There’s more to Germans than a love of schnitzel and lederhosen. Or is there? While it’s tough to get a straight answer out of this cheeky Toronto outfit, one thing is certain: while none of them are German, their brand of indiegarage rock is certainly worthy of international buzz. Recently named one of Spin’s artists of the day, Germans are signed to Portland, Oregon’s Arena Rock Records, which also boasts Elf Power, Liars, and The Gloria Record on its roster.
Reluctant to describe their own sound, the band doesn’t elaborate much on their influences. Like most hip young acts, they are quick to cite Pavement and their sound harkens back to the indie heyday of early 90s bands like Archers of Loaf. Whether their proclaimed love of Can-con shitsters Our Lady Peace is honest patriotism or a tongue-in-cheek in-joke is hard to tell, but the band peppers their tracks with moog synthesizers and video game bleeps to distinguish them from the mainstream fray.
And hey—like Tom Waits once said—they are big in Japan. The band’s full length, the quizzically-titled Cape Fear, has just debuted across the Pacific. Would De Niro be proud? You be the judge, when Germans blow up at the Boat as part of The Varsity’s Off the Record party. Toss them a “guten tag” and get down.
