Japandroids mix-up that blurry, punked post-Lync sound on “Heavenward Grand Prix,” a mid-tempo track that might remind you of slightly older (to say, younger) Thermals in its half-spoken vocal approach. Or, if you want to go older older, the post-Honor Role Richmond-based Coral. Whatever your departure point, nice to hear them coming up for a breath. The song’s the A-Side from a single backed by a PJ Harvey cover. Any guesses on which Harvey?



Japandroids – “Heavenward Grand Prix”

“Heavenward Grand Prix” b/w “Shame” (the PJ Harvey cover) is out 11/16 via Polyvinyl. You can pre-order it. They’re out on the road:

09/09 – Spokane, WA @ A Club

09/11 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (Musicfest NW)

09/14 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore *

09/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Music Box @ The Fonda *

09/17 – Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse Music Venue *

09/18 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern *

09/19 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar +#

09/20 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Jensen’s +#

09/21 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place +#

09/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge +#

09/24 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux +#

09/25 – Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo %

09/28 – Nelson, BC @ Hume Hotel ^+

09/30 – Banff, AB @ Wild Bill’s ^+

10/01 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room ^+

10/02 – Regina, SK @ Distrikt ^+

10/03 – Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid +

10/04 – Saskatoon, SK @ Louis’ Pub ^+

10/06 – Calgary, AB @ Republik ^+

10/08 – Victoria, BC @ Logan’s $+

10/09 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre $+

10/13 – Chicago, IL @ Metro *

10/14 – Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theatre*

10/15 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cabooze*

10/16 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room*

10/17 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre*

10/19 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck*

10/20 – St Louis, MO @ Off Broadway*

10/21 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar*

10/22 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre*

10/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero*

10/26 – Brooklyn, NY @ Death By Audio**

10/27 – Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s

* w/ The Walkmen

** w/ A Place To Bury Strangers

% w/ The Thermals

^ w/ Frog Eyes

+ w/ PS I Love You

# w/ Makeout Videotape

$ w/ Ladyhawk