God Is An Astronaut

GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT-LEES PALACE AUGUST '11


These Irish post-rock titans delivered a hard hitting set at Lee's Palace to a Canadian crowd anxious to hear their live tunes for the first time. I'm not a die hard fan by any means, the 2006 "All is Violent, All is Bright" being the only album I've added to my iTunes library, but I was clearly amongst a legion of Torontonian fanboys and fangirls (I even nodded along next to a group from Buffalo). Among the myriad of bands brandishing the 'post-rock' moniker, GIAA set themselves apart with lush, chorus ridden vocals and monstrous groove-driven crescendoes that knock even the stiffest fans into a healthy head swaying bop. Although they didn't appear with the original line up, the drummer having left the band in 2010, the on stage chemistry and enthusiasm was as enjoyable to watch as to listen. 

I caught the lead guitarist in a groove akin to Angus Young (minus the SG), although his on stage performance was much closer to a city pigeon gyrating his head to the synth driven melody. Just as entertaining a performer was the was man behind the ever sizzling cymbals. His creative expression not only coming through his drum kit but through his entire body. His entire set was spent dancing wildly behind the kit wearing grins equally as savage.

During the last few songs Angus "pigeon" Young gave the obligatory nod to the home crowd while the drummer held a makeshift Canadian flag over his bass drum to great applause (though not as great as the post-olympic Canadians). 


I walked out of Lee's Palace with a much greater appreciation for GIAA which is a sure sign of any great performance.