A few friends and I (including Grey, who materialized behind us) saw Battles last night. I can understand not entirely digging the band's music, which can get into overly technical, geeked out prog territory. But holy fuck, their stage presence and dexterity is out of this world. I can't remember another band that's blown my head apart like they did.
John Stanier sweated more than any other drummer I've ever seen -- the guy needs a kiddie pool under him instead of a rug. Maybe that's because some of the songs have breakbeat lines seeming designed to punish him as much as propel the song.
And Ian Williams and Tyondai Braxton dance and jump while playing their guitars with one hand and keyboards with the other, simultaneously. It's amazing stuff to watch, like seeing a body develop cell by cell as they loop and layer tiny meolodies, noise patterns and guitar lines, all over Stanier's bedrock playing.
The video for Atlas (http://youtube.com/watch?v=IpGp-22t0lU) kinda gets across what their show is like, but only in part. Go see these guys.
John Stanier sweated more than any other drummer I've ever seen -- the guy needs a kiddie pool under him instead of a rug. Maybe that's because some of the songs have breakbeat lines seeming designed to punish him as much as propel the song.
And Ian Williams and Tyondai Braxton dance and jump while playing their guitars with one hand and keyboards with the other, simultaneously. It's amazing stuff to watch, like seeing a body develop cell by cell as they loop and layer tiny meolodies, noise patterns and guitar lines, all over Stanier's bedrock playing.
The video for Atlas (http://youtube.com/watch?v=IpGp-22t0lU) kinda gets across what their show is like, but only in part. Go see these guys.
