Tokyo Police Club

Tokyo Police Club

Tokyo Police Club are an indie rock band from Newmarket, Canada. The group consists of Dave Monks on vocals and bass, Josh Hook on guitar and percussion, Graham Wright on keyboards, guitar and vocals, and Greg Alsop on drums and percussion. The band forms in 2005 after its members, who had previously played together in another group, start making music again in Josh Hook’s basement in Newmarket.

Career

After beginning informally, Tokyo Police Club start playing shows in the Toronto area in 2005 and build a reputation for energetic live performances. Their first major break comes with an invitation to play the Pop Montreal festival, where they perform after spending time rehearsing and staying together in a small university residence room. A few weeks later, they decide to continue as a band and pursue music full time.

In January 2006, the band signs with Toronto label Paperbag Records to release its debut EP in Canada. A Lesson in Crime appears in 2006, and the band tours Canada, the United States and Europe in support of it. The EP draws attention for its brief running time and its compact, fast-moving songs. Their second EP, The Smith EP, follows in 2007.

In July 2007, while touring in Omaha, Nebraska, Tokyo Police Club announce a deal with Saddle Creek Records. Their debut full-length album, Elephant Shell, is released in 2008. The band’s music is described as catchy and raw, with danceable hooks and lyrics that mix everyday imagery with references to robots and global emergencies.

Style and background

Tokyo Police Club are identified with indie rock and related indie and alternative rock scenes. Their early work is associated with post-pop and post-punk influences, and their name becomes linked with the suburb of Newmarket, Ontario, where the band forms. The group remains active from 2005 to 2024.