Wolf Parade is an indie rock band from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, now based in Montreal, Quebec.

Overview

Wolf Parade began when former Frog Eyes member Spencer Krug was offered a gig supporting Arcade Fire’s Us Kids Know tour. With only a 3-week deadline to form a band and record enough songs to support a tour, Krug contacted a fellow Canadian guitarist Dan Boeckner (formerly of notable B.C. band Atlas Strategic) and began writing.^[1] Initially using a drum machine for their rhythm section, Wolf Parade later added Arlen Thompson to the lineup as a drummer.^[1] While still on tour, Wolf Parade released their self-titled debut EP in 2003, referred to as the 4 Song EP.

In 2004, Hadji Bakara joined Wolf Parade, contributing his synthesizer and sound manipulation skills to the lineup.^[1] Within the year, the band released its second independent, self-titled EP, commonly referred to as the 6 Song EP.

Dante DeCaro (formerly of Hot Hot Heat) joined in the summer of 2005 as a second guitarist and percussionist.^[1] Wolf Parade was signed to Sub Pop Records by Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse . On their new record label, the band released their first widely-distributed EP, Wolf Parade, in July of 2005.

In September of 2005, their debut album Apologies to the Queen Mary was released on Sub Pop Records with critical success, earning a 2006 Polaris Music Prize nomination. ^[2]

In a March 12, 2007 Pitchfork interview Dan Boeckner said of the next Wolf Parade album "If everything goes according to plan... I'd like to be finished with this record by May."^[3] In August 2007, the band began playing songs from the upcoming album, speculatively named Pardon My Blues. Due out in June, titles for the songs are subject to change, but setlists have contained names such as "Crazy Horse", "Fine Young Cannibals", "Language City" and "Chinese Way", "Soldiers", "Stevie", "Billy J", amongst others. ^[4] In a Blender interview, Dan followed up with "There’s a more Marxist collective-style collaboration on Pardon My Blues...the weeks of isolation have made Wolf Parade like a man who lives in a cabin in the woods penning letters to God with dirt and tree sap...[the song] "Crazy Horse" is like a 12 minute song that sounds vaguely like Slayer."^[5]

Personnel

• Dan Boeckner: vocals, guitar
• Spencer Krug: vocals, keyboards
• Arlen Thompson: drums
• Hadji Bakara: sound manipulation, keyboards
• Dante DeCaro: guitar, percussion

Discography

Albums

• 
  Apologies to the Queen Mary
  (2005)
  Sub Pop
  
• 
  Pardon My Blues
  (2008)
  Sub Pop

EPs

• 
  Wolf Parade (4 Song EP)
  (2003)
  Self-Released
• 
  Wolf Parade (6 Song EP)
  (2004)
  Self-Released
• 
  Wolf Parade (2005 EP)
  (2005)
  Sub Pop

Associated acts

• Spencer Krug is currently heading a side project called Sunset Rubdown. Former bands Krug has belonged to include Frog Eyes, Fifths of Seven, and Swan Lake.
• Dan Boeckner also is performing in a side project, called Handsome Furs. Before joining Wolf Parade, Boeckner played in Atlas Strategic.
• Dante DeCaro is currently fronting a solo project called Johnny and the Moon. Prior to Wolf Parade, DeCaro played in Hot Hot Heat.
• Arlen Thompson played drums on the Arcade Fire song "Wake Up".
• Hadji Bakara is a member of the dance DJ crew Megasoid, along with Sixtoo and Subtitle (Giovanni Marks).

Trivia

• In a BBC Radio 1 interview with Jo Whiley in July 2006, Lost star Jorge Garcia confessed to having a mild fascination with the band. He was introduced to them by several other cast members and listened extensively in between scenes.

References

External links

• Wolf Parade Fansite
• Jeremy Brendan: Wolf Parade Interview
• Cokemachineglow.com substantial interview with Wolf Parade.
• Merry Swankster: Wolf Parade 10.24.05 New York, NY Show review
• Pitchfork Interview
• Hyden W. Grossman: Interview with Spencer Krug
• Lostwriters' Wolf Parade Concert Review
• Polaris Music Prize

See also

• List of bands from British Columbia
• List of bands from Canada