Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Soaring Instrumentals @ Thebarton Theatre – Adelaide Festival Review

Thebarton Theatre, Sun 6 Mar Arriving at the theatre there are signs warning of the volume of this event and earplugs available at the door, so this is going to be loud! A drone starts up and it seems the performance has started, but there is no-one on stage so the audience continue chatting among themselves. One by one a band member walks out on stage, picks up an instrument, and begins adding to the drone. By the time the whole band is on stage the first song is in full flight. As with their performance two nights earlier at Festival Theatre, providing the soundtrack to the dance piece monumental, the band are barely visible as they play is semi-darkness. There is no interaction with the audience. This time the visuals fall to some projected film work, some of which is interesting, but it’s really only there to add to the mood. This time the music is the main attraction. The music is grand in stature, with a certain formula seemingly at work. Each song starts with an interesting riff from one of the musicians and gradually everyone in the band adds to it until there is a massive wall of sound emanating from the stage. No vocals, just a series of long soaring instrumentals. Each one is interesting to listen to, but each one is also a marathon that can become a little daunting. When the show reaches its conclusion, one by one the musicians put down their instruments, give the audience a wave, and walk off stage. Due to looping pedals, or whatever other technology is in play, the song continues on without them. It is finally up to a stage technician to wander around to each instrument or amplifier to turn it down and then off. An epic performance, well worth experiencing, but I couldn’t hum you any of the tunes… Adrian Miller Image courtesy of Peter Tee