Battles - Futura live on Jimmy Fallon 16-06-2011

[ChildrenOfInfidelity]

Fuck, man, I had no idea they were on here.

[deathtothewhiners]

John Stanier is a robot...in the best sense of the word.

[BitchFunkband]

John Stanier smashes Questlove (Roots drummer) anyday but they are both incredible drummers

[lindemikko]

The Roots and Battles in the same building. Wow.

[slartibartfast8787]

That crash cymbal is SO FRIGGIN high up 0__e

[anickday]

@slartibartfast8787 Even his HiHat is really high up. It is almost at eye level with him.

[sparkles67]

@slartibartfast8787 i think john,(stanier) originally didnt want ANY cymbals in his playing, thats why he put the cymbal so high, so he wasnt tempted to hit it very often. they are VERY original!

[MotorStorm66]

@sparkles67 It's nothing to do with that, he said in an interview his cymbal is so high because him and thhe other Battles members thought it looked funny.

[sparkles67]

@MotorStorm66 wrong. Read his interview in Rhythm magazine (best drum magazine in the world, btw), he said EXACTLY that.

[boomboomsniffsniff]

I watched this when it came on. First time I ever heard the band. Even after the song was over, I heard the main little riff while the Roots were playing the exit music.

[Pensfan8726]

I go to the same high school that Ian Williams did. I feel so bad ass.

[muffinluver2973mex]

@NUKLEUSBENZ Tambien vas a ir???

[WhatsUpCock8D]

Need this in higher resolution.. 240p is MEH!

[Decardioide]

2:37 Ian Williams LIKE A BOSS

[j0sh1888]

So I guess I'm the one who has to say it. Why the fuck is that cymbal so damn high!?

[3Deelites]

@j0sh1888 I fully understand your question and don't blame you for asking..it is rather...rather weird...

[homsarfan24]

@j0sh1888 just because it's fun when it's up that high, and when he plays he's obviously into it. having it up there gives it that much more effect

[tehdoode]

@j0sh1888 It's actually to make it more difficult to reach so Stainer doesn't rely on it; he forces himself to do more creative things with his snare, hi-hat, and toms.

[NutterBuff]

LOVE THIS SONG!



[mattdammit]

CORRUPTED YOUTH!

[callimah]

The drummer looks like Shooter McGavin, big time

[sethsquatch420]

yeah! saw em last night and they sound just as good here except they was drinking beer the whole time when i saw em.

[TheJimmypage82]

awesome

[sooperheep]

booooooooooooring

[simulachra]

@sooperheep I imagine that in Homer Simpson's voice!

[Kelavmeister]

@sooperheep I'm sure everyone here values your opinion and you'll get many people agreeing with you... Oh, wait..

[minthirdwall]

i love the intro bt too bad its gone..

[michaeljackson407]

I had no idea real music could be promoted on a talk show. in the states!

[blocfoals]

I know Captain Keyboards (personal pet name) is very, very, very into his groove, but I can't help but smile at his weird semi-dancing. This song is incredible.

[TheJimmypage82]

I'm a huge BATTLES fan, I own all there albums and with the release of glossdrop I never listen to mirrored anymore, while I love Mirrored I very much prefer Glossdrop

[TheDirectRevleation]

@TheJimmypage82 I thought that Mirroed was a very strong album ans I thought it was a lot better than Gloss Drop however I also own copy myself as well

[keyehaw]

I've always been a fan of John Stanier. I like how he's in a situation that feels like more of a band than Helmet (as awesome as they were) did.

[lblitzer]

Come on, it's 2011, where is the HD?!

[tincan77]

i saw stanier in '92 when he was on tour with Helmet and i was a freshman in HS...

[subgrv27]

Who are these guys?

[TheJimmypage82]

@subgrv27 Battles!



[rock2dream]

I love that his crash cymbal is 5 feet above him.

[getyourzeeon]

Too much noodling for my liking, but John Stanier is cool....always liked Helmet.

[joones95]

This music is genius:)



[TheJimmypage82]

@joones95 I totally agree. absolute genius

[St1ff]

The drummer is so clean. Its awesome to see a grunge era drummer do something this great.

[sadiemellow]

Why is this sounding better live? i can't get tired of listening over and over damn it!

[coryleblanc]

lol the guy on the left plays his guitar for 20 seconds 0_o

[64now]

really cool

[MrCrim123]

I was really surprised at how fucking good they sounded live at Pitchfork. 

[Tralalala00]

John Stanier really is working.

[benjaminshinobi]

woooooooooooooooooooo I didn't realive this happened.

