Dan Boeckner (; born 5 February 1978) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist and podcaster. He is best known as one of the frontmen of
Wolf Parade
Wolf Parade is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2003 in Montreal. The band released three full-length albums before taking a five-year hiatus in 2011. They announced their return in 2016, releasing a self-titled EP in May of that year, and ...
, which he helped found in 2003. Since 2013, he has also been a member of the Montreal-based band Operators. Boeckner began his career in the
Victoria, Canada
Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. The ...
music scene, playing in multiple bands including
Atlas Strategic. Since that time, he has been part of projects including
Handsome Furs
Handsome Furs was a Montreal-based indie rock duo which consisted of Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry, who were married at the time. Boeckner is best known for his time in the bands Wolf Parade and Atlas Strategic. The band announced its breakup on ...
and
Divine Fits with
Spoon
A spoon is a utensil consisting of a shallow bowl (also known as a head), oval or round, at the end of a handle. A type of cutlery (sometimes called flatware in the United States), especially as part of a place setting, it is used primarily f ...
frontman
Britt Daniel
John Britt Daniel (born April 14, 1971) is an American musician. He is the co-founder, lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Spoon, as well as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist, and singer of the band Divine Fits. Daniel also founded nume ...
.
In 2022, Boeckner joined
Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band, consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, alongside Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. The band's current touring line-up also includes former core mem ...
in a session capacity, touring and performing with the band in support of their sixth studio album, ''
WE''. Making his live debut at the Toulouse Theatre in
, Boeckner subsequently appeared in the video to the band's first single, "The Lightning I, II".
Overview
Boeckner grew up in
Lake Cowichan
Lake Cowichan ( Nitinaht: ʕaʔk̓ʷaq c̓uubaʕsaʔtx̣) (pop. 2,974) is a town located on the east end of Cowichan Lake and, by highway, is west of Duncan, British Columbia. The town of Lake Cowichan was incorporated in 1944. The Cowichan R ...
, British Columbia and his first band was called Say Uncle. Immediately upon graduating high school, he moved to
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
, BC. In Victoria he became a singer/guitarist for many small, independent outfits. One of these bands was named God Shaped Vacuum, and featured a pre-
Frog Eyes
Frog Eyes are an indie rock band from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada fronted by Carey Mercer. Their 2010 album Paul's Tomb: A Triumph was a longlisted nominee for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize. They have released eight albums and two EPs an ...
Carey Mercer on drums. They released one album in their brief existence, entitled ''Apocalypse Now!'' In 2000, Boeckner co-founded notable British Columbian band
Atlas Strategic with organist/vocalist John Pollard, and recorded their debut ''Rapture, Ye Minions!''.
The album was released on a local label, Global Symphonic. The band toured and recorded a second album/EP, which they self-released upon their demise in 2002.
Boeckner then moved to
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple- ...
, Quebec, where he eventually met with
Spencer Krug
Spencer Krug ( ) (born May 4, 1977) is a Canadian musician. He is the singer, songwriter and keyboardist for the indie rock band Wolf Parade and also records under the name Moonface. He has also performed with other Canadian bands including Su ...
and helped form
Wolf Parade
Wolf Parade is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2003 in Montreal. The band released three full-length albums before taking a five-year hiatus in 2011. They announced their return in 2016, releasing a self-titled EP in May of that year, and ...
. Boeckner contributes his guitar skills, while also splitting songwriting duties and the role of lead singer with band-mate Krug. The band is signed to
Sub Pop Records. In November 2010, Wolf Parade announced that they were taking an "indefinite hiatus".
Boeckner formed the
Handsome Furs
Handsome Furs was a Montreal-based indie rock duo which consisted of Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry, who were married at the time. Boeckner is best known for his time in the bands Wolf Parade and Atlas Strategic. The band announced its breakup on ...
with his then fiancée
Alexei Perry
Alexei Perry Cox is a Canadian writer and musician.
