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Battles @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - pics

Battles is an United States/American math rock band. Following a string of EPs, the band released their debut LP on the Warp Records label in February 2006. The album is a compilation of their increasingly hard-to-find early releases. The group’s lineup is composed of well-known musicians, including ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier, ex-Don Caballero guitarist Ian Williams, ex-Lynx guitarist Dave Konopka, and Tyondai Braxton (son of Avantgarde Jazz musician Anthony Braxton), who also plays guitar and keyboard and creates live voice samples.” [Wikipedia]

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Despite the band being from NYC, I saw Battles for the first time at Bowery Ballroom last night (April 3, 2007). I never really gave them a chance before – partly because the opportunity never really came up, and partly because I’d seen Tyondai solo a bunch of times and wasn’t really into what he was doing on the floor with all his contraptions…..BUT, that was then, and this is now, and lately I’ve been loving the new Battles record (most of it at least), and I really love their video for ‘Atlas’.

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

So I went to the show, and it was great. I didn’t like it as much as the guy next to me, or as much as the recent LCD Soundsystem or !!! shows, but it was up there in awesomeness. The sound wasn’t full or something, and Battles seem at times too jammy, unrehearsed, or jazzy, or something, but they was great nonetheless – especially when they played ‘Atlas‘ – Tyondai’s live vocals being a highlight there.

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

I would see them again, and look forward to whatever they do in the future. More pics below….

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

Battles @ Bowery Ballroom

“Video: Battles, ‘Atlas’ + Single Out Now!” [I Guess I’m Floating]

“And really, who needs between-song banter or ironic covers when your music is as tight, inventive, and technically accomplished as this?” [Pitchfork]

More music at their MySpace.

Previously
* Edward Droste plays Battles on Sirius
* Battles – 2007 Tour Dates + “Atlas” video
* Battles opening for Mission of Burma