Wolf Parade

SOUND Powerful, quirky rock that recalls both the antique, string-driven orchestration of the Arcade Fire and the melodic frenzy of Modest Mouse.

ROCKING THE BOAT The title of the Wolf Parade's album, Apologies to the Queen Mary, refers to the band's destructive stay on the passenger liner in Long Beach, California, during last year's All Tomorrow's Parties festival. The band attempted to summon the spirit of Winston Churchill: "We ended up kicking in a door and coming upon the Winston Churchill Honorary Ballroom," says effects whiz Hadji Bakara. "I ended up taking the legs off this antique table and inscribing a Ouiji board with a buck knife, but Winston didn't manifest himself. The hotel manager said, 'We've had Led Zeppelin, Guns n' Roses, the Sex Pistols all party on this boat, but we've never had to kick anyone off. And now I am kicking you off."

VANLESS IN SEATTLE Since then, the band's travel accommodations haven't been so plush. During a break from recording in Brock's Portland, Oregon, studio, it set out on a road trip. "We drove to Seattle, and on the way we ran out of gas," says singer-guitarist Dan Boeckner. "We had no money, and the suspension on the van had broken through the bottom of the floor. So we pulled into Sub Pop and we were just like, 'Please give us some money so we can get home.' "

LOOK FOR Queen Mary, out this month.