Wolf Parade @ The Fillmore 8/24

 

Earlier I wrote about Wolf Parade playing at The Fillmore, and commented on how the tickets were too expensive. It’s partially The Fillmore’s fault obviously, but it’s also the inevitable result of the band getting bigger and bigger.

I told myself, “Cat, no way are you paying the ticket price and the ‘processing’ fee and the ‘service’ charge and the ‘ink’ tax for the show. You have morals, and you should stick by them.”

Well, I went to the show. BUT–I went morally intact. Instead of getting raped by Clear Channel, The Fillmore, and TicketMaster, I took matters in to my own paws and raped my friend for a ticket. Figuratively, of course. I only condone rape in role play.

So this was the third time I’d seen them, and it’s more or less the same everytime. That is, “Hey look, it’s Wolf Parade. Yep, that’s them alright.” I never get excited to see them, but I leave the show very satisfied. Do they put on a good show? Not necessarily, but dammit they sound fucking fantastic.

 

Spencer: “Moustache rides–5 cents!”

Watching the show, my cat-like mind was aflutter with various theories/conspiracies. I’m not too sure I get one of the sounds coming out of Canada these days. The whole Spencer Krug/Frog Eyes/Sunset Rubdown school of rock just doesn’t jibe with me, dig? I can see how some people like it, and at points during the Frog Eyes set I realized that there is some goddamned brilliance in there. The sound is like the whole hip “bedhead/messy hair” look. To get the look, you put everything in place, get it perfect, then fuck it up a bit.

But why does Wolf Parade work so well? It’s the yin/yang between Spencer Krug (pictured – lying on top) and Dan Boeckner (pictured – center). Most people jock Spencer, but me, I’m a Dan man. “Shine a Light,” “It’s a Curse,” and “This Heart’s on Fire” are three of my favorite tracks from Apologies to the Queen Mary, and those are very “Dan” songs (the fourth being “I’ll Believe in Anything”). However, put the two together and it’s all just completely badass good.

It immediately got me thinking of another band with a beloved frontman and a second songwriter that I preferred–Sebadoh. Lou Barlow was the darling, but I was always a Jason Lowenstein kind of guy. Even Rob Corddry agrees. Bakesale is a fantastic record, and combines both songwriters’ efforts well. But it’s Lowenstein’s songs that really nail it for me. If I were an angry teenager, “Not Too Amused” would be my anthem.

I digress… here’s the setlist from the show (to the best of my knowledge–and yeah, that new one from Dan is some of their best work yet, let me know if anyone has it or knows the name)

Wolf Parade @ The Fillmore   August 24, 2006

Things I Don’t Know (new)
Shine a Light
Grounds for Divorce
It’s a Curse
Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
Killing Armies (I think)
You are a Runner and I am My Father’s Son
Fancy Claps
We Built Another World
New Spencer one
New Dan one that was totally, like, bitching
I’ll Believe in Anything
This Heart’s on Fire
–ENCORE–
The National People’s Scare (I think)
Dinner Bells

Sorry–no pics. Some live-ish Wolf Parade MP3s:
Wolf Parade – This Heart’s on Fire (Live)
Wolf Parade – Thing’s I Don’t Know (Live)
Wolf Parade – Shine A Light (Live on CBC Radio)
Wolf Parade – I’ll Believe in Anything (Live on CBC Radio)
Wolf Parade – Lousy Pictures (Live on CBC Radio)