Tokyo Police Club

Oxford Art Factory, Tuesday August 5.

By Jonathan Borger

For anyone who doesn’t know, Tokyo Police Club are a Canadian indie rock band. Everyone at Oxford Art Factory on Tuesday night was made well aware of this when the band walked onto the small stage. ‘Ontario’ was printed across lively keys player Graham Wright’s t-shirt. Guitarist Josh Hook had on his ubiquitous buttoned-down shirt, in comparison with vocalist and bass player Dave Monks’ indie-best, holey, Ghostbusters tee. None would have looked out of place amongst the jostling fans, which highlighted their (indie) everyman appeal, and provided the basis for an excellent Tuesday night show.

Monks’ first point of call was to point out to everyone how excited the band were to be touring their album on the other side of the world, and this shone through in their tight set. The crowd responded well to the ease with which he built a rapport and were vigorous in applause as the band began to charge through upbeat songs from their EPs and recent long player Elephant Shell. What struck me most when watching these guys, both on Tuesday and a couple of days prior at Splendour in the Grass, was how happy they looked to be doing what they are doing. Monks’ perma-smile is incredibly endearing and infectious. He had the crowd at his mercy, who all appeared to show the same enthusiasm for his tunes.

The brevity of TPC’s songs has often been mentioned in reviews of their album – indeed, Elephant Shell’s eleven songs are over in less than thirty minutes. This element seemed to suit the predominantly young crowd, that was almost at OAF capacity, who didn’t appear to at any point lose interest in the set (as I’ve seen happen to other artist’s playing the venue) – captured instantly by the band’s pop hooks and danceable rhythms. ‘In a Cave’ and ‘Tessellate’, both album singles, were applauded after quick recognition during their intros and ‘You’re English is Good’ (also from the album, but released as a single prior to Elephant Shell) was a definite high point as the crowd sang along with Monks: “Oh give us your vote, if you know what’s good for you!” and danced along with Wright, who for this track was going mental on a tambourine.

Along with ‘You’re English is Good’, the three singles from their A Lesson in Crime EP elicited perhaps the other best responses of the performance. The handclaps to open ‘Citizens of Tomorrow’ captivated the audience for the obligatory slower number, who also sang every word to their first single (from 2006) ‘Nature of the Experiment’. The show’s closer, ‘Cheer it On’ was absolutely the highlight as the entire Art Factory jumped around shouting the chorus that, similarly to when they first arrived on stage, reminded us all exactly who they were: “When you’re standing next to me, TOKYO POLICE CLUB.”