Side projects, solo albums: these can be harbingers of an imminent breakup, a sign of discord and “creative differences,” as well as a source of simultaneous anxiety and giddiness among fans (Does this mean they’re breaking up? versus Sweet–a potentially amazing, definitely more obscure new album!) More than any other band I know, Wolf Parade has managed to avoid the possible pitfalls of the side project–despite practically all of them being involved with side projects: Spencer Krug with Sunset Rubdown, Dante DeCaro with Johnny and the Moon, and Dan Boeckner with Handsome Furs. Oh, and Arlen Thompson has drummed for this band called the Arcade Fire. Somehow, Wolf Parade not yet self-destructed under the combined weight of all these side projects. I’m impressed. They seem to have a really healthy balance going–instead of one guy seeing other musicians, making everyone else jealous, they all have their chance to slut around with other bands. Indie rock swingers. An open band relationship. Which is great, because now I get to enjoy me some Wolf Parade about four times as frequently as if they were musical monogamists.
The September 20th Handsome Furs show at the Crocodile, one such occasion of bonus Wolf Parade action, was everything I hoped it would be–and more. To start, there was a packed house, a rowdy, high-energy crowd, despite the fact that the Flaming Lips and Peter Bjorn and John were playing elsewhere in Seattle last night. Additionally, openers Johnny and the Moon–a four piece band fronted by Dante of Wolf Parade–surprised me with a foot-stomping set of harmonica-blaring, banjo-strumming folk rock. I had never listened to them before, so catching their set was an unexpected bonus. They’ll be playing the Croc again on October 24th opening for…you guessed it, another Wolf Parade side project, Sunset Rubdown.
And then there was Handsome Furs. I don’t know if they were just giddy from the welcoming crowd–which included more than a couple Canucks–after playing for an empty house in Portland the night before, or if they’re still riding some sort of newlywed afterglow, but Dan and Alexei’s energy and enthusiasm was contagious. Dan layered emotive, throaty vocals over jangly guitar licks while Alexei laid down some driving drum machine beats and swelling synth tones.
Oddly enough, Handsome Furs’ label Sub Pop doesn’t mention in their bio the fact that Dan and Alexei are a couple, only describing them as “Montreal residents Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry.” It–their marital bliss, that is–was definitely part of the charm of their live show. They both seemed so genuinely happy to be there performing together, exchanging love-charged high-fives, ribbing each other about hitting North Dakota on their honeymoon tour. And it showed in their performance. They both went at it full-throttle, Dan frantically strumming his guitar and Alexei throwing her whole body into twiddling the tiny knobs and switches on her drum machine, goofy smiles on their faces practically the whole time.
All in all, it was a thrilling performance. Unfortunately, if you missed them it might be a while before you can see them play since they’re currently touring Europe. With luck they’ll return just as lovestruck and charismatic as ever and play more shows with Dan’s bandmates.
