The Suspiria Live Score by Claudio Simonetti and Goblin was one of those amazing shows that, until recently, I would have never imagined I would be able to experience. But on December 4th 2018, I got to do just that. I got to experience one of my favorite horror films, live scored by one of the original composers and founding members of Goblin.
Goblin, of course, is synonymous with Italian horror and exploitation cinema. Their sound has influenced generation after generation of genre cinema. Deep Red and Suspiria were some of the earliest examples of the synth driven sound we now associate with classic 80’s horror cinema. The progressive use of early Moog synthesizers blended with traditional instruments would help transform the soundscape of modern horror.
The Orpheum in Ybor City/Tampa, Fl. was the venue for this particular engagement. The Orpheum has been hosting live music events in the area for over 20 years. Ybor City is a historic entertainment district in downtown Tampa. It was one of the staging grounds for the advent of American death metal in the 1980’s and 90’s. And The Orpheum looks like it’s seen it’s share of Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, and Obituary shows. Oddly appropriate for an old school horror prog rock experience? Absolutely!
It is not overstating it to say that the live score was masterful. Having Simonetti and the band play through those iconic sequences elevated the experience significantly. Each sequence of music was met with enthusiastic applause. Other than the fact that was no real seating, it was very enjoyable. It is an amazing thing to see a movie transformed into a live performance. Especially when performed by one of the original creators. It can add so much more impact and, honestly, gravitas to what would otherwise be just another screening of a cult classic. And as a fan I was quite enthralled and enamored by the whole thing.
After the movie they came back out for a 30 minute encore of classic Goblin music. They played themes from films such as Demons, Day of the Dead, Deep Red, Phenomena and more. This set was a ramped up progressive rock show extravaganza. The screen used for the film played stylized clips from the films to which the music was from.
The second set suited the venue much better. The live score was fun and energetic, but because of the lack of seating you had to stand front row to get an unobstructed view of the screen. The second set was a more standard music show, which is what The Orpheum is set up for. And they old school prog rocked it out, of the park. The Dawn of the Dead section was a fan favorite and met with loud applause. Demons was high-powered and frenetic. Deep Red and Tenebre were stunningly, spectacular. Phenomena was ethereal and moving. A great performance of some of the most memorable sounds (and sights) from classic Italian horror cinema.
It was a absolute delight to see a film classic, such as Suspiria, live scored by one of the original composers. And the Goblin show that followed was especially exhilarating, with so many classic calls from their long and enigmatic career. The fact that there was enough interest in these films and music, over 40 years later, to warrant a U.S. tour is proof of the legacy that this little genre has carved into cinemas history.
