1,000,000 died to make this sound
We are all familiar with the expression "crash hard". It is used when describing that after effect (usually in the form of depression) one goes through when a drug's effect leaves our body, the "hard" part refering to a especialy intense hangover after an equally intense high. Heroin, ecstasy and acid are all drugs that make you crash very, very hard. At the moment of writing, the author of this entry is going through a terrible sadness, however, none of the drugs mentioned above are responsible for my post-high crash. The culprits are Efrim Menuck and co, better known as Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra.
Never in a million years would I have thought I would be lucky enough to go to an ASMZ concert.
What I experienced yesterday is something I am not likely to feel ever again.
I arrived around 8:30 pm to the venue and I was quite surprised at how many people were there already. I honestly thought there would not be much of a crowd. Allas, I as wrong.
We waited in queue around 1 and a half hours. I was really anxious to go in, this was something I had been loooking forward to since forever... you can imagine my excitement.
I finally went in and the lady at the door made me leave my stuff in a locker. Behind me there was a guy with a 9" Horses in The Sky. I asked him where he had gotten it and he mentioned they were selling official merchandise at the entrance. I didn't notice on my way it.
I went outside and bought me a t-shirt (it was awesome) and a copy of He Has Left Us Alone, But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of our Rooms. I went back to the locker thing and asked the guy to keep the shirt and the CD in my locker. I left and started seeking for a good place. I found a really good spot just behind the console. I didn't move.
Slowly, the place began to fill with the usual characters. In the background some post-rockish band was playing. I didn't pay much attention. I was fidgeting in my place, counting the minutes until Efrim, Thierry, Susan et all would come onstage. I saw Thierry's cello being carried onstage by some guy and I noticed my heart beating faster.
This was really going to happen. It all started to become real.
Finally, the whole band came out. Efrim started talking. I was frozen. I was listening to every tone in his voice. I realized i had never noticed what a beautiful voice he had. He was so kind and warm. Thanked us for being there and apologized for "the painful entry process". He also asked if we were all ok, which we answered with a loud cheer.
The first song to grace our ears was I Built Myself a Metal Bird. This is the first "single" out of the new album, Kollaps Tradixionales. I stood there, unable to move. I was here, listening to every note faling off Sophie's violine and Thierry's cello. I couldn't even blink. Needless to say, it was a great way to start the show. Just as I Built Myself a Metal Bird was about to end, the band quickly began playing I Fed My Metal Bird the Wings of Other Metal Birds. What a combo.
The audience was transfixiated. I looked at the people in front of me and none were moving. We were all being part of this magical ritual. All of us, standing as one.
The next song we were treated to was There is A Light, track with which the new album begins. The introduction was "The world has been trying to kill us since forever. Even before money. Money just makes it worse. This is supposed to be a 'fuck you' to all of that"
I couldn't stop thinking about he said. It is true. Money is the root of all evil, and its worse because money is purely symbolic. We kill each other because of paper.
The song ended, and Efrim asked if we had any questions. This took me by surprise. I had watched live videos of A Silver Mt Zion and always thought Efrim engaged a lot with the audience. However, I never thought it would be this... personal. Flat out asking if we wanted to say anything? Never crossed my mind.
I couldn't believe what I was experiencing.
One by one the audience started asking questions. The first one was "Do you like Mexico?" to which Efrim responded "yes, we do" all the questions were of that sort. I had been wanting to ask something but I couldn't bring myself to. Someone asked if they were playing old stuff. Efrim asked "how old? Yeah, now we are going to play Purple Haze" He's got a great sense of humor.
Questions flowed and I finally had the courage to raise my hand. Efrim pointed at me and said "yeah, you?" I started talking but he couldn't hear me. Luckily, the guy in front of me (the audio dude) noticed and quickly handed me a microphone. I was shaking. I began
-"Well, this is something I've been meaning to ask you. Uhm, you say all musicians are cowards. Why?"
-"Cause we are. I don't know why but all people that are drawn to play music are cowards. Anyone that knows a musician will admit to it."
-"Well, I don't think you are a coward. I think you are awesome"
He laughs. "That's because you don't know me"
I laugh. We all do. For some reason, the answer does not satisfy me. I am still shaking.
Someone behind me says "hey, that was a really good question" I can barely hear the words and I cannot bring myself to react. I am still thinking about what Efrim just said.
My question is the last question before the next song.
-"This next song is called 'God Bless Our Dead Marines'"
Yes. Thank you. This is one of my favourite songs.
The first words start bouncing through the venue "They put angels in the electric chair, the electric chair, the electric chair. Straight up angels in the electric chair, the electric chair, the electric chair..." I was singing at this point, and the people that were beside me didn't know what the hell they were doing there. They just stared at me wondering how was it that I knew the songs.
