Battles — B + T

[LarsYenin]

NIce one.

[wherethetreeslive]

Not Ian's usual guitar i spy.

[priser24]

Very nice. Just wish the video and audio were synced.

[SuperDefaultname]

To fans of Battles, I recommend checking out Giraffes, Giraffes, Shelac, Squarepusher, Aphex Twin, Venetian Snares and other 'IDM,' Meshuggah and other 'dgent' bands, numerous Mike Patton projects (ie, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Tomahawk...Ipecac Rec...), Bjork, Tool, Radiohead...If you like classical Indian music and tabla music: Zakir Hussein, Ali Akbar Kahn, Aloke Dutta...TO HATERS AND NAY-SAYERS: MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN CHANGING AND SAVING THE WORLD...spread the word, lol.

[Kelavmeister]

@SuperDefaultname I'm glad I already listen to 90% of them.. I've done my school work, apparently! hahaha

[SuperDefaultname]

It seems to me that too much music that strays into a more technical direction is labeled as "math-*insert genre*" by too many people. Rock is especially victimized by this trend, as it is merely a trend. Classical music from all over the world was/is ridiculously mathematically complex, namely classical Indian. We've had to degress in order to be 'progressive.'

[12508570565]

Tomahawk and Helmet are his other projects, check it. technically amazing, yes and listen to Battles if you still aren't convinced

[fromthebody]

@TheSatyroi About gospel chops, I agree with you there... but this drummer, for a lot of people, make this band. He has carved a niche for himself in this kind of music and within the culture that listens to it.. He has his own sound and distinct style of playing that make it special for the genre. Personally, I don't know if battles is the extent of his drumming ability, but I doubt it, therefore I couldn't make a judgement concerning his technical ability.

[marylove547]

Mercy me! Wish I 'd been there...Thanks whoever posts these delicious freakouts!

[sethsquatch420]

THEY KILLED IT TONIGHT

[TheAbsractMind]

I don't care what anyone says...Battles is the best math rock band there ever was. Ever. Ever.

Ever.

[italiaholic]

I play drums and John STANIER is boring compared to Damon Che.

[mountainjaz420]

these guys play so tight, note for note, amazing

[snanna1234]

My ears are pussing out sound hole vomit! It's to awesome! the hipsters must never know.

[snanna1234]

My ears are pussing out sound hole vomit! It's to awesome!

[dgerke08]

lol just kiddin'

[dgerke08]

this band obviously doesn't understand music.

[Isosyth]

@dgerke08 ... what?

[Schismhead]

@dgerke08 Don't make me laugh you berk.

[steveshattuck]

@dgerke08 Either you have down syndrome or you don't listen to Battles.

[TheRockandroy]

@dgerke08 you obviously don't understand the music as this band does.

[TimeForDadTime]

if you think any of these guys aren't technically amazing then you obviously don't play music

[Ichvyenichalster]

the worst that a human being can be reduced to socially is judging music, because it's music. i dont like party in the usa, but i understand why someone would pay to see it, because it's music!

[MrEpicPants]

@Ichvyenichalster thank you.

[mauldepp]

lame audition..

[tropcis]

b+t

[epilepssia]

............... really bad.............

[tropcis]

pioneros del math electronico . la neta esta viajado

o 0

-v

[SiracShunka]

Crash cymbal should be higher!

:D

[moobox]

I can't believe anybody would pay to see or hear this garbage.

[nin8185]

they are amazing live! dont let this shitty recording fool you. one of the best live bands around.

[LLDJ1997]

@moobox ur either an old fart or u suck

[Ldz255]

@moobox Its obviously not going to sound the best if its live and someone is using a really shitty recorder. But from the looks of your videos and your name, you appear to like a whole different genre of music, so you cant really compare the shit you listen to this.

[TimeForDadTime]

@moobox

you mean besides the fact that it's groundbreaking and brilliant?

yeah i guess there arent many reasons to listen to this...

[posaune814]

steve reich?

[0candle0]

i always wondered why the cymbal is set so damn high, is it sybolic or something?

