Krazy/Killer Band Name Of The Week: Japandroids

A band that could be called Normal and would still have a story interesting enough to be worthy of this blog, but thankfully, they have a solid moniker too. 

Vancouver BC's Japandroids have earned their success the old-fashioned way: by DIY promotion, touring, and the odd Pitchfork rave review. The Age of The Two-Piece has come and gone, but these two Canucks are simply known as a great band. Try to imagine DNA from Springsteen, The Replacements, Hüsker Dü and Thin Lizzy (and so many more) spliced together to create an indie rock super-soldier unlike the world has ever seen. 

The name is the purest example of democracy (expect nothing else from a Canadian duo): Japandroids came from two other band name ideas: Japanese Scream (from David Prowse) and Pleasure Droids (from Brian King). 

​They've done their own thing their own way since the beginning. Self-reliant to the max, they've at one time or another created and released their own albums, setting up their own concerts... they are rock's version of Alec Baldwin and Anthony Hopkins in The Edge, only without the I-wanna-kill-you-for-your-supermodel-of-a-wife storyline. 

This self-reliance has done them well, getting them a sweet gig on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert recently: 

Japandroids - Near to the Wild Heart of Life... by eidurrasmussen

And they're big enough now to pull off an AC/DC cover or two at their shows. Not big enough yet to don the schoolboy outfit, but there's time still...