Godspeed You! Black Emperor

If you have heard Godspeed You! Black Emperor, then you know their sound; post-apocalyptic, noisy, disorienting, beautiful. And like all (good) bands, when heard live, the effect is tenfold. The same is true for Godspeed You! The experience was especially moving given that the venue was a large, Gothic-style cathedral, probably the most fitting space for such a group. I am genuinely honored that I was able to witness it all.

Perfect. It was perfect. The sound completely enveloped me in every way and didn't stop doing so through the whole show. I even took my girlfriend who had never listened to Godspeed. As a band that is some what of an acquired taste, even a novice listener was able to appreciate their live to it's full mastery of music in general. From the music, to the matching complex and socially critical visuals, GY!BE's live performance is truly a transcendent experience.

so many comfy couches! really classy candy in the bathroom. ( I like to munch on peanut m and ms when I pea). keep the towel guy though. dead c was cool. godspeed ......................................................................hope they ended with the "where are you going" sound bit after walking off stage one by one. then fonda put up their name on the screen which looked alright. but the jazzy goodnight music ruined the moment. unless they wanted everyone to leave and never come back. like in church where its all great until you leave and find that you still have some of that guilt clinging to you that you were hoping to wash away.

Intense concert! A real standout was the film projectors. No digital anything here. Four 16mm projectors ran throughout the show, always with 2 different moving images side by side on one screen. The tech did some nice effects with the film, too. It was neat to hear the clicking of the machines run during quieter moments of the music.

The Music Box wasn't the ideal venue for this band. It was difficult to see the band if you were standing. Drinks were too expensive.

godspeed was amazing. talk about talent. i finally got to see these guys perform and they rocked my socks off along with everyone in the joint. i cant wait for a new album of theirs.

The most AMAZING thing in my entire life. Baffling, I left speechless.

I was told the show would begin at 9:00 PM. I figured Om, the opening band would get to play for at least 40 minutes considering it was only the two bands playing. I was in my seat by 9:15 due to finding parking, heard two songs, and then the set was over at 9:30. Completely ridiculous. Om should have played from 9:00-10:00, and Godspeed from 10:30-whenever they were finished. I attended specifically to see Om, so I spent $40 to hear less then 20 minutes of music. Not sure if it's the Fox Theatre's fault or Godspeed's, but it was completely absurd and a huge disappointment for Om fans.

Incredible. God speed played for about 2 1/2 hours straight and there was never a dull moment. From our seats you couldn't really see the projectionist, but I guess he was quite a sight to see, the projections were live and not preset. It's was amazing.

Great venue, great sound system, friendly employees... but most importantly of all, one of the greatest live bands I have ever seen. Easily in my top 5 concerts of all time and I've been to over 30 in my lifetime.

From the opening note to the closing song Godspeed's performance was incredible. The musicianship is astounding and I got lost in the music, kind of an out of body experience. Overall this was possibly the best show I have ever been to, one I'll remember for the rest of my life.

it is a mind-blowing experience watching Godspeed You! Black Emperor. No show can ever compare to them.

I was skeptical about seeing this band in a new venue but Fox Theater nailed it. The sound was nearly perfect and the venue setup was one of the more preferable setups that I have seen. If you like instrumental music I wholeheartedly recommend seeing this band play.

This was a band i thought i never would see since they broke up and havent had a new album for years but now im glad i at least got to see them once which was well worth the 10 years that i had missed out in catching them or hoping i would never see them...there old school film footage to go with their music was so hypnotic and so entertaining this was a great way to start my 2011 year!

One of the best live progressive bands out there! Everyone needs to see GY!BE once before they die!

One of the best shows I've seen in years. Glad I went.

Phenomenal. I saw them a couple days earlier in Seattle, and the intensity and focus seemed to be much sharper for this show. Also, this show ran about 30-40 minutes longer than the other gig. Again, the musicianship was top notch. The audience was a bit more vocal, it seemed to me, but still attentive, respectful and appreciative.

same formula each piece - build to crescendo - gets sameo

The gig was unforgettable, orgasmic, fantastic! I only regret they didnt perform Moya, my favorite song from the band, but my overall thought leads to a good thing when considering they reunite to perform this tour...

This was the best show I have been to in a long time. The members of Godspeed astonishingly created heavy, rhythmic blasts of anarcho-classical music. The crowd was attentive for 2 1/2 hours of sonic majesty. It was a beautiful night in every sense of the word.

