Tokyo Police Club, Neptune @ Warehouse Next Door, 09.21.06

Neptune




Tokyo Police Club








Somewhere between learning that Pearl Jam had performed "Hunger Strike" with frontwolf Andrew Stockdale and Top arriving to pick me up, I got smashed. It was last Thursday, the week was winding down, the craziness that accompanies a new Pearl Jam live experience had invaded my frontal lobe and forced my enthusiasm to the refridgerator and bar.

It's Eddie's world, and I'm just living in it.

That said, when I hopped into Top's Smashmobile, he immediately understood what kind of night it would be. Top's been taking it easy on the libations and driving to the majority of the shows we've attended in the last few months. He's running a marathon in October, but me...my life's a sprint. As we weave our way into the heart of the Nation's Capital I notice a severe lack of green in my billfold. I turn to my partner in crime and ask if he has enough cash for both of us. "I've got enough for the door, but not enough for your booze habit." Well put, and I took it as a compliment.

My assumptions about a cash only bar and no ATM were well founded inside Warehouse (we moved over there once we realized that the first band wasn't even set up). We hit the road and scored a gorgeous Bank of America Fountain of Youth about a block away. On the way I made contact with Lord Callo and informed him of the Frattitude's plans to attend the upcoming Virgin Festival. He threw up in his mouth and then expressed his sheer elation in words that only someone who just threw up in their mouth could piece together: "fancockulous," "smashtastic," "elysium," and "ohhhh, jesus, this won't be good." All was well.

A crown and ginger later I find myself watching Neptune. 10 points for the fiercest axe in the land. 10 points for the drummer going through about 7 sets of sticks during a 35-40 minute set. 10 points for changing the setlist because you destroyed something necessary to play one of the songs. 10 points for drumsets made out of trashcans. 10 points for gasmask microphones. 10 points for everything when I am this fucking drunk.

Seriously? I was mesmerized. I really thought Neptune was great. They create a very intense sound that has its moments of prog, metal and hardcore. Some of the songs were without vocals, but I didn't mind, in fact I was wrapped up in everything they threw out there. The only question I have is what smells worse, the gasmask that the drummer says hasn't been washed yet this tour....or my crotch, loofaless since Day -1 of Coachella, after Tool's performance on Day 2?

The set change presented an opportunity to hit the head and refuel with Bud Heavies. At this point the place was fairly packed and buzzing with talk of Canada's latest hype magnet, Tokyo Police Club. Top and I settled in at the back, but one we were only one song in and I had to get closer. The live performance mirrors the EP in several ways: brilliant, short, energetic and fun. But, the live show adds that extra dimension, that raw feel in the absence of perfection.

They played the whole EP in between strange comments about who they were and where they were playing. They are sincere and vulnerable, and most importantly young. In fact, too young to be this good. At one point the frontman started doing his thing out in the crowd in between a pole and (unfortunately) someone who didn't seemed too concerned.

Xylophones were struck. Giant flags were waved. Some were stunned. Some were quietly bobbing there heads. Some were just there so they could tell someone they were there. Regardless of the reasons for their presence, everyone left with something to talk about as well as a reason to be at the Black Cat on October 17th. As if Art Brut wasn't reason enough.