SLCene Suggests: Japandroids at The Urban Lounge

JAPANDROIDS, THE URBAN LOUNGE, Saturday, Nov. 17, 9 p.m., $15

Vancouver-based Japandroids were on the verge of splitting up just four years ago. In fact, the guitar/drums duo of Brian King and David Prowse had decided to break up and head in different musical directions shortly after recording their debut album, Post-Nothing. Then that album managed to get the duo the kind of positive buzz that convinces a band on the brink to stay together. We’re all the better for it, because the band’s new album, Celebration Rock, is one of the best of 2012–it’s a raucous set of straightforward rock of a sort that’s become all too rare in indie-rock circles. Celebration Rock rewards repeated listens, at increasing volumes, and one can only assume seeing the duo deliver its songs live will be even better than spinning the album. Swearin’ open the show.