Devastatingly amazing music for hours. I was exhausted by the end of the show and my ears were ringing the morning after, but it was all well worth it. This band and their projectionist are beyond phenomenal.

Since I last saw them 7 years ago, it seems their live sound has changed. Either that, or I've changed. Not a huge surprise since it's been as many year they went on hiatus. Whatever it was, I just wasn't that captivated by the performance. They really seemed to dwell on monotony; stuff like everyone playing 16th notes for 3 minutes or just walls of noise. They were (over?)using some loopers so that was a big part of it. They'd just do the studder thing for a long time and then after a couple people built up their loops/fx pedals, it would dissolve into noise. You couldn't tell who was playing what but everyone was sawing away at their respective instrument. *shrug* I've only listened to them fairly casually over the past couple years, but I'm pretty sure they were more concentrated and methodical in their execution. Maybe it was also a bit less satisfying because they played a lot of new and/or completely varied versions of their songs. So they might have snagged a theme from Lift your Skinny Fists.. but they didn't really "play the song". The only one they really played close to the original was the one with the sample of the pissed-off gun-owning New Yorker who tells the judge "you're out of order!". That's one of my favorites, so that was nice :) Overall - I'm glad I went, but I wouldn't see them again.

Godspeed! will blow your mind live. Their live sound is different than their recorded sound-- not as tight, but more intense and energetic. They're obviously masters at building off of each other's ideas in a noise/ambient setting.

above and beyond the best show i've ever attended in my life.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor has put on the best 2.5 hours of my life!!!!

FULL REVIEW at: http://jazzsick.wordpress.com/2011/02/19/gybe-pdx2011/ Video flickers hope on loop. Slow build with piercing tones presumably of guitar mixed with cello & screams in the violin pickups. The vapors turn into steam, the bowing more frantic, random percussive shakes. Eight minutes, the first hits on a high hat. The steam now turning into an impending waterfall. Hope still flickers. The impending waterfall never comes. The sounds fall away into sweepy hallways. Clean guitars, gentle malleted vibes, as the guitar soars upwards with the violins. The screen text and numbers jumble. The pace expands and explodes, then stabilizes. Guitars are the backbone, the drums brisk, the xylo/vibes, on the other hand, are furious. Gasping. Grasping. They re trying to escape. The drums take over, the other players fall to the side. A stringed étude tucks it away. Violin warming up, workshop hammering percussion until the sounds become like a train leaving the station. This one built quicker than the prior pieces. More Mogwaian versus Sigurrósient. Churning turns into hints of melodic keys. Maybe they were just car keys\u2026 it s turned more into a tumultuous rock instrumental. Rush. That was the first forty minutes. The rest of Godspeed You! Black Emperor\u2018s two-plus hour set was full of highs and lows, and all the things that make post-rock so wondrous and confounding. Sweeping movements with The Anatomy of Melancholy text and images flashing above the band s heads. I think sprinting away from convention is what makes this music so magical. Shying away from the press definitely adds to the mystery. Setlist: (thanks Jason & others) Hope Drone Moya Albanian Monheim Dead Metheny 09-15-00 (outro) World Police & Friendly Fire Blaise Bailey Finnegan III Gathering Storm Sorry for no photos from the show\u2026 t was too packed, dark and I decided to hang back and enjoy anyway. My opinion of the opener in the comment section.

After waiting many, many years for GY!BE to tour again, I was excited to hear that they would be playing in Portland, but not so excited to hear that the show was at the Crystal Ballroom. I have a love-hate relationship with the venue - love the convenient location; hate the way that the hall is partitioned for all-ages shows, and that the disco two floors down is way, way too loud. GY!BE were everything that I expected, and so much more. Their performance was tight, with some interesting variations on the album material in this live setting. Was expecting a 90 minute set, and was more than pleased that they played over 2.5 hours. The only major downer was the disco two floors below the ballroom. The sound from the disco drowned out the quieter violin and guitar passages, and leant a surreal quality to certain parts of the performance.