Overview
Perry Cox is a musician and poet. ''Under Her'' is her first collection of poetry, coming out with Insomniac Press. It was largely written in Lebanon.
Published Writing
Videograph ...
, in the winter of 2005. The duo signed to
Sub Pop Records and released their debut album ''
Plague Park
''Plague Park'' is Handsome Furs' first full-length album. Handsome Furs is Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Atlas Strategic) and his wife, Alexei Perry.
The record is named after the park Ruttopuisto, situated in Helsinki, Finland. Commonly referred ...
'' in 2007. "
Face Control
Face control refers to the policy of upscale nightclubs, casinos, restaurants and similar establishments to strictly restrict entry based on a bouncer's snap judgment of the suitability of a person's looks, money, style or attitude, especially in ...
" was released in 2009, while Handsome Furs' latest album
Sound Kapital
''Sound Kapital'' is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock duo Handsome Furs. It was released through Sub Pop Records on June 28, 2011. According to a press release, ''Sound Kapital'' is inspired by the electronic and industrial music ...
was released in 2011. On 17 May 2012 Handsome Furs announced the band was no more on their official website. Later, it was confirmed that the couple had broken up.
In October 2005, Boeckner was a part of the satirical North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative (NAHPI) and contributed to the
UNICEF
UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to c ...
benefit song "
Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?
"Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?" is a charity record inspired by " Do They Know It's Christmas?". It was released on October 11, 2005, in Canada on Vice Records by a cast of rock artists and other performers under the name "North American Hallow ...
". Boeckner also played on
Islands
An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
' debut album ''
Return to the Sea
Return may refer to:
In business, economics, and finance
* Return on investment (ROI), the financial gain after an expense.
* Rate of return, the financial term for the profit or loss derived from an investment
* Tax return, a blank document or ...
''. He played guitar on the opening track "Swans (Life After Death)" and he played in the "marching band" on the track "Where There's a Will There's a Whalebone".
After the breakup of Handsome Furs, Boeckner formed
Divine Fits with
Britt Daniel
John Britt Daniel (born April 14, 1971) is an American musician. He is the co-founder, lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Spoon, as well as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist, and singer of the band Divine Fits. Daniel also founded nume ...
in 2011 while Daniel was on break from his band
Spoon
A spoon is a utensil consisting of a shallow bowl (also known as a head), oval or round, at the end of a handle. A type of cutlery (sometimes called flatware in the United States), especially as part of a place setting, it is used primarily f ...
. The band released one studio album, ''
A Thing Called Divine Fits
''A Thing Called Divine Fits'' is the only studio album by American–Canadian indie rock band Divine Fits. The album was recorded in Los Angeles in a backyard studio with producer Nick Launay between March and May 2012. It was released on August ...
'', in 2012 to positive reviews and one live album, ''Live at Third Man Records'', in 2014.
In May 2014, Boeckner debuted his new band, Operators, during Canadian Music Week in Toronto. In January 2016, the Operators announced that their debut album, "Blue Wave", would be released on 1 April 2016.
In January 2016, Wolf Parade announced on their website that their hiatus was over, and that they would be returning to the stage with a series of live shows starting in May 2016. In May 2016, Wolf Parade released a
self titled EP.
Since 2021, Boeckner has co-hosted the podcast ''The Bottlemen'' with Riley Quinn.
The podcast focuses primarily on Canadian politics from a left-wing perspective and is broadly a part of the so-called
Dirtbag left, featuring frequent guest appearances from figures associated with that scene.
Discography
Atlas Strategic
* ''
Rapture, Ye Minions!'' (2000) Global Symphonic
* ''
That's Familiar!'' (2002) Self-released
Wolf Parade
* ''
Wolf Parade (4-song EP)'' (2003) Self-Released
* ''
Wolf Parade (6-song EP)'' (2004) Self-Released
* ''
Wolf Parade (EP)'' (2005)
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are oft ...
* ''
Apologies to the Queen Mary'' (2005)
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are oft ...
