Found out at the last minute these guys were playing The Smell back on 8/29. I’d missed them the last couple of times they were in town, and I was determined this wouldn’t be a third. It turns out they were running late, so all was good. When the band got there, drummer Ian Vanek issued an apology to the club owner, hauled in one of the larger pieces of his drum kit, and proceeded to momentarily dance with the hottest blonde girl on the floor. Japanther is a two-man act, Vanek on  percussion and Matt Reilly on bass. No lead guitar, but you’d never know by the sound these guys blow out. Below is a clip from the show along with a short interview, and I’d like to end with a summation of Vanek’s response to my question on how to improve the indie music scene, an answer that actually could qualify for a decent life philosophy:

1) Don’t be a dick.

2) Drop your ego.

3) Play Rock ‘n Roll.

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