Wolf Parade @ Terminal 5: Alcoholism, Murder and Suicide

Long overdue is the appearance of Wolf Parade on this space. The indie favs are the top of the class in the genre and soon will be as popular as the man who discovered and produced them, Isaac Brock.

You know a band is clicking on all cylinders when the show went by so quick. When they disappeared for their encore, I looked down and it was an hour and some change. Didn't feel like it all. Main thing I'm taking away is how well these guys play together, one of the tightest musicians I've seen this year. I guess when each member is in 10 different bands, their collective experience pays off.

The setlist:

• You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son
• Soldier's Grin
• Call It a Ritual
• The Grey Estates
• Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
• Language City
• An Animal in Your Care
• Shine a Light
• Bang Your Drum
• Grounds for Divorce
• Fine Young Cannibals
• California Dreamer
• This Heart's on Fire
• Kissing the Beehives
• ENCORE: It's a Curse
• I'll Believe in Anything
• Fancy Claps

Now, I listen to an inordinate amount of music from all walks of life. When someone like a Wolf Parade or an Animal Collective comes along and they are written about everywhere which such love and admiration, my reaction is to shy away. Most people might get sick of the over-coverage, but in the end the music is the test.

I don't know much about the band beyond what I hear on the two albums, which is a good thing. I'm not going to react negatively when Pitchfork covers their every move. I know they are Canadian. Dan Boeckner is the lead singer and his side band is Handsome Furs. The other guy was in Frog Eyes and his side band is Sunset Rundown. I know their fan base is comprised of post-college, preppie stoner guys -- popped collars optional.

I digress. I think what makes the band appealing is that the songs are tightly constructed. They are not genre benders, but each song is unique. What they change is the tempos and arrangements. You're going to get a lot of varieties of styles and moods. Their first album was half brilliant with some fantastic tracks like Modern World, Grounds for Divorce and tonight's big rave-up closer, Fancy Claps. Some of the more simpler songs didn't click for me. The new album, At Mount Zoomer, is a more consistent effort. It might not be an album to be bang your head to, but I think it works as a grand statement. It's strong and progressive.

As for their show, I never pictured them as a moshing and crowd surfing type of band. Even Spencer had to mention, "So guys, are you guys safe in there? Please don't hurt each other. This songs isn't a moshing song." The center crowd did it anyway. And then there was crowd surfing. Hey, each his own. I once saw crowd surfing at a They Might Be Giants show.

When I was satisfied with my photos, I sat down in the pit and just took in "Call it a Ritual" with it's wonderful dance between the piano and bass parts. They set up a half waltz/half groove with that song, and that's when you can appreciate how the gang crafts their songs to be special, rather than toss-off songs to fill space on the albums. The only part of the show that kind of faltered was their 10-minute "Kissing The Beehive". There's a part of me that likes the dramatic changes, and then I think it doesn't deliver as a closer. So when they played that as the last song before the encore, the energy in the room died down.

As a rock band, they are unassuming. They don't resort to rock star moves or encouraging the crowd to clap along. Dan said something about alcoholism, murder and suicide being invented by the Russians -- that was the extent of the banter. I think he said that, but it's Terminal 5, where you can't hear vocals at all.

In any event, Wolf Parade deserves the big and better success that they receive. Like I said, by year's end they'll be selling out larger rooms and maybe moving onto the major labels.

As a side note, I was going to see them two years ago when they played Webster Hall, but I was too burned out that week with shows. I dumped the ticket on craigslist to some stock broker. When he picked it up, he asked, "Hey, you think it's going to be a good show?" I said, "yeah yeah" but the wise ass in me wanted to say, "No, I think it's going to suck" and then runaway laughing like Daffy Duck.

Comments

[Shaun]

Terminal 5 videos

You Are A Runner and I Am My Father's Son
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wemwLLnfVAA

Language City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBkYXx1YAIs

[modage]

That's not the setlist they played. It was Fancy Claps after Bang Your Drum and they didn't play Grounds For Divorce (goddamnit).

[commuter]

What did you think of Wintersleep? I'm guessing you weren't blown away since you didn't mention them.

[angie]

meow