Concert Review: Godspeed You! Black Emperor | Globe Iron | Cleveland, OH

Godspeed You! Black Emperor graced Cleveland’s very own Globe Iron with a visit on their current tour and received a massive welcome from locals (by far the largest audience I have seen so far at the relatively new venue). It was a pleasant surprise, as I only recently discovered this band and had no idea they had such a large cult classic following in our community. I found the band randomly last year through a quote referenced in an old video game (Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines from 2004). It filled my heart to see the number of individuals in Cleveland who connect deeply with the music of GY!BE and the messages promoted through it.

For the unitiated, GY!BE is a Canadian group, formed in 1994, known for their post-rock music instrumentals. Their ability to generate an impassioned soundscape with deeper meanings really draws the audience in. They’ve always proudly held anti-capitalistic ideologies, constantly displaying them in their album titles, song lyrics, and with the messages and merch at their shows. They have never been afraid to highlight these views. Even at this show, electric guitarist and frontman, Efrim Manuel Menuck’s amp proudly displayed the words “Transphobes Eat Shit And Die Alone,” while the merch sold at the tables had shirts with the slogan, “war is coming, don’t give up, hang on, pick a side” which happens to be a lyric from their newest album ‘NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD’, a reference to the Palestinian death toll due to the Israel conflict. It’s very refreshing and inspiring to see a group of incredibly talented musicians who take a stand for something they believe in and incorporate that into their own art. They have completely redefined the meaning of protest music, and their audience has been right there with them throughout every artistic/sociopolitical statement.

The vibe was extremely intimate due to the dark, moody lighting. The stage’s corners blended into the edges of the pit, and the whole room was almost pitch black. Splotches of amber lighting hit the instrumentalists in just the right way.

The band began with their live intro, titled “Hope Drone,” with violinist Sophie Trudeau (not to be confused with the ex-wife of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who shares her name) and upright bassist Timothy Herzog stepping out first to create a soft harmony. The music slowly built in a soft lull-like sound, as the rest of the band members entered the stage and began to add their own sound, which progressed into the song “SUN IS A HOLE SUN IS VAPORS.” 16mm film was projected on the back wall (by filmmakers Karl Lemieux and Philippe Leonard), with intermittent splotches of white and black, like a Rorschach inkblot test, that would morph into the word ‘Hope’ or images of seagulls taking off, depending on the moment in the performance. It was very obvious that GY!BE was set on bringing attention to their passionate symphonies and the deeper meanings behind them, rather than focusing on the incredibly accomplished artists behind the instruments. They truly succeeded in bringing the raw emotion to the forefront, as the film projection transitioned into different images, such as powerful flames behind the artists during the heavier beats of the show. Everyone in the audience was completely locked into the performance, thoroughly enjoying the visuals and the stunning, entrancing instrumentation.

Unfortunately, if you missed this show, you missed a significant chance to witness the music of GY!BE music! They are not as easy to stream either, as you won’t be able to find them on Spotify, Apple Music, or iTunes, since they have recently pulled all of their music from streaming services. The band has made no official statement on this, but presumably, it is due to questionable investments made by those in charge of these companies and the low compensation they receive for their art. As of now, the only way to support them or hear the music is by purchasing their physical works on their Bandcamp or searching for old live performances published online.

This show was truly a memorable evening and an insightful experience. Despite the show being over 90 minutes, only eight songs appeared on the setlist, making it feel shorter than it was. (Or, perhaps, time just flies when you’re having fun!) I can only imagine that the next time they visit Cleveland, they will be met with another full house ready for an impassioned night filled with powerful music and significant messages.