I know it might seem like the trendy thing in music right now for bands to strip down and rock out with just two people on stage… one plays guitar, one plays drums and they both sing.  Thanks to the popularity of acts like The Black Keys, The White Stripes, No Age, The Kills and The Ting Tings, people can get their full blown rock n’ roll on a much smaller scale.  I’m a fan of great music no matter what form the band takes.  I can just as easily get down with solo guitar and drums as I can with a ten-person outfit where everyone plays seven different instruments.  But, there is something to be said for two people so in synch and so full of energy that they can pull off a rock show all by their lonesome.

If you don’t know them already, I’d like to add to your list of favorite guitar/drums duos by introducing you to Vancouver’s own Japandroids.  Formed in 2006 by Brian King (strumming that guitar) and David Prowse (banging those drums) they gained a big following with their debut album in 2009, Post-Nothing and by showcasing their electric live shows during extensive touring from 2009-2011.  They have the kind of raw energy that evokes some early punk dynamos and the lyrical chops of today’s indie rock heavyweights but their sound is hard to pigeonhole.  As the boys put it they are, “ripping off too many different bands to sound like any other duo making music right now.”  That being said, they just straight-up rock.  I’m always looking for new bands that make me want to wild out when I’m listening to their songs and Japandroids are an essential band for just that activity.

The latest full-length release, Celebration Rock, came out early this Summer and you couldn’t find a more aptly titled record if you tried.  With singles like today’s featured song, ‘The House That Heaven Built’ Japandroids have created a true celebration of rock in all it’s powerful and thunderous glory while satisfying fans and critics alike.  I can’t seem to get enough of this song and just last week they put out an official video which is a must-watch.  The video is a black and white chronicle of life on the road with Brian & David…a perfect snapshot of driving, playing, boozing and back-staging which makes touring with these guys look like the most fun and frantic rock n’roll party of all-time.  Check it out below and see if Japandroids make it onto your list of rock’s best duos.

See Also: ‘Fire’s Highway’ and ‘Young Hearts Spark Fire’