I had to do a double-take when I read it but it’s true– Tokyo Police Club will be playing the 7th Street Entry on Wednesday, October 27th. Yes, you read that right– The 7th Street Entry– Tokyo Police Club— trust me when I say you don’t want to miss this.
If the universe had tilted the tiniest bit, there would be no TPC—the not-quite self-titled fourth (and best) Tokyo Police Club album.
By 2016, singer-bassist and chief songwriter Dave Monks had settled into life in New York City; he made a solo record and did some co-writing. Drummer Greg Alsop was living and working in L.A. Keyboard player Graham Wright and guitarist Josh Hook remained in the band’s native Canada. Tokyo Police Club created songs via e-mail, thinking they had enough natural chemistry and experience to make that setup work. But eventually, the lack of friction meant there was less musical spark, and it dawned on everybody that the end was near. There was resignation, not anger, when Wright, Alsop, and Hook told Monks they were done with the band. They didn’t expect him to disagree.
It’s the channeling of that energy, which flows into every song on TPC, that makes the record their best. They’re through being cool, through doubting themselves, and through wasting time on ancillary things. TPC is self-titled, almost, because it’s Tokyo Police Club circa 2018—scarred but smarter, fully re-energized.
“The feeling that we were so close to breaking up gave us the freedom to enjoy each other more, to enjoy making music together,” says Alsop. “If we’re not doing it for the sake of being a successful band, but just trying to make an album we’re happy with, it takes the pressure off. The expectation was just that we’d do something that would make us happy.”
“I think there’s a lot more optimism and a lot less confusion now,” says Monks. “That’s why we called the record TPC. It was a whole process of looking at the band and deciding what it is. There’s an excitement and optimism. Let’s just let it exist.”
Opening up the show is a personal favorite of mine, Pkew Pkew Pkew! There might have been a time when Toronto’s Pkew Pkew Pkew were the sort of punk band who revelled, unquestioningly, in the grimy chaos of the mosh pit, or an up-until-the-sun bender, or a skate session in an abandoned pool. But things have changed: the pit started to feel more like a workout, the bender gave way to a crushing hangover, and someone broke their wrist in that abandoned pool. That doesn’t mean that Mike Warne (guitars/vocals), Ryan McKinley (guitars/vocals), Emmett O’Reilly (bass/vocals) and David Laino (drums) will stop doing these things; it just means they realize they’re not good for them. So why don’t they stop?
Tickets are (surprisingly) still available HERE!