[Immoregangsterthan]

@Srose777 To second what Cloudface said it's also used as way to encourage him to use the kit itself more and not have to rely on cymbals padding out and carrying whatever he is playing. It's actually really fun to try if you have your own kit.

[TheJimmypage82]

2nd favorite track on the album after Sundome

[bransinanderson]

Stanier - He is the computer metronome. So Solid

[vaportrails44]

@bransinanderson That is due to his lifelong obsession with Neil Peart. I marched in drum corps (DCI) with John...he still to this day swears by the book of Rush and Neil Peart as his #1 influence.

[Srose777]

Anyone know why he keeps his cymbal so high?

[fragatahugo]

@Srose777 He said it start off as a joke

[Cloudface1]

@Srose777 From what I understand it's to remove the temptation to use it when it's unnecessary to do so. When he does use it it really hits home.

[theracoonofjake]

@Srose777 travis barker does too, i like it sometimes, but it's just preference. it's actually sort of fun, i might try it out again

[theracoonofjake]

@Srose777 oh shit, i just noticed his cymbal, i thought you were talking about high hat. lul that is fucked up

[wallsofink]

John Stanier- underrated..

[SexyJowdan]

Every time John Stanier hits that crash, I blow my load.

[bejAmir]

What. A. Band. this is just beautiful

[Markbelka]

Why is that crash all the way up there?

[NeonFoxLetsPlays]

@Markbelka because it can be.

[Stevelogical]

i frakkin love this group, but i think if the keyboardist would stand still he could stay a little more on beat. i find myself wondering why he can't stay on beat, then i see him dancing around for no reason.. just stand there and be on beat.. the other guys are like carrying him the whole time...

[Kelavmeister]

@Stevelogical Because he's having a fucking great time! What wrong with that? hahahah I saw them live, and just by the way he moves and reacts you can tell he's kinda uncoordinated, I would guess? He's always been like that, and I kinda like it. It makes it real.

[Stevelogical]

@Kelavmeister - I'm sorry I like people that try? I dunno... If you go watch Battles| Futura | A take away show.. you'll understand why I don't like the Jimmy Fallon version. My bad for having an ear for tempo..?

[Kelavmeister]

@Stevelogical okay? haha you don't have to apologize?? haha I was just giving an explanation for why he would be like that. I'm a percussionist, so even I can be nit-picky about being on beat, but I don't think he is that bad. Possibly at times, but also most of the stuff he does is just triggering samples which are always on beat. So maybe I think you're being too critical, but you know whatever... Also, you think he isn't trying??

[Stevelogical]

@Kelavmeister - Nah I never said anyone was wrong.. I was just stating the obvious.. If you compare this version to the "Battles| Futura| A take away show" You'll see the difference I'm talking about. I didn't mean he "isn't trying" even tho i said that.. I just meant I know he can do better because I've seen better before this performance? I guess.. :(

[Kelavmeister]

@Stevelogical oh sure totally haha.. So he's done better, is whachyer saying? Valid.. That's the challenging part about Battles is like a lot of their stuff relies so heavily on a loop or sample being on time, and they're recorded live so if Ian screws that up it kinda blows for everyone in the band! Or if he triggers a sample off beat that screws up a lot! haha

[wazzockGB]

@Stevelogical He's meant to be off-beat. Wise up.

[Stevelogical]

@wazzockGB - uh.. no he isn't? Wise up? haha.. You're funny. I've been dj'ing since 1997. I know what beats and temp are. But here's where you're really wrong.. go look up a better performance. Here let me give you an example Battles Futura Take Away Show. He did awesome in that one. Thanks for you're comment tho!

[RawImpactZz]

@Stevelogical lmfaooo....you think that a musician who is talented enough to be in such a band as this would be off beat on purpose, to play to this music as a drummer myself i know that it requires alot of skill and concentration, and him bobbing around off beat just makes it even more impressive, this guy and perform keyboard loops + quitar loops whilst moving around as he wishes, a true musician, i'd say hes just having fun and can you blame him?

[frodonator]

What's so mental about this is Stanier comes in on time with the loop not once, but TWICE without assistance.

[Stevelogical]

You guys have 3 days to watch this on Jimmy Fallons late night site on nbc.com to catch the best version!

[notmusics]

lol dat crash

[weirdretard23]

I totally thought I saw a UFO... but no, it's just his crash cymbal.

[JohnMan59]

I am old....and this is unreal.  This reminds me of old Zappa...(look it up kids!)

And THAT's a high hat!

[terraincognita2012]

Amazing! Can't wait to see them at the cap hill block party!

