Japandroids – Live @ Pitchfork

August 20, 2009

I didn’t know too much about Japandroids going into the show but from what I had heard about the live incarnation of the Canadian garage rock duo they were a must-see act. What I had heard though, in no way prepared me for the face-melting awesomeness that these two guys provided.  Their set-up was as simple as can be: one dude on guitar, one on drums, both sang, but I can not overstate how much they tore the place the hell up.

The guys spent very little time chatting (which they jokingly apologized for saying “our banter is usually hilarious”) and focused on rocketing through the songs at a relentless pace.  Their high-octane, turned-up-to-11, fuzzy rock anthems like “Young Hearts Spark Fire” and “The Boys Are Back In Town” sounded amazing and their ridiculously energetic performance had me grinning like an idiot the entire time.

For Brian King, the guitarist, the show consisting of leaping from the guitar onto the drum kit multiple times per song and rocking out in front of a big fan that blew his hair all around. David Prowse, the drummer, seemed like he was pushing himself to see how fast and loud he could make the drums sound all while screaming harmonies into the mic (he joked at one point “this is my best Phil Collins impression”).

I’ve heard Japandroids say that they are a “a two piece band trying to sound like a five piece band” and they definitely backed that statement up with the massive wall-of-sound that they produced that Sunday afternoon. Easily one of the most explosive and captivating sets I’ve seen, not just at Pitchfork Festival, but all year.

MP3 Young Hearts Spark Fire

Follow the jump for more Japandroids pictures. Click here to see the full set.

Posted by Taylor in Festival, Live