Concert Review: Wolf Parade Devour The Stage At Brooklyn Steel
If The Cure decided to do a music festival with Vampire Weekend, what would it be called? Wold Parade! Alright, I am officially withdrawing my bid for comedienne! Yet, I make this point because Wolf Parade feel like a sonic blend of some of the best most dramatic, electro-pop of the 80’s with the cool, indie rock experimentation of the 2000’s. The result is a concert that makes you want kick your feet and shoulder pads, while also making you want put on some Ray-bans and go take a philosophy course.
Under powerful lights of purple and blue hues, Wolf Parade’s eighties vibes were undeniable, but their church-gothic flare is irresistible. Wolf Parade build a concert atmosphere where you feel you have entered a church basement to discuss sex, depression, and the darker themes about life. They balance the themes of holy and unholy in songs “Fine Young Cannibals”, “Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts”, and “King of Piss and Paper”; the latter being an ode to Trump. As old and new songs played, I reviewed their most recent album, Cry Cry Cry, and realized that the band has stepped up their music from self awareness to social one. From “Baby Blue” to “Flies On The Sun” and “Weaponized”, you could hear that the years transitioned them from seeing how the outer world affects them internally to how their inner self affects their exterior. They have lyrically gone from trying to figure out their role in life to asserting they have one, and discovering the responsibilities of such. This theme is pushed by the rousing vocals and energy of Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug.
It should be known I love Dan Boeckner and his band, Operators. Hence, seeing him is always automatically awesome. He sings his songs like they are short-circuiting through him, and causing him to enter into a spiritual/ musical frenzy. That deliciously maddening energy is perfect to balance Krug’s more reserved but equally forceful style. As he stays behind the keys, he embraces the microphone like it is his oxygen tank; every lyric is a needed, soulful breath. Together the group delivers a show that is a cross between a danceathon and a think tank. When you give into their rhythms, you will notice their twinkling moodiness, but when you give into their words you will witness their societal punches. These men know how to comment on humanity by riling it with some rock n’ roll. For More Information on Wolf Parade Click Here.
