Japandroids find energy in the spirit of rebellion

Seraphina Lotkhamnga on
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When Vancouver’s Japandroids packed the house at the Echoplex on Friday night, it felt like a monumental moment. It was, in a couple of regards. Their new album “Celebration Rock” came out last week on Polyvinyl, and it was one of the duo’s first opportunities to play many of the new songs live. Plus, the well-oiled two-man machine doesn’t seem to get to L.A. enough – their past two visits were supporting the Walkmen at the Fonda in 2010 and kicking up dust at FYF Fest in 2011.

“It’s been two full years since we’ve played our own L.A. show,” guitarist Brian King said. “So let’s get wild. No excuses.” And with the help of percussionist David Prowse, bodies immediately obeyed. Bouncing between “old jams” like “The Boys Are Leaving Town” and new tunes like “Adrenaline Nightshift” and “Younger Us,” King and Prowse conjured up such energy the lights seemed to follow suit with volcanic shades of red and orange each time another “Oh” was screamed into the mic. The sound of pop-punk rang true with youthful anthems drenched in distortion and pummeling rhythms.

Although a majority of Japandroids fans were young hipster kids yearning to defy authority with their bodies, Friday night’s set was really an ode to anyone old enough to reminisce and look back at their past with new confidence. Shouts of “tell them all to go to hell” in the record’s first single “The House That Heaven Built” transformed everyone, no matter what age, into a rebellious kid again.

The hooks and the sing-a-long lyrics helped fueled the night, but Japandroids’s own excitement on stage factored into the 14-song set rush. King even changed lyrics in “Sovereighnty” to “I don’t give a f–k” (except maybe for tonight),” and the union between the band and the fans grew even stronger during the chorus of “Let’s Stay Together Forever.”

The room simmered down a bit after the duo finished their set, but bodies bustled about and rambunctious energy still ran rampant throughout the room with hope that the next show Japandroids headline in L.A. would be just as invigorating, if not more.