Anyone seen Godspeed You Black Emperor! or Sigur Ros live?
 

Never seen either one of these bands, but have been digging the stuff I've bought. I have most of Sigur Ros' offerings and recently got GSYBE!'s "F# A# (Infinity)", some of which struck me as sounding like a paranoid apocalyptic version of Ennio Morricone's "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" soundtrack) and liked it enough to pick up "Yanqui U.X.O." today (which I'm enjoying the hell out of right now).

I guess the reason why I related both bands in the thread topic is that they both churn out some of the most emotionally draining music I've ever heard and I've heard both band's live shows are pretty intense. I'm curious as to what anyone thought of them when checking them out. A couple of months ago, I had a chance to catch Sigur Ros at the Tabernacle in Atlanta (probably the best venue in town) but was unable to make it and am kicking myself for it now.

Anyone familiar with Tortoise or Mogwai? I've heard of both bands (don't know a thing about them yet) and noticed they're both listed as "similar artists" to Sigur Ros and GSYBE! on allmusic.com

I saw Godspeed at the Abbey Pub in Chicago about a year ago. It was a fucking awesome show. There was so much shit on the on the stage, the band members could barely move. It was a totally unique show. The music was really cool, and the video going on behind the band really added to the show as well. I'd highly recommend seeing them if you get the chance.

I saw Godspeed about a year ago too, very great live. Their music starts so quietly and and builds to an ear splitting finale, it's great. I can't remember a time when I was so intranced by a show. Also, you can't go wrong with a saw up there on stage.

Tortoise is pretty good, I'd call them similar to godspeed, but I don't like them nearly as much. Worth a listen though.

Thanks for the input. I'm looking forward to seeing Godspeed live sometime. From what I can tell, they're not touring anytime soon (althought one of their side projects appears to be).

Fucking great bands, all of them. Mogwai's "Happy Music for Happy People" is an intense release. And, if you don't have "Levez vos skinny fists comme antennas to heaven" by GY!BE you are not deserving of anything. Track 1, Disc 2 (called "Sleep") is pretty much GY!BE at their best, IMO.

Another band you may be extremely interested in is Explosions in the Sky - they are a four piece (Two guitar, one bass, one drum) - that I saw live, absolutely blew my fucking brains out.

You can get some videos of them live at www.silencemagazine.com , but I recommend listening to their music first - the video recordings have shit for audio quality.

Great thread.


P.S. pmsg me for some EITS mp3 action.

I bought GSYBE! - lift yr skinny fists... on Friday and I've been trying to listen to it all weekend. I never get past the first CD, I always fall asleep :(! (Maybe I shouldn't be trying to listen to it at 1am in my bed...)

Very much agree with ya there. Disc 2, Track 1 has several names, however... "They don't sleep anymore on the beach" encapsulates 2 songs - "Monheim" (the best known GY!BE song) and another one (the name escapes me right now). "Levez vos skinny fists comme antennas to heaven" is what turned me on to GY!BE (and I'm from Montreal, so it was about time!) and I muast say all their catalogue rocks, as do most of the artists that share the label Constellation Records (www.cstrecords.com).

I've seen them live and loveds it. They use their own speakers in addition to any house speaker system already in place, so bring earplugs if the venue is small. They rarely if ever interact with the audience and do few encores, but they always appreciate feedback from the fans. Also, they don't mind their shows being audio-taped, as long as you sahre a copy with them (I guess to know what they sound like live).

I've also seen Mogwai, who were also epic and loud. There's more interaction with the fans and they seem more "friendly", as it were. Never saw Sigur Ros but would love to!

I saw Sigur Ros in NYC and it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. Their concerts are unlike any other. If you like their music, you absolutely have to see them live. Unlike other concerts where you have people moving around, talking, or singing along during the performance, there was just dead silence while Sigur Ros played. Everyone was lost in the music.

A Silver Mt Zion is a sort of hybrid band of some of Godspeed's members. I've only heard a pinch of their stuff though, but it's in a similar vein to Godspeed.

I doubt Godspeed, Sigur Ros or Mogwai will venture out to Perth, let alone Australia anytime soon. So no, i haven't seen any of them live..... :| :(

ASMZ is a three piece led by Efrim, who plays guitar in GYBE. The other two members escape me at the moment, but I know they're in GYBE.

Their latest is called "this is our punk rock, thee rusted satelites gather and sing" and is quite the awesome.


Maximusveritas - Go to a Radiohead concert :P

Oh, yeah, fuck the PMSGing. Help yourselves to some of my Explosions in the Sky mp3s. Anything will do, it's all amazing.

Thanks for the input. I had looked for GYBE's "Levez vos skinny fists comme antennas to heaven", but couldn't find it. Will keep my eyes open for that and will check these other bands out too.

If you have KaZaA just search for "Godspeed You Black Emperor!" and/or "Antennas to Heaven". Most of the time weird song names are misnamed or misspelled.

I didn't like Lift Your Skinny Fists, actually. I thought it was kind of bloated and meandering. Their first LP is quality though. As everyone has said, they fucking own live.

I saw 'em a couple of months ago here in Montreal, and they're a six or seven-headed beast live (I was tipsy and have lost count), though perhaps there are only three "core" members... I believe the two names you're looking for are Norsola & Thierry...
Anywho, recommended if you're into Godspeed. Much the same dynamically, but with vocals. A charming show.