[Correspondent Frank Farrar subjects himself to some of Tokyo Police Club’s

tactics:]

A couple of years ago, these guys couldn’t get arrested. But on the strength of a

couple of EPs and singles, and a slot at Coachella this year, Tokyo Police Club quickly sold out its Wednesday

night Troubadour show and had the place abuzz.

Actually, it took awhile for things to catch fire. Going for the obvious with “Cheer It

On” as the opener, with its hook based around a “Tokyo Police Club” chant, the Canadian

group sounded proficient but somewhat staid for a unit channeling dance punk and nerd

rock. Twenty minutes into the set, though, the band tore through its smash-worthy new

single “Your English Is Good” — and Graham Wright’s throbbing keyboard line, Josh

Hook’s guitar blasts and bassist-vocalist David Monks’ campaign-ready chorus of “Give us

your vote” brought things to a peak, igniting the party for the rest of the night.

Monks is the focal point, with Hook stepping out of the shadows only for an

occasional shout vocal — which, in the best communal moments, is met with a shout right

back from the crowd. There’s a Weezer-like winning spirit of high schoolers playing a

backyard garage party, but the precise, energetic delivery takes TPC to another level.

(Note: For an encore, described by Monks as “the first cover song we’ve ever played,”

they chose the Rentals’ “Friends of

P.”)

The wrapped it all up in 45 minutes, but that was enough time for plenty of tunes.

These guys know the value of brevity and most songs clock in at way under three minutes.

(Their first EP, “A Lesson in Crime,” churned out seven songs in about 16 minutes.) Last

week, the group signed to Saddle Creek Records, but a full-length CD isn’t expected

until February. For fans who can’t wait that long: After spending the next couple of

months trekking across the U.S., Canada and England, they’ll be back here at the El Rey

on Oct. 23.

Photo from tokyopoliceclub.com