Japandroids

Japandroids built their meld of brash garage punk and classic rock on an inexhaustible store of energy. After meeting in 2000 at the University of Victoria, Brian King (guitar) and David Prowse (drums) formed the duo in 2006 in Vancouver. Japandroids self-released two EPs (eventually rereleased as 2010 compilation No Singles) to little fanfare and, exhausted by the DIY grind, considered packing it in after completing their 2009 full-length debut, Post-Nothing. However, that album’s critical acclaim—propelled by the explosive “Young Hearts Spark Fire”—brought them back from the brink. Japandroids toured relentlessly for Post-Nothing and 2013’s Celebration Rock (featuring the triumphant anthem “The House That Heaven Built”) before taking an extended break. Over the touring hiatus, they put together 2017’s Near to the Wild Heart of Life, embracing a more polished sound, acoustic guitar (“True Love and a Free Life of Free Will”), and walls of synth (“Arc of Bar”). In 2020, Massey F*****g Hall (Live) captured the lightning-in-a-bottle live Japandroids experience.