I highly suggest Godspeed, but whoever was doing the sound really wanted you to feel pain. Witnessing a Godspeed concert is comparable to standing on the other side of a door to the room where the person you love most is having a critical heart operation. All ranges of emotions are coursing through you, some are wonderful, some are terrible. Whenever the music would come to it's most beautiful climax, Godspeed would automatically destroy it with a cacophony of classical instruments tortured by screwdrivers, and guitars molested by bows. Symbolizing something quite Eastern, their music represents fading beauty, inevitable change, and the death of all things. Although the musicians all appear to be classically trained, they also appear to come up with their compositions on the spot. Every moment that I felt I was picking up on a song I had heard before, they would change it and transform it into a bizarre representation of any recording I had heard before. Godspeed is an experience of individual emotion. One cannot rely on the trickery of fancy light shows, charismatic frontmen, or flashy guitarists. The members of the band are simply just people, and this is what they do. What they stand for is enigmatic, and isn't clearly represented by anything in their album artwork or printed on their t-shirts. Their music will bring you necessary discomfort, for I believe it is intended to peer into your soul and reveal to you the reality of the moment.

The performance was amazing. The Showbox SoDo, however, is not a great venue (hence the four stars)

I got into GYBE too late, right around 2000-2001, and did not get to see them back then. These guys changed the game for me and when they announced last year that they would do a small tour, I knew I had to get a ticket at nearly any cost. I live in San Francisco, but I had to travel to Seattle to see them as I was unable to get tix for the SF shows because the overwhelming demand crashed the website. Luckily, I have a brother living in Seattle, so I just needed to book a flight. The show, let me tell you, was completely worth it...and I'd go through all of this trouble again. I was worried that I'd built it up too much in my head, but it was everything I'd hoped for. The musicianship was superb., the sound at the venue was very good and the crowd was attentive and appreciative.

amazing if you have the chance to see them do not hesitate

I think this was there last show but everyone should see them if they can.

This was the first time I saw GY!BE, so I was not sure what to expect. Let's just say I was not disappointed at all. As soon as they came out on stage, they went straight to playing. No introduction, no "It's great to be in Detroit", the band never said a single word to the audience the entire show. Some people might see this as a pretentious, pompous thing to do, but I didn't see it that way. I actually thought it was pretty cool. They came out and let their music do all the speaking for them. They're one of the few bands that could pull that off. Their music is so emotional and powerful that you just get sucked into this insane atmosphere that they create. During their climaxes I'm pretty sure the whole crowd was losing their minds, I know I was. And they sounded so damn good live. Their music took on a whole new level of brilliance. It really was transcendent, there were times where I was not in the real world anymore, but I was in this world that their music had built around me. The ending was also amazing. They did not do an encore, which some people get pissed about, but the way they play their shows, an encore just would not make sense. They ended with an outro style song, and one at a time each member of the band would stop playing unplug their instruments and amps, then wave goodbye and walk off stage. This review cannot do the experience justice, all I can say is that it is really something that everyone should experience before they die. If they ever tour again, I'm buying tickets the second they go on sale.

Amazing show. Was very lengthy, but was performed excellantly. The visual displays really enhanced the overall experiance. They didn't come on until two hours after doors though, and would have been much more enjoyable in a seated venue where it could be seen and enjoyed more, considering the nature of the band and the length of the show. (The main act was three hours). Despite that, I would definately drag more friends along in the future. It really was an amazing experiance and absolutely beautiful.

The opening act of Sick Llama was the WORST, HORRENDOUS, POS act I've ever seen in my life. "Experimental Noise Artist"?!! Please, do us all a favor and "experiment" on your own time instead of wasting our and have US PAY FOR IT no less!! Godspeed's instrumental brilliance was matched by their inspirational images that were looped behind them as they played. I actually enjoyed their set even after having put up with the train wreck the proceeded them.

Without a doubt one of the best shows that I have been to. No superlative can accurately describe Godspeed's live show. I had never been to the Majestic before this, but they more than adequately handled Godspeed's huge dynamic contrasts. If they ever tour again, there's no way in hell I'm missing them.

The Magestic was packed with hipsters, and the $5 beers were a-flowing. Sick Llama played one absolutely terrible song that brought everyone together in shared hatred. We applauded because it was over. Then, to the droning bass of The Dead Flag Blues, Godspeed You! Black Emperor members slowly started to appear. No words. No beat. The cacophony slowly built into something big and terrible before exploding into some sort of an organized explosion. And when it burnt itself out and returned to the chaos from which it came, the crowd was in awe. This was the real deal. They faced each other, not the crowd. I presume this was to keep some order in the seemingly random noise. We were just witnesses to a unique and beautiful creation. Time expanded to fit the music, as the band built up and tore down what seemed like at most 5 more songs. Each was too long to be memorized, but my memory is stained by the violin in Terrible Canyons of Static with fires ablaze in the background, and a gritty cityscape in fast motion shouted over by a man rambling about a speeding ticket during Providence. Then, as silently as they came, they left. One by one they left the stage, the music slowly dying into feedback and static. "They're too cool for an encore," someone remarked, but this was their encore. The entire tour. Will we see them again?

