Tokyo Police Club Incorporate Guitar Spots, Doo-Wops, and Robot Shots During Yahoo On the Road Concert
Tokyo Police Club kept things rock n roll Thursday during their Yahoo On the Road concert at the Theater of Living Arts in Philadelphia. Vocalist and bassist David Monks, keyboardist Graham Wright, guitarist Josh Hook and drummer Greg Alsop offered plenty guitar solos, infectious choruses and political commentary.
Before they took the stage, they held a meet and greet with fans (even giving out keepsake Polaroid pictures), and talked to YouTube personalities the Settle Down Kids, answering questions about crazy fan encounters, iPod guilty pleasures and writer's block.
Below, see highlights from the concert:
Tokyo Police Club's set was full of good guitar moments. Hook and Monks faced off numerous times, and there was even a point when Hook, Monks and Wright were playing their strings at the same time. Arguably, the coolest guitar solo came during the ending of "Be Good." Hook took the lead and wailed his electric guitar to astonishment.
The "Wait Up (Boots of Danger)" sing-along was dummy proof. Monks didn't have to ask the crowd twice to join in for a call-and-response rendition of the song's doo-wop chorus. By the third round, the crowd sounded pretty good. Even though they kept it smooth and mellow, Hook added a nice surprising touch with the night's lone funky bass spotlight.
"Citizens of Tomorrow" warned us about bad robots. TPC intertwine ample political messages in their indie rock, and "Citizens," is one of their most poignant songs. The track is a warning about a future of less freedom. Monks sings about a microchip implanted in his heart that places him in a state of arrest. Should he attempt to flee, "the robots would blow" him apart, he sings. "Citizens of Tomorrow be forewarned," he closes.
Monks tricked unsuspecting concertgoers. Monks' dry sense of humor would make him a good actor. During a monologue for "Hot Tonight," he discussed his childhood in Philly. "It's all about South Street," he said, slyly referencing the venue's address. "And the time I spent growing up here as a young boy on the streets of Philadelphia." Truth is, he's not from Philadelphia or the U.S. Though he later revealed that he was from Toronto, it was just a part of his plan to connect with the audience to set up their relatable hit song about getting wasted and spending all your cash, all in the name of having a good time.