God Is An Astronaut

To See Rating 8.6 / 10
Just Curious Rating 8.0 / 10

Band Members
Torsten – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Niels – Bass, Guitars, Visuals
Lloyd – Drums, Synths

KISS ME I’M IRISH!!! Well… Not really. But GIAA came from Ireland, and they definitely deserve to be kissed!!! These men were as much craftsmen of music as they were of visual art. The band had images projected behind them at the El Corazon, Seattle WA show that were the perfect compliment, as well as clues to the intention of the music.

I would assert that with post-rock music, ambiguity is definitely a perk because you can make up whatever meaning that you want regarding the intention. The thought of the band actually directing you in that thought process might be a bit intimidating, even scary at the thought of losing your own preconceived ideas that you may be very attached to. I guarantee you, being directed by God Is An Astronaut with their visual art was an epic experience; it was atomic, latterly!  Matching the music’s energy there were hypnotizing prism images, images of dropping bombs, explosions, and desolation.

The experience spattered with heavy images of war, was by no means all destruction, At times they picked me up by me heart strings and took me to what felt like a lucid dreamlike place. To try and convey it, the way GIAA took me from one place to another was as if I was in a dream, and some celestial creature so spectacular that I couldn’t describe with words extended a hand to me, and offered me an opportunity to go to their land in outer-space. As soon as I was lured to reach out and my finger tips touched their presence, I was immediately taken to a place so grand it could only be fictional, and described only through expressed feelings. The first feeling I felt was pressure, something ominous was close. Then, I floated to a place that was full of beauty and color; landscapes that were so peaceful and serene. Then, for some reason I was happy but I couldn’t describe why. Then, the feeling was heavy, and it hurt, but it was beautiful, so beautiful it was fiction… It was fiction alright, and the fiction was their show. What a ride, what a dream. I wasn’t ready to wake up, but i will treasure the experience forever!

If you have the opportunity to see their live show, don’t miss it.

(I strongly recommend that you click this video to activate it, click again to follow it to youtube, and select the option to watch it in HD on the bottom right, just below the video. The camera used was not HD, all future videos will be shot with an HD camcorder)

You.May.Die.In.The.Desert

To See rating 6.2 / 10
Just Curious rating 6.5 / 10

Band Members
Brandon Salter: Bass, Programming
Brian Woods: Guitars, Loops
Michael Clark: Drums, Percussion, Piano

This was a fun show! Right from the start it had lost of energy. YMDITD has come a long way since the 2005 two piece; lots of different elements in this math infused post-rock trio. Brian woods formed loop structures like towers throughout their thirty minute set that had the crowd very pleased. If you know the music well, you will not be disappointed with the performance of a live show; but if you are someone like me who enjoys the band and doesn’t have the music memorized, half to fun is figuring out where they were going to take you next musically, the other half is trying to figure out what progression could possibly be coming. It was full of surprises!

There was something in there for the closet math-rock lover in you that you don’t talk about anymore for fear of being labeled passé. I say this in a great way though! Being a Botch lover, i was reminded of the guitar tone used by Dave Knudson most recognizably used in Swimming the Channel VS. Driving the Chunnel, when YMDITD played Seagulls Sea Eagles. However, YMDITD definitely takes you to a place completely new, and very unique. They are a great example of taking advantage of great influences and making it your own. Nice work You.May.Die.In.The.Desert! I had a great time, and I look forward to seeing future shows.