I've been to hundreds of shows. I was completely sober the entire time. And yet, for the first time in my life I can say this show was nothing short of an example of overwhelming intensity of love and admiration for perfect music. After every song I felt an honest craving for a cigarette. When the music lulled I found myself stretching because my feet had been bolted to the floor. I actually had minor jaw pain the next day from clentching my teeth. This was everything I thought and hoped it to be. This was honestly the best show I've ever seen.

The band was amazing that's all that matters. The crowd was actually well behaved.

I almost cried when they played the first two movements of "Storm".

An unforgettable show. The band was much, much louder than I anticipated (a member of our group suffered a ruptured ear drum!), but it only added to the ineffable awe that is Godspeed You! Black Emperor. I am privileged to have been able to get tickets to this sold-out show and I am grateful that they played BBF3, which is my favorite Godspeed track. The visuals also lent themselves pretty well to the music. Thank you all.

This show was a fantastic, once in a lifetime performance and Godspeed totally nailed it. My only complaint with the evening was that the Troc security guard kept "waking me up". I was sitting down, eyes closed, taking in some wall-of-sound post-rock, and this dude was NOT having it. At one point he actually clapped in my face and told me to stay awake. I politely explained that I wasn't drunk, high, or passed out. The stage was dark and there was nothing to see.

I have nothing but praise for the performers. GY!BE was glorious. Blasted out pure raw emotion. It was sublime. Eric Chenaux was great. The parts I could hear anyway. I hadn't seen a show at the Troc in a few years, but this was one of the worst audiences I've been in. Which is kind of unfair to most of the crowd I guess. It was really just the large crowd of douche bags upstairs near the bar. They would not stop talking through the whole show. I didn't come to hear your banal conversation about who was the best Duke boy. What's that? Bo you say? SHUT UP! I am trying to listen to the music. Also, everyone knows it was Luke. Savages. While the yammering made Eric often hard to hear, it wasn't much of a problem for GY!BE since most of their set was played at 11. But it was distracting during the quiet lulls in the songs. And whatever those idiots may have thought, those lulls are important.

I've loved this band for years, and I was slightly hesitant about seeing them live for fear of ruining the ideal, sage-like place I hold for them in my mind. Luckily they didn't disappoint--despite being completely different than what I expected. They essentially played the entire "Lift yr skinny fists like antennas to heaven" album straight through, with occasional moments truncated for the sake of practicality. After that, they ended with a wonderful rendition of both tracks from "Slow riot for new zero kanada." The musicianship was profoundly deft and exact, but laden with MUCH more noise and abrasive textures than the albums are. Also, the live setup is extremely loud... With two drumsets, two basses, three guitars, one violin and several samples, the full experience is deafening and fills your body with a thick, vibrating intensity that leaves you reeling and shell-shocked. I'd recommend this live act to everyone in the world. But for avid GY!BE fans, I'd warn you not to go into the show expecting an experience that mimics the recordings.

I missed the show, I had plenty of friends who went, and I have seen video of the performing night, and there after. Ultimately I regret not paying the extra 23 dollar train fee to get there.......................... and idk how long I will regret it but this post serves as a warning for anyone missing a band with such greatness, mystique, and allure for many reasons. Do not miss out on things that might never come back, although it will be forever recorded in the alleles of history. You were there, says it all.

this is the band playing as the titanic sinks. i want them at my apocalyptic cocktail party. they bring the visions and swing the missions. love this mother band

Excited to see them playing after a long hiatus. The crowd were fantastic, everything you would expect from a knowledgeable GYBE!, who had waited years to see their heroes. All in all it was a very special atmosphere and if you were not a GYBE fan entering Terminal 15, I am sure you were one when you exited. Was it worth the wait? Personally, yes. It was more something you had to experience, rather than some concert you happened to attend.

