Third time really is the charm. Twice before I had purchased a ticket to see Tokyo Police Club in Kansas City, but twice the band had canceled on me. Sure, I’ve been able to catch the happy Canadian rockers in other cities, but it just isn’t the same as seeing them in your home in the comfort of a favorite bar.This particular show found Tokyo Police Club fans packed into the RecordBar for the band’s long overdue KC performance. Opening for them were alt rockers The Arkells and indie pop group Freelance Whales.
I missed the Arkells, but did arrive in time for Freelance Whales. Think of PlayRadioPlay or even an Owl City type sound if Owl City was indie and used a bunch of fun percussion instruments such as triangles and xylophones. It was adorable, and quirky and fun. The band started with my favorite tune, “Hannah,” so they had me dancing from the get go…too bad the rest of the bar patrons didn’t feel like dancing at this point in the show.
The stiffness of Kansas City crowds has long been a pet peeve of mine, but somehow, Tokyo Police Club broke through this stiffness and got people to move and dance. *gasp!* It’s extra impressive when you consider that people were dancing to a band that isn’t an electronica dance act, but a rock group. Plus, people were packed into the tiny venue like sardines. I think TPC just quickly enchanted with one of the best light shows that I’ve ever seen inside that venue and they played with an enthusiasm level that was contagious. Can you imagine my surprise to learn that singer Dave Monks was feeling sick this evening, but still gave 110 percent and smiled the whole time.
The set was packed with songs off the new album from the Julian Casablancas-esque “Bambi” to the raucous single “Wait Up (Boots of Danger).” But classics like the clap anthem “Tessellate” and the wonderful “Nature of the Experiment” also rounded out the set. The band even treated Kansas City to a brand new, never before heard tune as an apology for skipping the town so often. Awww. TPC had an encore planned, but they had already pushed their set well past the bar’s last call and with the house lights on in the venue, they had to end the night with “Your English Is Good.” Although, after the insane dancing and singing along to that number, I can’t imagine any song being able to top that.
We all went home happy and I can say with great surety that it’d be good to have them back.
Set List:
Colour
Nature
Box
Top 5
Spark
Cave
Tessellate
Hands
Big Diff
Not Sick
Be Good
Bambi
Food
Gone
Citizens
Breakneck Speed
Boots
Your English
–
Graves & Cheer It On – not played
Photos by Patrice Jackson.
