We Are Wolves

Canada's We Are Wolves epitomizes the evolution of the band's American label, Fat Possum Records. That Oxford, Mississippi-based firm first made its name by championing blues artists such as R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and T-Model Ford, whose rough-hewn stylings contrasted with the slick products put out by more commercially cautious...

By Michael Roberts

October 13, 2005

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Canada's We Are Wolves epitomizes the evolution of the band's American label, Fat Possum Records. That Oxford, Mississippi-based firm first made its name by championing blues artists such as R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and T-Model Ford, whose rough-hewn stylings contrasted with the slick products put out by more commercially cautious roots operations. Over time, however, Fat Possum reached out to the Black Keys and other contemporary acts that use blues as a foundation on which to build rudimentary guitar-and-drums rock. Given their fondness for supplementing standard rock instrumentation with primitive synthesizers and beatboxes, the Wolves would seem to represent a break from even this updated approach -- but Non-Stop, their debut CD for the imprint, isn't as large a departure as it initially seems. Although "Moi, Rythme Magique," "T.R.O.U.B.L.E." and "We Are All Winners," among others, employ plenty of electronics, they're as nasty, rude and raucous as anything in the company's catalogue. In other words, the Wolves, who appear at the Larimer Lounge alongside Monofog and the Gossip, capture Burnside's spirit without sounding anything like him. That's evolutionary.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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