It was a great show, godspeed was incredible. They sounded much like the versions of the songs, except much more epic and loud. The music cut through everything else at terminal 5, you could hear them everywhere. Terminal 5 was nice too. At the top floor it had couches which were perfect for this kind of music. I just relaxed there the whole time. I loved how there was only one opening act. Some concerts play too many other bands and create way too much anticipation. It also hurts one's time if they pregamed for a band, and end up being sober by the time the music they love is on. No problem with that here. The opening act was an incredible solo artist. It fit in right with godspeed's aesthetic, and creating great anticipation for the main act.

The show was awesome if you are into post-ock/experimenta. As one the pioneers it was had to have a bad show. The slowly building melodies intensified until teh moment they exploded in a collage of sound.

GYBH returns to New York and puts on a great show. Terminal 5 was packed with fans. Crammed up to the stage not just to hear the music but to see the visuals as well. One new fan asked me if they play short versions of their songs. I just smiled. The only short songs are 10 mins long! An amazing set with the Rant of Blaise Finnegan, and They Dont Sleep Anymore on The Beach - Coney Island. Visuals were stunning as usual with flocks of birds playing in the sky, repeating images from the Anatomy of Melancholy (treatise on depression) and woods and trees etc. They played a full set of about 2 - 2 1/2 hrs of unfiltered rock and roll. Excellent show. Only problem of course is that Terminal 5 is not known for the best sound system. And they ran out of t-shirts and swag way too quick.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor was undeniably amazing and had an unforgettable sound. They didn't skimp on anything as far as instruments or sound clips. It was like listening to their albums, but you're engulfed in this rhythmical pool of enlightening sound. It was however, a bit odd. None of the 7 members ever spoke a single word to the audience. Like they were to good to interact with us while we're being blessed with their presence. Which is almost true in a way, because...well...they are GODSPEED, but still. There was also no encore. Disappointing. But I will say that I wouldn't miss out on seeing them if I were you. Terminal 5 venue: Weird. Unmarked entrence. Confusing set up and roof entry method. Unhelpful staff. But really great on the inside.

Are you kidding me? These guys will blow you away. Best concert I've ever been to and I didn't even like the venue...I can't even imagine listening to these guys at one of the church venue concerts. Oh and the opening performer, Colin Stetson, was excellent as well.

The title pretty much sums up my experience. Terminal 5 sucks for a band like GSYBE-- and i can imagine it would suck as anything besides a dance club. We got there early and staked out a spot. The show was amazing.

By far the best show I've been to. So incredibly phenomenal, I've recommended everyone I know to go see it if possible. All I can say is that it was amazing!

They were only there to create the effect that Godspeed is.... no frills, just music...

I was perplexed during the entire show. I kept waiting for the sound to turn into music. I looked around and was hoping that someone would offer me the drugs that made this sound good. I must admit I could not leave until almost the end of the show. This was not the worst show I have seen ( that would be Slipknot) but it was the second worst. I have been to more than 500 shows and have found all of them to be musically pleasing in some way. If you do not know this band or like this band do not think you will understand the music they are making. Being a deadhead I understand that you get it or do not get it........I don't get it.

There were multiple times during this two hour set that I completely drifted out of consciousness, like falling asleep. As the images in my head and the images that were being projected on the screen behind them blended together, I lost track of what was real. I have only had this experience two other times: Yo la Tengo and Deerhunter. It is transcendental.

Godspeed was beautiful. Inspiring. The musical commentary of the film projected above the band--film shorts that begin with beautiful images and progress into the culmination of man and technology, giant industrial claws hurling refuse and shimmering oil slicks on water--made for an emotional experience, both visually and audibly. Great experience.

Great great show. I felt every emotion. Happiness and sadness. I was tired at portions and jubilant at others. It is what music can be. It was SUPER AWESOME. They played for over 2 hours. It was a LONG set. No encore, but frankly, it was the right amount. My wife described it as a very thorough brain washing. :) Very nice venue. Very cold inside though. Also, I felt like the venues security was a little weird. Like they didn't know where you could or couldn't sit, and they put up the gates for the line into the venue very late. The setup included a massive amount of guitar pedals. Wow.

Fantastic show. Truly inspiring artists. Would recommend the show to anyone.

Nothing compares to the wall of sound that these guys are capable of creating! It must be sooo much fun to make noise when the noise is that loud! Awesome sonic experience!

Godspeed you! Black Emperor was an overall amazing experience!

