The Vaccines

With local interest in foreign music on the wane, Tower Records are teaming up with Fuji Rock promoters Smash for a new concert series that aims to introduce Japanese listeners to up-and-coming indie bands from overseas. Judging from the lineup for the official 'Next Breakers' kick-off event, though, it may take more than a quick rifle through the NME's 'Best New Band' list to cure the nation's yogaku fugyo (lit. 'Western music recession'). This will actually be the third time that headliners The Vaccines have attempted to play in Tokyo – both of their planned gigs last year had to be called off because of frontman Justin Young's chronically buggered vocal cords, though they managed to make their Japan debut at Fuji Rock over the summer. They're joined by Minnesota newcomers Howler, another bunch of guitar wranglers with a hefty stylistic debt to The Strokes, whose debut full-length America Give Up was released just last month.