Japandroids: our next record won’t be about fur coats and champagne

Japandroids

Japandroids’ Post-Nothing is an awesome record. We reviewed it on the US release back in May, as you’ll see if you click on that first link. Our reviewer compared Japandroids to Hüsker Dü, The Hold Steady, hell even Vincent Van Gogh at one point – it’s a violent record, truth be told. We asked the duo a few snippets of question and here’s what happened:

Brian, are you all recovered now from what happened earlier this year? It sounded awful. And how was it to get back on the road again after emergency surgery?
Still recovering. Getting back on the road again was not easy, as i was far from recovered, but too stubborn to cancel yet another tour. That said, getting back on the road was quite easy, as i was sick to death of lurking around my apartment, not being able to ‘do’ anything.

Do you really not give a fuck if it’s raining in Vancouver when you’re on the road and far from home?
Actually, i always give a fuck if it’s raining in Vancouver, whether i’m home or on the road – my cats don’t like the rain – it scares them and they can’t go outside to bask in the fresh air, chase bugs, and eat grass, all of which they like to do. Whenever i get news of rain in Vancouver, i know they are sitting by the window, meowing in captive distress.

What has been your favourite place to play?
Vancouver, because after the show i can go home and play with my cats.

Do you worry about recreating your 2-man studio noise wall in a live setting?
No. Post-Nothing is essentially a live record. We set up in the studio exactly the same way we set up on stage. There was no tracking, overdubs, layering, etc. The same noise wall you hear on the record is the same noise wall you will hear live. Theoretically.

Do you ever have guest band members on tour?
Yes, but they only perform backstage.

How long did you LOL when you came up with the title ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Gastown’?
Not as long as I LOL’ed when i read this question!

Post-Nothing seems to be centered on this core of nothing coming easily to you, both personally and as a band. Do you think any new material will still have this feel to it, now you’re successfully making a living out of music?
Important fact: there is a substantial difference between playing music while not doing anything else, and successfully making a living out of playing music. Despite appearances, nothing is ‘coming easy’, so don’t hold your breath for a record about diamonds, fur coats, and champagne.

What do you think of the Vancouver music scene?
The Vancouver music scene is like a Billy Zane movie – endless potential, but always under-funded, under-appreciated and largely unknown to all but a cult audience. That said, every so often mysterious and anomalous forces combine and thrust a vancouver band into the hearts and minds of those living outside vancouver. I guess you could say that in 2009, japandroids are the equivalent of Zane’s role in Titanic.