Krazy/Killer Band Name Of The Week: Godspeed You! Black Emperor

This week's entry combines my honouring Canada's 150th birthday in 2017 via Canuck bands, creative uses of grammar in band names, and perhaps the best band name origin ever. Montreal noise rock/post-rock collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor takes its name from God Speed You! Black Emperor, a 1976 Japanese black-and-white documentary by director Mitsuo Yanagimachi, which follows the exploits of a Japanese biker gang, the Black Emperors.

But the band doesn't stop at bending the rules of grammar? whilst, referencing Japanese biker docs and composing instrumentals that average 15+min. in length. Nay, they go for broke and make every song and album title completely original. "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven", "Rockets Fall On Rocket Falls", "F# A# ∞", " 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!", "Strung Like Lights At Thee Printemps Erable" and on... It's a good thing of their ditties are sprawling epics - that gives the listener time to try and figure out what the hell the band is thinking. And the fun is not figuring things out with the band. It's the theorizing what could be happening with them. 

Now turn on that old cerebellum of yours, tune in or out... whatever works better. They say laughter is the best medicine, but sometimes unabashed contemplation is just what the doctor ordered. That, and any other enchancement you may partake whilst listening to the Godspeed folks.