It all started back in 2005, when Dan Boeckner, frontman of Canadian indie rockers Wolf Parade locked eyes with a bewitching girl in the audience during a gig in Vancouver. That girl was short-story writer Alexei Perry, and by the end of the night, the two were kissing by the merch-table. Awww.
Planning a romantic vacation around Scandinavia, the lovers had a flash of inspiration: why not form a band, and make a European tour out of it? Nevermind that Perry had no musical training save for a few childhood piano lessons. Boeckner got on the phone with his agent and booked the tour. The couple christened themselves Handsome Furs, the title of a short story Perry was working on at the time, banged out a set list of songs in a week’s time, and Perry performed live on synths for the first time ever in Oslo.
The thing is, they didn’t suck. And critics are taking notice. Rather than being simply an excuse for an extended honeymoon, the now-married Handsome Furs duo have been earning raves. Now signed to Subpop — the iconic label that helped engineer the success of bands including Nirvana, CSS and Death Cab for Cutie – the Furs released their first album, Plague Park, in 2007, and followed it up with this year’s Face Control. While the inspiration for Plague Park was taken from their travels through Scandinavia, Face Control draws heavily on their recent trip to Russia. The term “Face Control” refers to bouncers at Russian nightclubs turning customers away based on their physical appearance.
So what do they sound like? Think “a synth-pop pep rally for the damned” (according to Blender). Boeckner’s well-honed guitar steez and haunting vocals and Perry’s beats combine to form sounds that are stripped-down yet complex, and straddles a line between crest-fallen and optimistic; at once bleak and soulful. Kinda like marriage.
Split Works is stoked to be hosting these nomads on their first Asia Tour – 5 countries, 7+ shows, and hopefully the inspiration for a new album.
Tianjin
Thursday, September 3
With: Sulumi
@ Nic Club
Heping District, Munan Dao Number 143
RMB 40 (advance) / RMB 50 (door)
Doors: 8pm
Ticket Bookings:
Booking address: Balitai New Culture Plaza Floor-4 Sonic Candy Record
Tel: 022-23331511
Beijing
Friday, Sept. 4
With: Guaili
@ MAO
111 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
RMB 70 (advance) / RMB 80 (door)
Doors: 9pm
Ticket Bookings:
- On Taobao: http://shop33367440.taobao.com
- By email: fanone@126.com (English and Chinese)
- By phone: 13051597837 (Chinese only)
Shanghai
Saturday, Sept. 5
With: Boys Climbing Ropes
@ Yuyintang
1731 Yanan Xi Lu, near Kaixuan Lu
RMB 70 (advance) / RMB 80 (door)
Doors: 9pm
Ticket Bookings:
- On Taobao: http://shop33367440.taobao.com
- By email: fanone@126.com
- Info: 13601647747 (Mon – Fri, 10am-7pm)
Hong Kong
Sunday, Sept. 6
Presented by
@ Grappa’s Cellar
Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place,
Central
HKD 200 (advance) / HKD 250 (door)
Doors: 7pm
Ticket Info:
- Grappa’s Cellar: (852) 2521 2322
- White Noise Records: (852) 2591 0499
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Thursday, Sept. 10
Hanoi, Vietnam
Friday, Sept. 11
Bangkok, Thailand
Saturday, Sept. 12
Singapore
Friday, Sept. 18