I didn't care. I was too occupied having the best night of my life.
Ups and downs all throught the song, taking me in this rollercoaster ride, just as GBODM always does. God Bless Our Dead Marines slowly came to an end and Efrim sang one last time "But I dreamt we was all beautiful and strong"
I fell to pieces. I spend the whole 11 minutes of that song in anticipation for that line. Hearing it live was more than I ever imagined. It broke me.
The questions continued. People asked who Wanda was, if they were planning to come back as Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Efrim did not enjoy answering this) what project he was most proud of (he said it was always the last one) and who was his "favourite sandwich man" to which he answered "My favourite sandwich man is Ricky Sandwich" Deep stuff.
"This next song is Engine Broke Blues/Black Waters Blowed. No, wait. I got that backwards. Its Black Waters Blowed/Engine Broke Blues"
Even Efrim gets confused with his song's titles.
This moving performance lasted 10 minutes, after which the questions from the audience resumed. "What do we have to learn from animals?" -"Everything. Not to kill our children. I think we have everything to learn from animals, I just don't know how to name them", Efrim replied. The last question of the night was "Will you come back to Mexico City?" -"We would love to" was the short answer.
1,000,000 Died to Make This Sound began. This is one of my favourite songs of all times. At this point, it would've made sense for my feet and back to be aching but I didn't notice the pain at all. I don't think I have ever been in a situation were I cannot avert my eyes. All my senses were being assaulted by this beautiful moment.
With a warm goodbye and a thank you, Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra left the stage.
After a few minutes of us cheering for another song, they came out again.
"This song is about us. There is more of us than there are of them. There are more of us than there are of them. Don't you ever forget that. There are more of us than there are of them... this song is called 'Microphones in The Trees'"
I was speechless. I stood there, quietly, enjoying the last moments of the evening. I was smiling and I was filled with this sense of possibility and inspiration.
The show ended and Efrim asked us to take care of ourselves. To take care of each other and do not forget that there is hope. "There are more of us than there are of them".
The place slowly began to empty and I headed to my locker to get my stuff. I gave the dude in charge my chip and he gave me my stuff. I checked if everything was there and noticed neither the shirt nor the CD i had bought previously were in my bag. I asked to speak to the manager so we could wither search for my stuff or they would have to reimburse my money.
The best thing that could have happened to me, was the locker dude screwing up.
I stuck around for about half and hour and the manager was still not ready to speak with me. I glances at the stage and I saw Efrim talking to some fans.
Thank destiny for serendipities.
I made my way to the stage and slowly and carefully approached Efrim. I didn't want to interrupt the whole autograph thing. I had always wondered what would I say if I ever got to talk to him. So this was my chance. Here was the man that had filled me with such inspiration. This was the man who I admired and had always wanted to pick his brain. This was it.
Once he finished signing things I approached him. I said "I don't want you to sign anything for me, i just want to say that you may think that musicians are cowards, and I do not necessarely agree but I want to let you know that if you indeed are a coward, you are the best of them all. I strongly believe that the best thing you can do with your life is inspire people. Someone inspired you to go out there and make music. Something or someone. You have inspired me. And I will take your music with me. Forever. It is because of your art that I am a different person. I just want to say thank you for coming here and making this night the best night of my life"
He stood there, thinking for a few milliseconds and then he said "Thank you, that is very kind of you" I honestly didn't expect him to say anything. I just wanted to let it out of my system.
I smiled and told him "man, they just lost my tshirt" to which he laughed. He said "i am sorry they lost your tshirt". I said goodbye and left.
I am very glad I came back without that CD and that shit. If it hadn't been for that, I would have never had the oportunity to speak to Efrim and thank him for what he has given me. I left a lot of things out that I forgot to say when I was there. I was very nervous and forgot a couple of things. In retrospective, I would have loved to say a lot more. But another oportunity will come.
It is hard for me to describe how much this show meant to me. I don't have the words.
People say there are times in our lives that are crucial to determine who we are. There are events that break everything we are and after that, we are never the same. Listening to A Silver Mt Zion was one of those experiences. I have never been the same after I listened to "For Wanda" the song responsible for me falling in love with Mt Zion. How could I be the same after being part of this magical journey? After listening to such beautiful creations? After feeling like I finally belong somewhere? After this guys have made me feel in a way no ever has? The answer is no. I can never be the same again. No way.
I hope now you understand why is it that I am crashing hard. I want to feel again what I felt last night. I want to lose myself in that moment and never resurface. I want to drown in the beauty and warmth I felt. I want that feeling back. I don't know. I am confused.
