History
Wolf Parade began in April 2003, when former
Frog Eyes member
Spencer Krug was offered a gig by
Grenadine Records' Alex Megelas. With only a 3-week deadline to form a band, Krug contacted a fellow Canadian guitarist
Dan Boeckner (formerly of
British Columbia band
Atlas Strategic) and began writing songs in Krug's apartment.
[1] Initially using a
drum machine for their rhythm section played through computer speakers, Krug later invited Arlen Thompson to the lineup as the drummer;
[2] however, the newly formed trio rehearsed as a full band only the day before their first show.
During the tour, Wolf Parade recorded and released their self-titled debut EP (referred to as the
4 Song EP
).
In September 2003,
[3] Hadji Bakara joined Wolf Parade, contributing his synthesizer and sound manipulation skills to the lineup.
By the summer of 2004 the band released its second independent, self-titled EP, commonly referred to as the
6 Song EP
.
In September 2004, the band traveled to
Portland, Oregon to record with
Modest Mouse's
Isaac Brock. Brock had recently signed the band to
Sub Pop; Brock was an
A&R man for the record label at the time. He had been following Dan Boeckner as Boeckner's old band,
Atlas Strategic, had toured with Modest Mouse and were offered a Sub Pop signing just before the band split up. Wolf Parade spent two and a half weeks working 14-hour days in Portland. After some remixing, the band returned to Montreal to finish recording. The album was scheduled for a May release, but then pushed back.
On its new record label, the band released its first widely-distributed EP,
Wolf Parade
, in July 2005.
In September 2005, the band's debut album
Apologies to the Queen Mary
was released on Sub Pop Records to critical acclaim, earning a
2006 Polaris Music Prize nomination.
[4]
Dante DeCaro (formerly of
Hot Hot Heat) joined sometime in 2005 as a second guitarist and percussionist.
The second album,
At Mount Zoomer
, followed in June 2008.
An on-stage announcement
[5] in November 2008 that Dante DeCaro would no longer be playing with the band was later revealed to have been a joke.
[6]
Wolf Parade will get together in October 2009 to work on their third album.
[7]
Band members
- Dan Boeckner – vocals, guitar
- Spencer Krug – vocals, keyboards
- Arlen Thompson – drums
- Dante DeCaro – guitar, bass, percussion
- Hadji Bakara – sound manipulation, keyboards
Discography
Albums
- Apologies to the Queen Mary
(2005) Sub Pop #158 (US)
- At Mount Zoomer
(2008) Sub Pop #45 (US)
EPs
- Wolf Parade
(2003) Self-released
- Wolf Parade
(2004) Self-released
- Wolf Parade
(2005) Sub Pop
Singles
- "Modern World" (2006, Sub Pop)
- "Shine A Light" (2006, Sub Pop)
- "I'll Believe in Anything" (2006, Sub Pop)
- "Call it A Ritual" (2008, Sub Pop)
- "Language City" (2008, Sub Pop)
Associated acts
- Spencer Krug is also the lead singer of the indie rock band Sunset Rubdown. Other bands Krug has belonged to include Frog Eyes, Fifths of Seven, and Swan Lake.
- Dan Boeckner is also a member of the indie rock duo Handsome Furs which he formed with his wife Alexei Perry. Before joining Wolf Parade, Boeckner played in Atlas Strategic.
- Dante DeCaro is currently fronting a 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". He also helped produce both Handsome Furs albums.
- Hadji Bakara is a member of the dance DJ crew Megasoid, along with Sixtoo and Subtitle (Giovanni Marks).
References
- Official site, "Wolf Parade Bio", SubPop.com, August 13, 2007.
- Interview with Arlen Thompson, "Wolf Parade at Iceland Airwaves", icelandairwaves.com, retrieved March 20, 2008.
- http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid2=778&fid1=408&csid1=74
- "Wolf Parade Nominated For Polaris", CMJ News Story, July 7, 2006.
- Review + Setlist + Photos: Wolf Parade and Listening Party at the Gargoyle, Saturday, November 8 Riverfront Times, November 9, 2008
- Dante DeCaro Not Leaving Wolf Parade Pitchfork, Mon Nov 10, 2008
- http://wolfparade.nonstuff.com/2009/03/03/furs-furs-furs/