[HomebrewMelvin]

Short answer: no.

Long answer: I'm pretty sure it's an inside joke, but explaining it wouldn't be my job. It's not like he's the first person to have a cymbal up that high.

[alfaripopo]

I recall an interview where they stated they don't want to overuse the crash cymbal ''to fill the song'' so by placing it that high they show they kinda use it only when it's damn necessary

[nofx84]

alfari got it right

[spedracer4U]

John Stanier is a skilled drummer. He wouldn't need a cymbal that high to restrain himself from using it.

It is likely an inside joke. Obviously john doesn't fit the typical MO for a drummer of this genre, considering he once played in a grunge band. So maybe the cymbal is his way of poking fun at what is expected. The cymbal is ironic for John, but may not be for a typical drummer in this genre.

[kwakedesigns]

what 'grunge' band?

[spedracer4U]

Stanier was the original drummer for Helmet

[buccaneersboy39]

@candal.....he has an arm issue i believe so having it higher makes it easier i think.....feel free to flame if im wrong

[enijize1234]

producers/guitarists get pissy when drummers hit the crash too often i.e. invasion of high freQ's

set it uncomfortably high too limit its use.

[zenabisabb]

Wohoo! they're coming to Malaysia next month!

[Gretgor666]

They seem... Talented.

Never checked on them before.

[JusXcore]

I love the stage set-up. Drummer right there, ad everyone else around him. Looks so chaotic, yet so gorgeous.

battles r luv.

[manicamadeus]

if you think john stainer isn't technically amazing then you obviously don't play drums.

[snkyninja]

@manicamadeus Word.

[HomebrewMelvin]

Ian Williams... Guitar god. I love this intro. Sounds like his Don Cab days.

[happymoi1]

i just got intruduced to their music. through a bjork interview! absolutely love their style. legendary!

[holdontoyourgonads]

he started doing it a few years ago as bet on tour, and then just kept on doing it. i know because i asked him :)

[brandon7011]

yeah anyone who doubts battles' talent needs some help...and i agree the drummer isn't "technically amazing" but he keeps the best time i've heard in a long time.

[TGOC3]

Just because this guy has his crash at an irrelevant spot doesn't make him a unique drummer. Its way over complicating things. You guys act like this is the first instrumental band ever.

[THX10538]

I think the point of John Stainer having his crash at that ridiculous of a high means that every time he hits it...he means it. There isn't any sort of white noise or any sort of covering up with long sustaining cymbals. If he needs a crash, he probably knows where its going, otherwise he's on the hats and the drums. Thats it.

And he's a very unique and amazing drummer, and you're an idiot.

[TGOC3]

Yes, because I think its dumb to have a crash cymbal 12 feet in the air makes me an idiot? Yeah that makes a lot of sense.

[MmirrorismM]

it's only 5 1/2 feet. Stop over complicating things.

[TGOC3]

Sorry I left my tape measure at home.

[zemechanism]

idiot

[shmush3]

Yeah to be fair, that crash is unneccesarily high...you can 'mean' hitting a crash at normal height...

[THX10538]

That's true, but you can't hit that unneccesarily high crash unless you 'mean' to. And that may not even be the reason why he does it, its just what I think he does. Plus it looks cool, sorta gives him a unique looking drumset

[nrvana8775]

I read that originally had it like that because he injured his shoulder and was only able to extend to that length at some point in time, and that he just kept it that way.

It also makes you a little anxious because you're focusing on when he is going to hit it.

[TheCHUD]

I've heard that it's because he wanted to limit the use of his cymbal as that's one of the biggest complaints Ian had against Damon Che. As someone else said, you have to be very deliberate about crashing when it's all the way up there. Just a rumor I guess.

[WC7495]

John has stated that he places it that way for many reasons but the biggest one is for it to be a joke...he gets a kick out of it!

And I don't doubt Ian put the hammer down on the crash use in days after Don Cab...even though I love Damon I can understand why Ian would get fed up....

