Tuesday night events in Eugene usually do not lead to many fun plans, but this last Tuesday was a big exception. For lovers of live music, this particular night offered a little of something for everyone.
Electronic producer Flux Pavilion performed at McDonald Theatre, experimental rock band Man Man jammed at W.O.W. Hall, hardcore bands Sloths, Chrysalis and local act Senza played at The Wandering Goat and last, but definitely not least, Canadian indie rockers Tokyo Police Club graced Cozmic Pizza on 8th Ave.
Faced with a lot of competition for the night, Tokyo Police Club pulled in a good-sized crowd for only its second time playing in Eugene. Before Tokyo Police Club came on stage, Portland band The Domestics opened the night and hyped up the crowd with bright, tight and impressive rock-and-roll tunes.
Tokyo Police Club earned a very warm welcome from the all-ages crowd. This time, they were not separated by a 21 years-and-over barricade down the middle of the floor as with some previous Cozmic shows. This floor layout was well-received as the audience spanned from carefree younger teens and college kids to older-aged fans.
Though stereotypical, the band definitely brought their Canadian good manners with them. At one point, frontman David Monks even stopped performing mid-song to ask if two girls in the crowd knew the man aggressively dancing next to them.
“My job is to make sure everyone is having a good time,” Monks assured. “If you’re not, just let me know.”
The band definitely stuck to that promise by checking in with the crowd often and going all out to put on quite a show.
Tokyo Police Club’s set was balanced nicely and had almost every dedicated audience member singing in unison. The night was filled with older crowd favorites like “Be Good” and “Nature of The Experiment” off of the band’s debut EP from 2006, A Lesson In Crime, as well as songs from their newest 2014 LP, Forcefield, like “Tunnel Vision” and “Argentina (Parts I, II, III).” Much to the audience’s surprise, the band even threw in a certain, well-known Kelly Clarkson song as the first part of its encore.
Overall, the men of Tokyo Police Club brought such a cheerful, fun and heartwarming presence to Cozmic that not jumping and dancing along would have been impossible. Judging by the dance party that ensued, everyone who chose to step into Cozmic that night did not regret their decision.
A crowd gathers to hear The Domestics open for Tokyo Police Club (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
Frontman and bassist David Monks serenades the crowd (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
David Monks perches his bass up high (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
Drummer Greg Alsop gives a passionate performance (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
Guitarist Josh Hook plays with his pedals (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
Josh Hook and David Monks play side-to-side for a moment (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
Josh Hook and David Monks jam playfully together (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
Josh Hook picks carefully under purple lighting (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
Josh Hook accompanies the band with cheery lead guitar (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
David Monks and Graham Wright harmonize during a song (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
Keyboardist and guitarist Graham Wright tunes his guitar between songs (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
David Monks sings to a captivated crowd under green spiral lighting (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
Tokyo Police Club frontman David Monks chats with the audience before a song (Meerah Powell/Emerald).
Keyboardist and guitarist Graham Wright sings along during a song (Meerah Powell/Emerald)
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Follow Meerah Powell on Twitter @meerahpowell