[FissureFilms]

John Stanier = Human Metronome 

[kyostimusic]

@FissureFilms no kidding

[silentjob]

@FissureFilms - Man Machine

[pilofree]

the "X people" 'jokes' are SO FUCKING LAME! SHUT THE FUCK UP!

[jsmythedw]

20 ppl = uncultured swine

[mortalkon]

20 people prefer Pasta

[VentcoreFrog]

@vorsybl That'd be Dave Konopka

[dgreinke]

I love how they mix their songs live!

[Rmac2007]

FYI for all you hipsters, that drumming technique is nothing new, Stanier was doing that 20 years ago in Helmet

[ob3ypr1mus]

@Rmac2007

stanier really didn't drum that way in helmet. mind you helmet was a metal band.

[salvadordalionfire]

@vorsybl Ian Williams is on keys. Check out an old Don Cab video to see Damon and Ian and in action.

[skate4life2022]

This was absolutely horrible...

[vorsybl]

Is it at least Ian Williams on bass?

[cha1tman]

the drummer effing kills it ! ! !

[vorsybl]

Is that Damon Che on drums?

[Zajcik]

@vorsybl No way, it's John Stanier.

[yomommaisme7]

i LOVE how god damn high up that symbal is. when he hits it it's like pimp slapin a naughty baby.

[kyostimusic]

I never thought I would see them on a late night talk show hah. Good. More people need to experience that of which is BATTLES!

[TheJimmypage82]

around 3:15 when john is drumming alone is AWESOME!!!!

[TheJimmypage82]

around 3:15 when its just John drumming is awesome!

[thomaskantor]

Gotta love Stanier's high hi-hat.

[TheJimmypage82]

that moment around 3:15 when its only John drumming is awesome!

[smokejc]

@TheJimmypage82 once was enough.

[TheJtronic]

16 people hate music.

[Zajcik]

@TheJtronic 16 people hate themselves.

[skulleton]

@Zajcik

2 people seek validation from strangers on youtube

[VentcoreFrog]

I love how every time Battles appears on some show, they're pretty divisive.  Also, I like how John impressed ?uestlove so much.

[TheJimmypage82]

this is AWESOME!!! "futura" 2nd favorite song on the album after "sundome"....This album has really grown on me, I prefer it to their first album "mirrored"....BATTLES KICKS ASS

[117badassbuddy]

I dont know who picks the bands to go on, but i'm gonna give the credit to fallon. he's got pretty good taste.

[pbloxam]

This is awful! At first I thought it was a joke. Then I realized it was not. Pure noise with a beat to it....Battle....Sounds about right! Musicians battling each other! LMAO!

[damianolek]

Battles Shreds ?

[pwnageprata]

people who think Battles is boring/uninteresting should check out the song Ice Cream (also off of Gloss Drop). a little more accessible

[Stevelogical]

If you're wondering why his cymbal is so high in the air.. that was a joke started by the drummer. If You're wondering why you don't like this and it bored you, it's because you need to be stimulated faster and more regularly.

If you love drum and bass, dubstep, or electro, and find yourself watching this, you already love it and understand why I'm even commenting. To hear the best version of futura, check fallons nbc.com site and FF to the band section in the next couple of days. Peace!

[hispaniccheese]

@Stevelogical Your comment makes me understand why i like this song so much.

[SportingSphere]

It's funny because in this context it seems very repetitive, but use it as a video game/movie soundtrack and it could really help to set a mood. I think we've just become accustomed to the verse/chorus/verse/chorus etc. system of music that we get shocked by this. Battles' use of percussion is kind of hypnotic.

[skatingfanman]

This is composed of drums, guitar, keyboard, and WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK!

[spacefaget]

@skatingfanman and loop pedals? what's so WTF about loop pedals?

[seifukusha]

@skatingfanman effects pedals, some great sounding ones

[ValJesternity]

@skatingfanman The Devil's Groove.

[Organicthought33]

this is just bad.

[FrEaK4877]

I'm with nonfamouswentz, I don't think this is very good.

[nonfamouswentz]

I don't see how this is entertaining in the least.

[Artacus]

Eh the music isn't to my taste, they might have a good show but this just bored the shit out of me.

[fin2limb]

This was awesome to watch. It's almost pushing the boundaries for television. 

[AuxilaryNinja]

Tyondai Braxton who?

[jokoboarder]

@AuxilaryNinja he got kicked or left or whatever, he was the guy that used the funky foot pedal heard in a lot of "mirrored"

[youthXattack]

@AuxilaryNinja yeah the new stuff is good and I still fucking love them but they will never be able to live up the mirrored era stuff it was too good

[Animagic4u]

I watched this on TV last night, it was awesome!

Minus the people in the background who couldn't decide whether to clap or not.