves out, or take a night off. But the pervasive air of glee that radiated from each member, from bassist Dean Baxter’s sullen demeanour, to guitarist Nixon Boyd’s charming bounce while jamming, to Versteeg’s merriment and toothy grin, and back to Boyd’s sassy quips, it’s quite impossible to not smile and get sucked up into the rollicking fun that is Hollerado.
The four friends, who come from just down the road in Manotick, lifted off with the spacey, buoyant first single from 2013’s White Paint, “Pick Me Up.” From there it was all aces; their ode to Freddy Mercury, the irresistibly catchy “Good Day At the Races” followed, along with more White Paint tracks like “Desire 126,” for which the band is working on a music video, and the frenetic “Too Much To Handle.” The audience even heard about Versteeg’s dumpster-diving tendencies on the surprisingly charming “Fresno Chunk (Digging With You)”.
Foot stomping, arm waving, vocal-chord straining “Americanarama” bashed out Baxter’s galumphing bass line through the cavernous theatre. The ever-hummable track never disappoints. Just as quickly as it started, the band rounded out the set lightning-quick with “So It Goes” and “Juliette”. Boyd’s spotlight on the breakdown of “So It Goes” never fails to give goosebumps; strong pipes and great phrasing send his voice shooting up to awesome heights.
The white paint-slathered amps and gear were carted offstage, and Tokyo Police Club’s modest stage setup appeared. Few people dared leave to refresh themselves; the pit was getting cramped. Those who did guzzled their cup of beer and hustled back for a chance to scrape some fame off the stage.
Frontman Dave Monks looked slick and suave in black jeans and a black button-up, clean-cut and business-like. The whole band toted dark-as-night outfits, looking like silhouettes of an indie Johnny Cash against the lush lights.
The band’s new single, “Argentina (Pts. I, II, and III)” cracked the night wide-open for nearly 10 minutes of unbridled classic rock goodness. The sweeping epic weaves a forceful combo of catchy riffs and spacey vocals, and Monks, along with keyboardist Graham Wright, guitarist Josh Hook, and drummer Greg Alsop, delivered on-point for the duration of the grand opening exercise.
The ethereal drone of Monks’ bass, Wright’s keys and Hook’s crisp guitar work was inspiring. The band’s grasp on a clean, rich and cerebral mesh of sonic palettes demonstrated keen ears at work; the lofty chamber of the Commons Theatre seemed almost organic when playing host to sounds like were made last night. The acoustics shimmered and presented in wonderful fashion when Monks strapped on an acoustic guitar for a solo, unplugged rendition of “Tesselate.”
Rambling through a set with always-pleasing “Favourite Colour,” “Nature of the Experiment,” and obvious inclusion “Your English is Good,” the band scarce presented opportunities for criticism; it’s daunting, in fact, to wonder on the many hours spent dedicated to honing their craft and their incredibly particular and synchronized sound. The group is as clever as they are talented, which makes for a smashing combination.
It was with fists in the air, mouths stretched wide issuing gutsy bellows, and feet hardly in one spot that the night came to an end with “Cheer It On.” Sure, at plenty of shows smiles can be found, and one can almost agree unanimously on the “buzz” after the concert ends and the after-glow lingers. That doesn’t mean Hollerado and Tokyo Police Club didn’t work for that effect, though. They did, and whether it’s typical or not, it was plain fantastic.
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Tokyo Police Club
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Set-list:
1. Argentina (Parts I, II, III)
2. Not Sick
3. Nature of the Experiment
4. Toy Guns
5. Miserable
6. Frankenstein
7. Be Good
8. Beaches
9. Favourite Colour
10. Bambi
11. Tunnel Vision
12. Hot Tonight
13. Breakneck Speed
14. Wait Up (Boots of Danger)
15. Your English Is Good
Encore:
16. Tessellate (Solo acoustic version)
17. Favourite Food
18. Cheer It On
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Hollerado
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Set-List:
1. Pick Me Up
2. Good Day At The Races
3. Too Much to Handle
4. Fresno Chunk
5. Fake Drugs
6. So It Goes
7. Desire 126
8. Americanarama
9. Thank You (For Sticking Around)
10. Juliette
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