The show was FANTASTIC. The venue... not being able to see the band itself seems crazy to me. I've never been to a venue where only the first two rows can see the band, and for this show it was particularly disappointing because the experience was not a full one due to not being able to see the projections. I luckily was able to push and squeeze to the front, but I did feel terrible for anyone behind me. Stage heightening perhaps? Thank you Godspeed, that was some serious healing.

It's been a week now and I'm slowly regaining my ability to speak.

Ii was an amazing intimate performance! They never stopped playing music and by the end you've experienced a wide array of emotions. Highly recommended!

This is one of the most dynamic, amazing, mind blowing and talented acts in the music industry. This show to say the least was flat out incredible!!! It is like being transported to another realm and immersed completely by the sounds projected from these artists. I'm always asked to describe this band, and it is so hard to place them in ANY one category. The best way to sum them up is they are like a Movie Soundscape, making you feel highs and lows all at once. The violin substitutes for the vocals and every member has their place and sound. If you are into music, like really into MUSIC, this is a band to see before they call it a day. Truly life altering to be in their presence and witness the magic that happens with Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

I experienced vivid imagery, now I know what it takes to make music like this.

Completely amazing and wonderful show. Not the biggest fan of the venue, but this was honestly one of the most unforgettable shows ever. Highly recommended.

This is a sonic/visual show I think everyone should take in at least once, whether you're a die hard fan of the band or not. It was one of the most emotionally intense and moving musical experiences I've had, not to mention epic. This band can go from the most subtle, moving passages to these crushing, epic, lumbering walls of sound, but it's how they make the journey from one to the next that's interesting and unique. See this band.

To hear their stuff live was overwhelming and dramatically unforgettable.

I mostly wanted to go to this show to see Amen Dunes, but I naively assumed there'd be other smaller bands playing too (which happens at all the other shows I go to). So when I rocked up at 8:30 to find out that Amen Dunes had already played, I was pretty gutted. I wasn't too disappointed for long, because GSY!BE killed it. They were INTENSE. But a little bit more information in advance, please!

The show was fantastic. The band played music. The audience listened. It was a Saturday.

The best show I've ever seen. Godspeed was even better than the past 3 times I've seen them. Also, the venue was great. The sound and mix were outstanding.

Originally I was supposed to play a show out of state, but when that fell through, I jumped at the chance to see this band live. Before I get ahead of myself, the opening act Xylouris White played a very entertaining 45-60 min set as well. The duo is lute and drums, playing a psychedelic/jam spin on original music of the Greek islands. Godspeed You! Black Emperor played for about 2 hours. The visuals didn't kick in until maybe a half hour into the performance -- buildings, trains, etc. in black and white. 35 mm film effects. Flowing, drony layers of guitars, violin, upright bass, and various effects and loops applied to each wove through each other in a soft blanket of music. My boyfriend was surprised when I bought tickets, as I don't have any of their music in my collection currently, but once he saw them live he understood. One thing I didn't understand, and maybe this is just stupid ATL audiences, was all the shushing. People were clapping and whooping when the band came onstage, and then a few among the crowd started loudly shushing the audience. Now, GY!BE was not LOUD by any means, but they were in no danger of being drowned out by the crowd noise. Those people should probably stay at home and listen on their Bose noise-cancelling headphones and stay away from live music venues.

Amazing. This collective had amazing recordings. But live, they something else. The cohesion they had, and perfection of sound was reflected by the set up. But once they started playing, I immediately was absorbed into the atmosphere they set up. It was hard to describe. You had to be there.

I have never been so stunned by such amazing visuals and a performance. Truly one of the best shows I've ever been to. So glad I got to catch this incredible band put on this show. I would do it all again in a second.

Godspeed is a band you MUST see live. I was laying on the floor in the back for the last 30 minutes and was just soaking the music in. insanely intense live show.

Lots of fun. Surrounded by Hipsters too! Not too short.

I was at least a little impressed that Buckhead Theatre had an outdoor smoking area -- leaving me without my usual post-concert headache. Godspeed themselves were brilliant, if I had to voice one complaint it would be the half hour of deafening feedback they subjected us to about an hour before the show. I absolutely loved when they played Chart#3/World Police And Friendly Fire. It was probably my(and many of the audience's) favorite moment. Incredibly intense. They also did some of the first track off lift yr. skinny fists and some stuff I recognized off their new album, but I wouldn't venture a guess as to the names.

what is the deal with the first 20 minutes or even longer, horn? That was annoying. It woul be nice to say something to the crowd, like hello, good night...

