Japandroids records are few and far between, but then again they’ve always been more of a live band. Over the course of just over a decade together, the Vancouver duo have only released three albums and a series of loose early singles, all of which translate equally well to their electric live set.
On June 19, that live energy will be widely accessible for the first time on streaming platforms, as Japandroids will be releasing a full LP of live recordings spanning their entire career (again, that’s only three albums, but still). Massey Fucking Hall, named after the Toronto venue where the hour-long setlist was recorded, will be released in June with a vinyl release slated for October 12.
“We never thought we’d have the opportunity to play at Massey Hall,” drummer David Prowse shared in a press release. “It’s the most legendary venue in Canada by far, but it didn’t seem like a natural spot for a band like us to play. It’s a 100+ year old seated theatre, which isn’t the usual type of spot you expect to see Japandroids. Honestly, when we got off the stage that night, I remember feeling a sense of relief and exhilaration, but the whole thing felt like a bit of a blur. It was a very emotional show for me. We were both pretty nervous getting up on that stage.”
The band is also offering a taste of what the LP has to offer this morning with a pre-release single of their Post-Nothing track “Heart Sweats,” one of Japandroids’ favorite live staples. “It’s just got a great sense of momentum and never fails to get me hyped,” Prowese added of the single. “During that tour we were playing it second or third in the set. It consistently feels like the moment in the set where I just get that sense of ‘oh yeah we’re cooking now,’ and everything just locks in and we’re ripping through the rest of the set.”
Stream the track below, and pre-order the album here.
