Live Review: Wolf Parade @ Terminal 5, 7-12-10

Wolf Parade could be just about the only wolf I'd ever want to hear. These four Canadian lads make delightful music in a drenched indie-rock scene, standing out and going above the mark. The precision of their guitar work, melody, and overall quality brings out an ear-to-grin, sliding feet, and moving shoulders. So seeing them for the first time was a joyous occasion.

Wolf Parade is a charming Montreal band with two main singers, keyboards, and a loud, vibrant, and sharp sound that makes even the less than stellar terminal five come alive, crowd the floor, and sound awesome. It's not all time this Jersey girl sees an indie band that's worth paying for. I'm expected to attend shows for free. But sometimes you need to step away from the pressure of writing a review to please and simply write from the heart with no expectation and fresh ears. Wolf Parade played nearly 90 minutes of some of the most moving indie rock I've heard in a while. They mixed new songs like the flavorful  and dancey "What Did My Lover Say" and "Ghost Pressure" with old songs nicely, playing 4 songs from At Mount Zoomer and 3 from Apologies to The Queen Mary. The set was tight and concluded with a three song encore. The last song was the intense, heartfelt, 10-minute "Kissing the Beehive." The venue was large but that didn't take away from how I felt about the band. I didn't even have to see them to know they were so into playing. Most of the time I was wrapped up in the enticing sounds with my eyes closed. And that was what I needed.

Setlist below. 

Wolf Parade's Set list
1. Soldier's Grin (AMZ)
2. What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had to Go This Way) (new 3)
3. Palm Road (new 2)
4. Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts (Apologies)
5. Ghost Pressure (new 6)
6. In the Direction of the Moon (new 5)
7. Fine Young Cannibals (AMZ)
8. Cave-o-sapien (new 11)
9. I'll Believe in Anything (apologies)
10. Little Gold Age (new 4)
11. California Dreamer (AMZ)
12. Pobody's Nerfect (new 7)

Encore
13. Cloud Shadow on the Mountain (new 1)
14. Shine A Light (apologies)
15. Kissing the Beehive (AMZ)

--By Star Child