This is the best way I can imagine spending money. I arrived late and only caught the last two songs, but it was almost beyond words. The first song I saw - Behemoth - is my new favorite song of theirs, and I cannot wait to hear a recorded version (if it ever comes). Their closer, The Sad Mafioso, was accompanied largely by Christian imagery - including a cross in front of a sunset, juxtaposed against a stock ticker, suggesting a connection; both are symbols of worship and zealotry, freedom and slavery, hope and despair - and was the perfect way to end the show. The sound here was perfect. Behemoth opens with drums, and the rest of the instruments soon accompany them. This builds and finally drops away into a lengthy drone portion. The drone itself then builds, finally reaching a massive climax. I could feel every bone in my body vibrating. The bass and drums were turned up, and sounded perfect. I like to imagine, with at least most music acts, that witnessing an artist or group play their music live is the ultimate way to experience it. It's the artist, with the sound equalized the precise way they want, with the precise visuals they want to accompany it. And with Godspeed You! Black Emperor, I feel that is more true than usual - instead of a tradition light set up, the band has a pair of 16mm film projectors running for the duration of the show. It was, in essence, the band scoring a movie that they directed, filmed, and edited. And, this being the 10/1/12 Boston, MA concert, it just happened to be the night the band chose to release their first album in 10 years, 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! As far as I am concerned, I exist on this earth to attend another Godspeed You! Black Emperor concert.

You would be an idiot to go to a show you didnt think would be awesome. This show was great but think about it, its Godspeed and it was their record release.

What an incredible show. Here are some words to describe them and their music: Massive. Epic. Uplifting. Unsettling. LOUD. HEAVY. Amazing. Others that i can't seem to think of, simply because every time i attempt to put words to thoughts, I fail miserably. They played an array of material, (spanning almost to the minute) 2 hours. Which was, in all honesty, about 7 songs. Three of which were from, incredibly enough, their new album. Yes, a new album. Their first in about 9 years. Not getting off track to turn this into an album review, they kicked off the set with a song some of us have already heard, as early as 9 years ago (coincidence? probably - they wrote and worked on this and another from the new album, just before they took an extended hiatus). Some of the material the vast majority of the audience knew, some of it was material that, in the end, after hearing the new album, still sounds foreign to me. All in all, excellent musicianship, captivating visuals from the projector (the guy running the thing is a genius, by the way), and exquisite professionalism from a band that many decry as simpleminded anarchists. Oh well, this band is not for them. They are for those of us who understand that sometimes the right kind of hope is the kind that is not at all influenced by corporate dollars, and instead by common sense.

The album for Godspeed was released unannounced at the Boston event! An absolutely unrealistic performance by one of the best bands of now three decades. They completely enveloped me in their spirit and whisked me away with their foreboding and heavy music.

There were times during this show when all possible random sounds seemed to agree on a single note and get behind it. So, it wasn't really one note, but all sounds attempting to sound like one note. Okay, I know this is a bit incoherent but it's my attempt describe what I heard. It was my first time seeing them live. Beyond satisfying.

I don't follow music as closely as I used to, and I'm glad I saw this on my concert updates. Until I saw the concert listing, I was under the impression GY!BE was on hiatus. It was a no-brainer to purchase two tickets. It was an incredible concert. Despite it being my first time seeing them, everything I walked in expecting was delivered. The surprise was the raw organic power of the performance. Their ability to conjure the atmospheric drones, program loops on the fly and then play with consonant and dissonant intervals on top of it, and communicate like a jazz band while (I'm assuming) improvising is awe inspiring. Given the nature of the band and musicians, they don't tour often (at least as GY!BE) so I'd urge anybody to see them if they come to your area.

Both the opening act and the main show were fantastic. Glenn Jones of Cul De Sac set the tone with original fingerstyle pieces on the guitar and banjo. GY!BE rendered me speechless. The set they played was very emotional, nostalgic and inspired.

Solid show, awesome crowd. Best opening act I've seen in years.

they were outstanding as i expected them to be...Saw them years ago at the Roxie and that just wasn't the place for them, Monday night, everything fit just right.

Considering their backlog of incredible albums, Godspeed's show was surprisingly lackluster. I can only guess that their new album isn't very good. Most of what they played I did not recognize. And since their songs are usually 10 min or so long, they only played two older songs that I like a lot. Their new style drones too much. What happened to the days with Jim O'Rourke?