This February seminal Canadian post-rock collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor bring their heartrending live show to Australia for the first time. The band will headline shows in Sydney, Brisbane and a sold out Forum Theatre in Melbourne in February, as well as performing at Perth Festival and ATP’s ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’.
An extremely limited allocation of tickets to the sold out Melbourne show on February 15th will be released this week. Tickets will go on sale at 12pm AEDT, this Wednesday the 23rd, via the Handsome Tours mailing list.
Joining the band in Sydney will be Pimmon, recognised internationally as one of a handful of artists pushing the boundaries of music and digital composition. The combination of pop, minimal composition, exotic drones and found sounds creates a dense, emotive, compelling and challenging listening experience.
Supporting GY!BE in Melbourne will be Chris Smith, combining volume and feedback with minimalist blues. His beautifully crumbling compositions evoke Loren Connors, Ennio Morricone and Neil Young in equal measure.
Opening at the Tivoli will be Brisbane locals Primitive Motion, conjuring repetitive waves of dream-float pop using an array of cheap keyboards and machine-made beats woven with echo-drenched vocals, brass and wind instruments. Their music hints at a blissful union of kosmiche Kraut rock and post-punk DIY.
GY!BE was created in 1994 as a solo musical outlet for Efrim Menuck, with the name borrowed from a little known 1976 Japanese black and white documentary. Three years on, Menuck was invited to perform at a show in Montreal, and asked bassist Mauro Pezzente and guitarist Mike Moya to accompany him. The band quickly grew to a core group of nine members and in 1997 they released their debut album F#A#∞. They’ve since gone on to release 3 studio albums and an EP, each generally consisting of an entire piece which is then divided into sections ranging from 15 to 25 minutes.
The band work on both the smallest and grandest of scales, with their dynamic orchestral arrangements revolving around rickety piano melodies, a gentle and emotive string section and the roil of guitars and percussion. Their intense performances are coupled with an engaging use of art and visuals to create an overwhelming live music experience.
Don’t miss this extremely rare opportunity to see the incredible force that is Godspeed You! Black Emperor as they tour Australia for the very first time.
“godspeed you black emperor! creates a musical soundscape that alternates between flashes of sonic brilliance and moments of quiet ecstasy.” MTV
“massive, achingly beautiful work, alternately elegiac and ferocious.” Pitchfork
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – February 2013 tour
Presented by Handsome Tours, Street Press Australia and Triple R
Sydney and Brisbane on sale now from:
www.handsometours.com/current/godspeed-you-black-emperor/
Melbourne on sale this Wednesday the 23rd at 12pm AEDT, via the Handsome Tours mailing list.
Wednesday 13th February – Brisbane – Tivoli
Supported by Primitive Motion
Thursday 14th February – Sydney – Enmore Theatre
Supported by Pimmon
Friday 15th February – Melbourne – Forum Theatre –
LIMITED ALLOCATION RELEASED THIS WEDNESDAY!
Supported by Chris Smith
GY!BE will also perform at ATP’s ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’ – www.atpfestival.com/events/australia2013.php and Perth Festival – www.perthfestival.com.au/What’s-On/Event/Godspeed-You!-Black-Emperor