What I do know is that I am very, very happy I came back without that CD and tshirt. It's just stuff. Being able to talk to one of my longtime heroes is something that I will always remember, something I will always carry in my heart. Even if my heart has unravelled a little after Efrim broke it to pieces and put it back together again.
It will never be the same, for sure.
Never in a million years would I have thought I would be lucky enough to go to an ASMZ concert.
What I experienced yesterday is something I am not likely to feel ever again.
I arrived around 8:30 pm to the venue and I was quite surprised at how many people were there already. I honestly thought there would not be much of a crowd. Allas, I as wrong.
We waited in queue around 1 and a half hours. I was really anxious to go in, this was something I had been loooking forward to since forever... you can imagine my excitement.
I finally went in and the lady at the door made me leave my stuff in a locker. Behind me there was a guy with a 9" Horses in The Sky. I asked him where he had gotten it and he mentioned they were selling official merchandise at the entrance. I didn't notice on my way it.
I went outside and bought me a t-shirt (it was awesome) and a copy of He Has Left Us Alone, But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of our Rooms. I went back to the locker thing and asked the guy to keep the shirt and the CD in my locker. I left and started seeking for a good place. I found a really good spot just behind the console. I didn't move.
Slowly, the place began to fill with the usual characters. In the background some post-rockish band was playing. I didn't pay much attention. I was fidgeting in my place, counting the minutes until Efrim, Thierry, Susan et all would come onstage. I saw Thierry's cello being carried onstage by some guy and I noticed my heart beating faster.
This was really going to happen. It all started to become real.
Finally, the whole band came out. Efrim started talking. I was frozen. I was listening to every tone in his voice. I realized i had never noticed what a beautiful voice he had. He was so kind and warm. Thanked us for being there and apologized for "the painful entry process". He also asked if we were all ok, which we answered with a loud cheer.
The first song to grace our ears was I Built Myself a Metal Bird. This is the first "single" out of the new album, Kollaps Tradixionales. I stood there, unable to move. I was here, listening to every note faling off Sophie's violine and Thierry's cello. I couldn't even blink. Needless to say, it was a great way to start the show. Just as I Built Myself a Metal Bird was about to end, the band quickly began playing I Fed My Metal Bird the Wings of Other Metal Birds. What a combo.
The audience was transfixiated. I looked at the people in front of me and none were moving. We were all being part of this magical ritual. All of us, standing as one.
The next song we were treated to was There is A Light, track with which the new album begins. The introduction was "The world has been trying to kill us since forever. Even before money. Money just makes it worse. This is supposed to be a 'fuck you' to all of that"
I couldn't stop thinking about he said. It is true. Money is the root of all evil, and its worse because money is purely symbolic. We kill each other because of paper.
The song ended, and Efrim asked if we had any questions. This took me by surprise. I had watched live videos of A Silver Mt Zion and always thought Efrim engaged a lot with the audience. However, I never thought it would be this... personal. Flat out asking if we wanted to say anything? Never crossed my mind.
I couldn't believe what I was experiencing.
One by one the audience started asking questions. The first one was "Do you like Mexico?" to which Efrim responded "yes, we do" all the questions were of that sort. I had been wanting to ask something but I couldn't bring myself to. Someone asked if they were playing old stuff. Efrim asked "how old? Yeah, now we are going to play Purple Haze" He's got a great sense of humor.
Questions flowed and I finally had the courage to raise my hand. Efrim pointed at me and said "yeah, you?" I started talking but he couldn't hear me. Luckily, the guy in front of me (the audio dude) noticed and quickly handed me a microphone. I was shaking. I began
-"Well, this is something I've been meaning to ask you. Uhm, you say all musicians are cowards. Why?"
-"Cause we are. I don't know why but all people that are drawn to play music are cowards. Anyone that knows a musician will admit to it."
-"Well, I don't think you are a coward. I think you are awesome"
He laughs. "That's because you don't know me"
I laugh. We all do. For some reason, the answer does not satisfy me. I am still shaking.
Someone behind me says "hey, that was a really good question" I can barely hear the words and I cannot bring myself to react. I am still thinking about what Efrim just said.
My question is the last question before the next song.
-"This next song is called 'God Bless Our Dead Marines'"
Yes. Thank you. This is one of my favourite songs.
The first words start bouncing through the venue "They put angels in the electric chair, the electric chair, the electric chair. Straight up angels in the electric chair, the electric chair, the electric chair..." I was singing at this point, and the people that were beside me didn't know what the hell they were doing there. They just stared at me wondering how was it that I knew the songs.
I didn't care. I was too occupied having the best night of my life.
