Celebrating 35 Years of Live Music from the Metro Chicago:
GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR – Night 1 3/18/18
with Special Guest KGD

An amazing event: Anytime you can book Godspeed You! Black Emperor to play live and in person- especially at the one and only Metro Chicago.
And for two nights!
I was only at opening night, with opener KGD- an electronic ambient musician.
For those not in the know: this band is revered. Music hounds are total devotees to this Canadian music collective, who by all intents and purposes wish to simply remain anonymous and play instrumentals with no bother.
Placed in a semi circle from front of stage to back and then front again- they always remain dimly lit and atrociously hard to photograph- really low ambient lighting throughout, with the occasional film projection of architecture and buildings done in black and white as the only extra light allotted that add for the occasional extra light to get a better photograph.
I know- that’s a lot to say. But that’s what I’m up against in my time allowed to photograph them.
Film loop projections are an integral part of the group’s live performance…helping to present the mood over the melody.
The moods can easily change on a dime with this unique band- from soft and serene one minute, to loud and overwhelming the next.
Providing a structure to the sound is a double drum performance with hefty floor toms and the occasional crash of a snare for added ooomph, and clearly from my perspective, a sudden thump of beauty that goes right through your sternum, and of course- played loud.
Mesmerizing to the core. That’s the only way to comprehend and define this instrumental music experience- outside of the fact that half my photos are somewhat grainy for lack of available light and such.
I can live with that if the compromise is extraordinary music to witness live and in person.
All due praise to founding members Efrim Menuck and Mauro Pezzente, and to Mike Moya, Thierry Amar, David Bryant, Aidan Girt, Sophie Trudeau, Karl Lemieux, Timothy Herzog and Philippe Leonard…a collective of super talented musicians that keep Godspeed You! Black Emperor whole.
Cheers- Bobby Talamine – Music Photographer