Japandroids Release “North East South West” Clip, Their Second-Ever Music Video

A black-and-white montage of two rock ‘n’ roll boys sharing laughs with road crew, friends, rolling all over each other, Euro-tripping, followed by a steadily ginormous crowd of diehard fans screaming each and every lyric, losing their angst-ridden minds. Your heart swells as you whisper to yourself, “the music never dies.”

Some may call it poetic rock, and some may call it puberty rock—but it’s Japandroids’ second music video ever. The first was “The House that Heaven Built” from 2012’s Celebration Rock. This one is “North East South West” and it’s off their new album Near to the Wild Heart of Life, though it’s hard to tell the difference when you’ve got the sound turned off.

In a statement, Japandroids said that the video for “The House that Heaven Built” was meant to document the droids on tour in America, offering “a glimpse into the lives we led for nearly two straight years.” Jim Larson directed the video and returns for “North South East West,” which the band calls a “sequel” as Larson “returns to the road to capture what has changed in the preceding years (and what hasn’t).” The reason why we still love this band is that they haven’t changed, save for bigger festival gigs, and more critical acclaim comparing them to Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, The Clash. Japandroids have stayed celebratory—their sound still feels like a bunch of teenagers sneaking out and getting drunk for the first time.