Ups and downs all throught the song, taking me in this rollercoaster ride, just as GBODM always does. God Bless Our Dead Marines slowly came to an end and Efrim sang one last time "But I dreamt we was all beautiful and strong"
I fell to pieces. I spend the whole 11 minutes of that song in anticipation for that line. Hearing it live was more than I ever imagined. It broke me.
The questions continued. People asked who Wanda was, if they were planning to come back as Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Efrim did not enjoy answering this) what project he was most proud of (he said it was always the last one) and who was his "favourite sandwich man" to which he answered "My favourite sandwich man is Ricky Sandwich" Deep stuff.
"This next song is Engine Broke Blues/Black Waters Blowed. No, wait. I got that backwards. Its Black Waters Blowed/Engine Broke Blues"
Even Efrim gets confused with his song's titles.
This moving performance lasted 10 minutes, after which the questions from the audience resumed. "What do we have to learn from animals?" -"Everything. Not to kill our children. I think we have everything to learn from animals, I just don't know how to name them", Efrim replied. The last question of the night was "Will you come back to Mexico City?" -"We would love to" was the short answer.
1,000,000 Died to Make This Sound began. This is one of my favourite songs of all times. At this point, it would've made sense for my feet and back to be aching but I didn't notice the pain at all. I don't think I have ever been in a situation were I cannot avert my eyes. All my senses were being assaulted by this beautiful moment.
With a warm goodbye and a thank you, Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra left the stage.
After a few minutes of us cheering for another song, they came out again.
"This song is about us. There is more of us than there are of them. There are more of us than there are of them. Don't you ever forget that. There are more of us than there are of them... this song is called 'Microphones in The Trees'"
I was speechless. I stood there, quietly, enjoying the last moments of the evening. I was smiling and I was filled with this sense of possibility and inspiration.
The show ended and Efrim asked us to take care of ourselves. To take care of each other and do not forget that there is hope. "There are more of us than there are of them".
The place slowly began to empty and I headed to my locker to get my stuff. I gave the dude in charge my chip and he gave me my stuff. I checked if everything was there and noticed neither the shirt nor the CD i had bought previously were in my bag. I asked to speak to the manager so we could wither search for my stuff or they would have to reimburse my money.
The best thing that could have happened to me, was the locker dude screwing up.
I stuck around for about half and hour and the manager was still not ready to speak with me. I glances at the stage and I saw Efrim talking to some fans.
Thank destiny for serendipities.
I made my way to the stage and slowly and carefully approached Efrim. I didn't want to interrupt the whole autograph thing. I had always wondered what would I say if I ever got to talk to him. So this was my chance. Here was the man that had filled me with such inspiration. This was the man who I admired and had always wanted to pick his brain. This was it.
Once he finished signing things I approached him. I said "I don't want you to sign anything for me, i just want to say that you may think that musicians are cowards, and I do not necessarely agree but I want to let you know that if you indeed are a coward, you are the best of them all. I strongly believe that the best thing you can do with your life is inspire people. Someone inspired you to go out there and make music. Something or someone. You have inspired me. And I will take your music with me. Forever. It is because of your art that I am a different person. I just want to say thank you for coming here and making this night the best night of my life"
He stood there, thinking for a few milliseconds and then he said "Thank you, that is very kind of you" I honestly didn't expect him to say anything. I just wanted to let it out of my system.
I smiled and told him "man, they just lost my tshirt" to which he laughed. He said "i am sorry they lost your tshirt". I said goodbye and left.
I am very glad I came back without that CD and that shit. If it hadn't been for that, I would have never had the oportunity to speak to Efrim and thank him for what he has given me. I left a lot of things out that I forgot to say when I was there. I was very nervous and forgot a couple of things. In retrospective, I would have loved to say a lot more. But another oportunity will come.
It is hard for me to describe how much this show meant to me. I don't have the words.
People say there are times in our lives that are crucial to determine who we are. There are events that break everything we are and after that, we are never the same. Listening to A Silver Mt Zion was one of those experiences. I have never been the same after I listened to "For Wanda" the song responsible for me falling in love with Mt Zion. How could I be the same after being part of this magical journey? After listening to such beautiful creations? After feeling like I finally belong somewhere? After this guys have made me feel in a way no ever has? The answer is no. I can never be the same again. No way.
I hope now you understand why is it that I am crashing hard. I want to feel again what I felt last night. I want to lose myself in that moment and never resurface. I want to drown in the beauty and warmth I felt. I want that feeling back. I don't know. I am confused.
What I do know is that I am very, very happy I came back without that CD and tshirt. It's just stuff. Being able to talk to one of my longtime heroes is something that I will always remember, something I will always carry in my heart. Even if my heart has unravelled a little after Efrim broke it to pieces and put it back together again.
It will never be the same, for sure.
Labels: A Silver Mt Zion
