Wolf Parade

First Avenue

July 9, 2008

Had anyone asked me directly what I thought of Wolf Parade's show at First Avenue, I would have simply replied, “Totally awesome.” Because what more could I possibly say? But I will try to expand regardless, because this wasn’t garden-variety awesomeness, but the truly serious kind of awesomeness, and I feel compelled to try to recreate the experience.

What really stuck out about the performance, both literally and figuratively, was Dan Boeckner’s jugular vein. Is that the name for that big blood mover on the left side of his neck? It sticks out so well in my mind because it stuck out so far from his neck. Anytime the guitarist/vocalist (who shares about half the singing and songwriting duties with keyboardist Spencer Krug) stepped up to the mic, he’d lean forward to avoid hitting the stand with his stomping leg or wide-swinging guitar, and shake his head up and down excitedly while belting some of his Wolf Parade imagery, giving me a great view of that mountain on the side of his neck.

The intensity that’s exhibited in ways like this is really something that makes any live performance noteworthy. Sure, Wolf Parade’s music is wonderful—I’ll get to that later. But seeing Boeckner’s face turn red, or Krug dancing around his keyboard stool, too excited to actually sit in it, are the kinds of ingredients that change a concert into a real show.

Of course, it helps if you’ve songs of the caliber of Wolf Parade’s. The Montreal quintet started strong with “Language City,” “Call it a Ritual,” and “Soldier’s Grin,” mixing up the order of the first three (and my three favorite) songs from their new release, At Mount Zoomer. And when the heavy telltale drumbeat started for “You are a Runner and I am my Father’s Son,” the immediate, simultaneous, and ecstatic recognition of the crowd was palpable. They finished the set with the heavy, upbeat rocker “This Heart’s On Fire” and the more-than-ten-minute-long jam “Kissing the Beehive,” leaving no one disappointed, but everyone desperate for more.

After a brief call for encore, back they came for another handful of tunes introduced by Krug’s somber apology for their lack of new songs and Boeckner’s snarling tease, “Three more songs and we’re outta here, bitches.” As Spencer promised, all three were from Apologies to the Queen Mary, including the highlight of that album and the night, a heart-rending, sing-along rendition of “I’ll Believe in Anything.” And when the lights came up and the signature First Ave. screen came down, you’d better believe I went straight to the merchandise table, wanting to take away even more than the shock, awe, and reinforced love for Wolf Parade I’d already gotten from this, frankly, awesome experience.