Japanther bring their high-art noise-pop to the Prairies
It takes a lot more raw energy than ever before to be an independent band in 2011. There’s the gas prices the music industry collapse the general economic slump that takes “buying concert tickets” off the priority list — not to mention the difficulty of coming off as original or interesting to audiences who have already heard just about everything. To Brooklyn-based noise-pop two-piece Japanther however these things are mere speed bumps on the road to realizing the members’ true artistic potential. Though they’ve been rocking together under the Japanther moniker for the last 10 years as best friends Matt Reilly and Ian Vanek see it they’ve only just begun.
“We feel lucky to have stated that goal very early on in saying that we are a ‘project’ and the sky is the limit on that project” says Vanek. “Our creative partnership is only really beginning. I see some of the greatest creative partnerships having their best fruit in about the 30th year when you truly understand someone.”
Though they’re only one-third of the way to true artistic synergy Vanek and Reilly have done more in that time than most rock bands do in their entire careers. They’ve been touring for more than half of every year since they started playing and have extended their efforts beyond just your average bar or community hall — coming from backgrounds in visual and performance art Japanther has been an active presence in the fine art community as well as the rock scene. The band recently participated in the prestigious Venice Biennale performing as part of an installation by U.S. art collective Gelitin.
“We’re way more interested in touring shows and working on performance pieces and being involved in art biennials and museum collections than we are in selling a million records and getting involved with some of these companies that we know are failing like Warner Brothers.”
Vanek came into his own growing up in Olympia Wash. around people who helped shape independent music today including K Records’ Calvin Johnson and the founders of indie label Kill Rock Stars. He says it was the spirit of community and openness in addition to propulsive artistic energy that influenced him most in his approach to playing in a band. Though it’s been three years since the band members’ last time on the Prairies emails from Alberta pals are bringing them back next week — a chance to foster that sense of connectedness that has been such a big part of their careers.
For a band that takes great pride in being left-field and artistically ambitious their music is surprisingly accessible. They’ve churned out six proper albums and a slew of EPs 7-inches and CD-Rs of catchy high-energy ’60s pop-influenced punk rock with only a bass guitar a drum kit and a couple of microphones fashioned out of payphones. Their live shows are nothing but raw power fuzz and crashes blasted at full intensity while audiences try to hold on to their faces long enough to bob along.
The energy that the group displays at live shows translates directly to its attitude about being artists and musicians. Though the tunes are memorable enough to warrant two three and 100 plays it’s the ambition that Vanek and Reilly have as individuals that really sets Japanther above most hard-working rock bands out there.
“Definitely what we’re into is seeking constant amazement” says Vanek. “We don’t always achieve it but there are definitely times when we are blown away with smiles on our faces like ‘Can you believe what happened today?’ That’s my advice to anyone reading an interview — as big as you can dream is as big as it can get.”
