Wolf Parade with Ogre You Asshole at Exit/In 11-22-10

by Dave Sharp on Nov 28^th, 2010

Photo gallery: Wolf Parade with Ogre You Asshole at Exit/In 11-22-10

As of Nov, 22, 2010 and to the crowd at Exit/In, Ogre You Asshole was as enigmatic as their name.  But, by the end of the show, the bright, powerful Japanese indie pop artists had burned an familiar impression on the collective musical psyche of their audience.  However appealing the music, their name remained a mystery. There exists no apparent meaning, but the genesis involved Modest Mouse’s Eric Judy writing those three words on a band member arm in lieu of an autograph.  Prior to that epiphany, the band was called “Joy Division” which would have been a tough sell as they headed west.

Impressively, they showcased their tunes and instead if wooing the audience with sweet talk, they spoke plenty through their sound and energy, consistently “playing out” – as Kurt Vile would say — to the crowd.  Short on theatrics and English, it was a unique behavioral study of how an audience reacts when lyrics and dialogue are secondary.

This is music for the movers and shakers and obviously influenced by Franz Ferdinand and Modest Mouse.

Give Wolf Parade credit for choosing such an impressive group to travel with, but even more kudos is due for their foresight in creating a lineup that energized the crowd for their set and complimented their sound.

Because of the chemistry of the night, Wolf Parade’s entrance was a continuation of the crowd’s craving for abrasively enjoyable indie pop.  Not unlike an actual parade of wolves, they were salivating and knew they’d be fed when the band opened with the emphatic drumming that drives their records.

The energy remained high as guitarist and emaciated-Rocky-Balboa look-alike Dan Boeckner and keyboardist and grungy could-have-been-on-Rosanne looking Spencer Krug stayed short on verbalism and long on dynamism.

There was something resoundingly genius about their combination of enthusiasm, synchronicity and gratitude speaking only to thank the crowd and them demonstrate their appreciation with more of their favorites.

The most unique part of their set, though?  Watching Krug “bang” is head to a rhythm half the speed of the music.  That’s reason enough to see them on stage, however those opportunities may be off the table.  According to the Wolf Parade Fansite, Boeckner contacted them and stated that the band was on an “indefinite hiatus.” Additionally, Consequences of Sound reports the band announced the hiatus at their final tour stop in Toronto. No tour dates are officially scheduled currently.

The entire night couldn’t be measured in time, especially since the crowd’s majority would say there wasn’t enough.  It could be measured in decibels and heart rates, both of which were beating out of control.