[mmmpie]

i enjoy these fellows

[Zookeeper1983]

wow. this is amazing. wish i had seen them at roskilde... :(

[FillmoeMOB415]

Battles is sick..

hands down haha

[nnfiction]

thats talent!

[chriswrigley]

youre all insane. battles is a super original sound that is way ahead of what anyone is doing right now.

[zab666]

Shit und die waren auf dem donaufestival und ich habs nicht mitbekommen....dreck...

[paulemiko]

stanier is great and battles are AVANTI.

totally mindblowing

[empathyislost]

didnt he steal damon che's style of putting the cymbol about six feet high...maybe thats what he is thinking of.

[NTrams]

I don't recall Che ever putting his cymbals 6 feet in the air.

[TheRedHutt]

@NTrams Yeah, that and they have opposite playing styles, both good. It's crazy how the same guitarist is so great with both.

[TheRedHutt]

@NTrams No, instead he had his snare drum like a foot off the ground..

[ishidaishizou]

awesome...

[johnrosati]

I saw BTTLS in Northampton, MA. There was only like 40 people at the show, and so everyone had room to dance. BTTLS live is the most powerful music I have ever seen. They are the serious fresh hot shit.

[orangejackster]

I just love it how LVNVUSA seems to have gone to every Battles video on YouTube and posted a negative comment. What a tool.

Battles are absolutely mindblowing by the way. Just ordered my tickets for ATP!!! AAGGGHHH!

[Fersantos1984zzz]

This is fantastic. Ian Williams is an unique musician, destroying walls, dogmas...

A chaotic, well tought amalgam of sounds. M I N D B L O W I N G !!!

[chriswrigley]

stanier has a sense of rhythm like noone else

[dj2tallcom]

it exists, get over it. your opinion on a screen won't change this video's existence

i love em

[sk8inmayhem]

I"m sick of everyone hating on the drumming, it fits the music and is sick as hell, face it battles music is repedative so the drumming will be as well. I personally love the drumming so get with the times and stop bitching ass head

[LVNVUSA]

Here's another example of the horrible drummer from Helmut doing his best Damon Che impression. Every one of his drum beats (Pick a song) are the same. This guys need to call the boys from Helmut back, get with poison and the rest of the suck bands from the early nineties and see if he can get some strange from the big hair girls who don't know anything about music. Cause I do and this sucks!

[RegularOne]

Don't ya just love it when people don't 'get' music?? LVNUSA, I guess Battles are too difficult for you to understand.

[NTrams]

What Damon Che impression? Does the fact that he plays drums make him a Damon Che impersonator? I think not.

[priser24]

Come off it. That's ridiculous. Stanier is a badass drummer. He has a style completely different from Che, but he's nothing but fantastic.

[MmirrorismM]

Che is chaotic and John is just...John. He is nothing less than superb. Why are you so sheltered by music that has no creativity and no urge to do something different. Battles is something your closed minded mentality could wish it would grasp, but it doesn't or can't. So you leave negative comments to make yourself feel just. That's sad but i understand.

[Shnitzel]

ugh i hate these people who listen to bands such as battles to try and make out they have a much wider musical knowledge than everybody else. if you like battles, thats fair enough, and if you don't thats fair enough too, just listen to whatever you prefer

i hate the idea of people criticising other peoples music, i really do.

brilliant song anyway. id do anything to see these live, tij, atlas, race in and tonto would be mindmelting

[AtomoskPK]

Isn't Poison an EIGHTIES hair band? You know so much about music. :P

[alivewithpleasure]

That's hilarious stuff right there. John Stanier's drumming is the polar opposite of Damon Che's. Che is chaotic and explosive, Stanier is metronomic, concise, and subtle. As for your other comments, I don't think anyone knows what the F you are talking about (yourself included). Go practice guitar.

[Rae5000]

the muthafugging shit!

[ofenza]

Wow! First time I find a video of Battles playing live.Great performance. :D

[thefalloftroy24]

This is so good!

[mralbini]

these guys are awesome!

[grambino]

I want 6 min. of my life back !