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Battles

Rock

Battles Tickets

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About

BATTLES IN CONCERT:
 
Battles’ stunningly complex and undeniably fun experimental rock is just as cerebral as it is cathartic for audiences. Each member adds a necessary component to their joyfully adventurous sound in concert, starting with the chopped samples and grooving basslines of Dave Konopka. Ian Williams pulls double duty, tapping lightning fast licks on his guitar with one hand while hammering out insane synth runs with the other. While these two blast off into outer space, drummer Jon Stanier pounds out driving drum rhythms that are sure to get ticket buyers bouncing to the beat. As the band plows through mind-blowing favorites like “Ice Cream”, “Atlas”, and “The Yabba”, audience members won’t be able to resist Battles’ swirling sonic textures, hard-hitting rhythms, and mind-blowing instrumental prowess.
 
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
 
Featuring a veritable who’s-who of underground virtuosos, Battles has carved out a unique and adventurous space in the experimental rock scene. Drummer John Stanier (Helmet), guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams (Don Caballero), guitarist/bassist David Konopka (Lynx), and guitarist/composer Tyondai Braxton got together in 2002 to start Battles. After a couple of EPs, the quartet released their full-length debut Mirrored in 2007 to widespread acclaim thanks to their use of cutting-edge looping technology in a rock context. Just as the group was making a name for themselves, though, Braxton decided to split with the band in 2010 to focus on his goals as an avant-garde composer. The remaining three members soldiered on with the celebrated 2011 album Gloss Drop, focusing on instrumental rock while featuring guest vocalists like Gary Numan, Matias Aguayo, and Kazu Makino. The trio continues to thrill audiences at their amazingly energetic live shows and explore new sonic frontiers with their stellar recorded material, including 2015’s La Di Da Di.

Reviews

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 based on 26 reviews
  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    AWESOME!

    by BestBattlesFan on 5/31/16Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn

    These guys are awesome! Phenomenal musicians, extremely talented each of them. Brilliant! The timing is impeccable and, as far as I can tell, the performance was perfect. These guys are masters!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Battles!

    by Mattateus on 5/30/16Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn

    This band is excellent live. Its amazing they can pull off this kind of music, although they did have some hiccups as usual. This was may second time seeing them, and the sound was better than the first. Rather than highlighting blemishes, Battles shined! There's something about their shows, it feels like you are playing with them. I hope they put out another album!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    First time for venue/band and didn't disappoint

    by jdalberti on 10/19/15Masquerade - Atlanta

    This was my first show at Masquerade (recently moved to Atlanta) and the upstairs stage "Heaven" was spacious and comfortable. They even had chairs and tables back by the bar for while you waited. It was crowded but not pack so there was room to dance and have a good time. As for the band, I've enjoyed their music since Glass Drop and had recently picked up La Di Da Di but have never seen them live. I knew only having 3 members and all that musical looping there would be set up time to build each song. Only at the start of the show did you really get to see them create and build what would become their set list (or at least the start of it). Once the music started and we all caught up with what they had playing in their heads, you barely noticed when they were setting up new loops and transitioning into other songs. I was very impressed: to "know" what they do and see it live are two completely different things and I'm glad I got to experience the latter.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Amazing show! Audience should not clap along.

    by Jayztea on 10/3/15Paradise Rock Club - Boston

    Battles was one of the best shows I have seen in a long time. Please do not clap along. Their understanding of tempo is a lot better than yours. I don't care if you go to the top music school in the country.

  • Rating: 2 out of 5

    Just noise

    by juliocash on 12/6/11Webster Hall - New York

    Had really high hopes for this show, but it was borderline unlistenable. Tonto and Atlas rocked, but everything else was painful.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    by Caeson on 11/8/11Webster Hall - New York

    Intense performance. The drums took the show to the next level.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Best concert 2011

    by Ctfan999 on 11/3/11Webster Hall - New York

    Words can't describe the energy they produce on stage. If there is one band to see before you die, look no further.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    by iamkidsk on 11/3/11Webster Hall - New York

    The sound was pretty good. Battles were solid and Nisennenmondai really surprised me. I absolutely hated the people who instigated the mosh pits. Kinda ruined my listening experience, but that's people for you.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    by Anonymous on 11/3/11Webster Hall - New York

    Battles is always amazing and inspiring. Great crowd too.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Amazing music, super talented band...Battles!

    by Smkluck on 11/3/11Webster Hall - New York

    Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined 3 people could create such amazing sound with such basic instruments. They do what most DJ's only wish they could. Fantastic live show, one of the best I've ever seen.