This Vancouver-based grunge-rock duo has a catchy name, I must admit. According to Wikipedia, it’s a mash-up of two other names that drummer David Prowse and guitarist Brian King contemplated calling themselves: Japanese Scream and Pleasure Droids. Whether it was intentional or not, the name they settled on does tap into the Western perception of Japan as a country with a fetishistic obsession with technology — a perception fueled in part by the popularity of anime and manga.

Last year, Japandroids were long-listed for the Polaris Prize for their first full-length album Post Nothing. Tonight, they’re playing the Distrikt with a couple of other buzz alt-indie bands P.S. I Love You and Frog Eyes. Doors are at 8 p.m. and tix are $10 adv. Here’s video of the band performing “Young Hearts Spark Fire” 

Also on tonight, the Regina Symphony Orchestra is hosting its first  Shumiatcher Pops Concert of the 2010-11 season. Guest artist is fiddle virtuoso Sierra Noble who will perform a selection celtic, jazz and world beat tunes. The concert’s at Conexus Arts Centre at 8 p.m.  Here’s the video for Noble’s song “Possibility”.