Wolf Parade

The Clash’s “The Magnificent Seven” introduced ‘the magnificent four’ before the house sound went down as the house lights came up; leaving the band buried in a blue glow. “Yo, what’s up?” Boeckner addressed the crowd as a man who, after five nights in the same space, felt very much at home. Nothing more than a featureless shadow hunched over a keyboard, there was no denying Krug’s voice as it warbled over Thompson’s simple backbeat. “I was asleep in a hammock, I was dreaming that I was a web.” And in a split second, it was like Wolf Parade had never left us in the first place.

“Cloud Shadow on the Mountain” gave way to an early trifecta of sing-along tracks from Apologies — “We Build Another World” (“I had a bad bad time tonight”), “You Are a Runner and I Am My Father’s Son” (“one of them will be me, watching you run”), and “Fancy Claps” (“oh behold then, oh behold then, we can sing then”) — and we did sing then. 500 or so people, in a little room in a big city, all singing together. And it was glorious.

“Can we get a little more of this or that?” Krug joked, before introducing the band as “…Wolf Parade, we are 100 years old.” It was an extreme exaggeration, of course, but it didn’t seem so outlandish when they were performing songs that felt as if they had existed forever. The rigid melodies, curious lyrics, and signature cymbals, chimes, and high notes all coalesced into memories that seemed so much older than they really were. The whole performance began to make me nostalgic for something I didn’t realize I had lost until that very moment; like when our parents hear songs on the classic rock stations.

A Wolf Parade concert is packed with as much charisma and energy as a pack of wolves. The dynamic between main songwriters Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner make it interesting to observe the differences in their styles of songwriting. Krug’s songwriting is more experimental and abstract, while Boeckner’s songwriting is more direct by incorporating immediate hooks that make for catchy songs, however both are phenomenal at their craft. Wolf Parade plays with lots of energy when they perform live with Krug hovering over his synthesizers like he was a spider playing with eight arms. Boeckner can be seen rocking away on his guitar, Arlen Thompson pounds away on his drums, Dante DeCaro holds down the foundation with his bass, and Krug’s synthesizers create an atmospheric sound that gives Wolf Parade its unique touch.
The band has developed a cult following and its members are well respected for their works in other bands such as Moonface, Swan Lake, Handsome Furs, Divine Fits, and Hot Hot Heat. Not only does Wolf Parade give a charismatic performance of their music live, but they are also very funny with Krug and Boeckner bantering jokes back and forth between songs. Wolf Parade’s style of music garners some comparison to Modest Mouse, which shouldn’t be surprising as Modest Mouse’s frontman, Isaac Brock, signed the band to subpop and produced their first album.
Wolf Parade’s blend of garage rock combined with the mystical soundscape of synth driven post-punk revival makes Wolf Parade one of the most interesting bands in the indie rock scene to see live.

Super amazing show! The venue was incredibly cool and the openers were so so good and I definitely plan to listen to them more. Seeing Wolf Parade FINALLY after having listened to them since the beginning of middle school was a dream come true for my sister and I. It brought tears to her eyes! Thankful for such a wonderful night!

Incredible show ! It was even better than their tour after expo 86. All their songs are beautifully crafted. And crazy energy from the full band all along the show, sound was perfect, when is the next one in paris !?

The concert was amazing. They are such a talented band and a total class act. They concentrated on their new CD but played some much loved oldies as well. My only regret is that it is over.