Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Watch Godspeed You! Black Emperor

By Mark Floyd

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a post-rock group from Montreal, Canada. They are most widely known for their lengthy songs and extensive and visual live shows. Their recordings and performances generally consist of electric guitars and percussion instruments, however more obscure instruments such as French horns and glockenspiels have been known to make appearances.

The group got its name from the "Black Emperors" biker gang, after they were the subject of an obscure documentary. The members of the band are never clearly defined and their numbers range anywhere from twenty to nine at any time. For several years, GYBE was on hiatus while various members worked on other musical projects but they have agreed to appear together at a music festival later this year.

The band's lack of a front man and ever changing line-up is partly explained by their consideration that their music is greater than the group. They also have a strict moratorium on personal interviews and group photos. Their desire for the listener to disregard trivial details and focus on the music is the motive behind their strange philosophy.

In their rare interviews, several members of GYBE stress that big corporations are what is wrong with the American economy and the media in general. Many of their song and album notes refer to the trials and wrongdoings of corporate media. They even included an image onto the back insert of their latest album that depicts the military-industrial complex of America and major record labels as one.

Fans of the band say their live shows are exhilarating and random events. Since the group doesn't use singers they employ a heap of visual imageries in the concerts. These movies, which are often filmed and produced by one of the bands' main members, are used to wrap the songs and their message together for the listeners.

In 2003, the members of Godspeed had the pleasure of being mistaken for terrorists when they passed through Ardmore, Oklahoma. The band, touring through the United States, stopped for gas on their way to Missouri and worried the station attendant on duty. She convinced another customer, who was also pumping gas, to summon the local police.

When the Ardmore police arrived, they discovered anti-government documents in both of the group's two vans. These finds, coupled with the groups general scruffiness prompted the local officers to call in the FBI. The band members were immediately detained and personally questioned for some time before the authorities decided to let them go. And although GYBE made it to their next tour stop in time, the run-in no doubt only fueled their anarchist philosophies.

Godspeed You! Black Emperors have released three full albums since the early 90s. During that time they have also released several EPs and singles. And because they encourage fans to record their live concerts, several GYBE songs have come out without ever having been officially recorded. Although extremely rare, the band has lent a few songs to a handful of movie soundtracks as well. - 40731

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