* ''
At Mount Zoomer
''At Mount Zoomer'', the second full length LP from the Canadian indie rock band Wolf Parade, was released on June 17, 2008.Wolf Parade Discography"''At Mount Zoomer'' - SP720" ''Sub Pop Records'', retrieved April 29, 2008.
Album title
The album ...
'' (2008)
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are oft ...
* ''
Expo 86
The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo 86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from May 2 until October 13, 1986. The fair, the theme of which was "Transportation and Communicat ...
'' (2010)
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are oft ...
* ''
Wolf Parade (EP)'' (2016) Self-Released
* ''
Cry Cry Cry
Cry Cry Cry was a folk Supergroup (music), supergroup, consisting of Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, and Dar Williams. The band released a single eponymous album of cover songs on October 13, 1998.
The trio toured in 1999 to support the album. ...
'' (2017)
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are oft ...
* ''
Thin Mind'' (2020)
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are oft ...
Handsome Furs
* ''
Plague Park
''Plague Park'' is Handsome Furs' first full-length album. Handsome Furs is Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade, Atlas Strategic) and his wife, Alexei Perry.
The record is named after the park Ruttopuisto, situated in Helsinki, Finland. Commonly referred ...
'' (2007)
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are oft ...
* ''
Face Control
Face control refers to the policy of upscale nightclubs, casinos, restaurants and similar establishments to strictly restrict entry based on a bouncer's snap judgment of the suitability of a person's looks, money, style or attitude, especially in ...
'' (2009)
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are oft ...
* ''
Sound Kapital
''Sound Kapital'' is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock duo Handsome Furs. It was released through Sub Pop Records on June 28, 2011. According to a press release, ''Sound Kapital'' is inspired by the electronic and industrial music ...
'' (2011)
Sub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman. Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, central players in the grunge movement. They are oft ...
Divine Fits
* ''
A Thing Called Divine Fits
''A Thing Called Divine Fits'' is the only studio album by American–Canadian indie rock band Divine Fits. The album was recorded in Los Angeles in a backyard studio with producer Nick Launay between March and May 2012. It was released on August ...
'' (2012)
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as an outlet for music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded ...
Operators
* ''EP 1'' (2014)
Last Gang Records
Last Gang Records is a record label formed by Canadian music industry lawyer Chris Taylor (businessman), Chris Taylor and concert promoter Donald K. Tarlton in the Fall of 2003 at the Pop Montreal Music Festival. Last Gang was nominated as Indepe ...
* ''Blue Wave'' (2016)
Last Gang Records
Last Gang Records is a record label formed by Canadian music industry lawyer Chris Taylor (businessman), Chris Taylor and concert promoter Donald K. Tarlton in the Fall of 2003 at the Pop Montreal Music Festival. Last Gang was nominated as Indepe ...
* ''Radiant Dawn'' (2019)
Last Gang Records
Last Gang Records is a record label formed by Canadian music industry lawyer Chris Taylor (businessman), Chris Taylor and concert promoter Donald K. Tarlton in the Fall of 2003 at the Pop Montreal Music Festival. Last Gang was nominated as Indepe ...
Fortune Kit
* ''Ultimate Vibes Hair Dryer Peaceful Piano Chill Lo-Fi Transcendental Study Mindfulness Crazysexycool Wellness Sleepy John Vibes Vol 1 Sissy Graydon Carter'' (2019) Self-released
* ''Glassed Planet'' (2020) Self-released
References
External links
*
Sub Pop: Handsome FursSub Pop: Wolf ParadeGlobal Symphonic siteWolf Parade fan siteAtlas Strategic siteOperators Official Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boeckner, Dan
1978 births
Living people
People from the Cowichan Valley Regional District
Musicians from British Columbia
Canadian rock singers
Canadian songwriters
Canadian rock guitarists
Canadian male guitarists
Canadian indie rock musicians
21st-century Canadian guitarists
21st-century Canadian male singers