A front row guy stands, mouth open, watching John Stanier’s drums in the middle of the stage. He turns his gaze on Dave Konopka’s effects, which he can control simultaneously while playing the bass, finally moving to Ian Williams and staring in awe while he divides himself among guitar, keyboards and loops. The stage’s a wild land of pedals and beer bottles, necessary to give relief from the hot temperature and the sweat, so physical and real that you can see it dropping on the instruments. Battles know how to play and there’s no denying it. Every time you attend a Battles’ gig you feel like you’re standing in front of an intense jam session in which everyone tirelessly proves his mastery with the instrument. Stanier’s drums are violent as to suggest that he’s the heart of the band: indeed, he conquered the middle place on stage, the one that’s usually property of the frontman. But if you dig deeper, you find out that a Battles concert is perfect in balance and complicity: each sound enters at the right time, in a rollercoaster of feelings.
We are at Meet Factory in Prague, the international art center founded by David Černý in the early 2000s. Černý is a local hero, he’s the author, among others, of a floating statue of a hand giving the finger on the Moldava river, a challenge to the corrupted politicians; of the climbing children statues on the Žižkov television tower; of a fountain depicting two peeing men in front of Kafka’s museum. Behind every corner, in Prague, you can bump in Černý’s work, so that this Factory comes as no surprise. To reach the Factory you’re going to need a little fantasy, since it seems to be placed in the middle of nowhere: reach the Smíchov district, outside the city center, then use Google Maps or just follow the lead of the youngsters. The Factory’s located right next to the railway, perfectly blended with the industrial feeling of the area. The exhibitions, performances, creative workshops, gigs and theatrical performances that enliven the place are a call for artists, but also hipsters and wannabes. Street art, painted walls and a lot of smokers (as smoke’s forbidden during concerts, wise choice yet unusual in Prague) will help your way to the entrance.
Battles’ gig is organized by Radio Wave, as part of Prague’s STIMUL Festival. Battles are presenting their new release La Di Da Di, whose art work cover competes in absurdity with Liars’ last album, Mess, and is equally perfect for t-shirt graphics. Four years after Gloss Drop, with its precious vocal cameo (Gary Numan and Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino), Battles are back on track and musical experimentation is still their strong suit after Tyondai Braxton parted from the band. Tracks like FF Bada, second single from La Di Da Di, sound intense and naked, an auditory avant-garde class. Battles’ math rock with an electronic dressing is thrilling and arousing.
The gig’s doesn’t last long but the musician’s performance is very physical and keeps the audience heated the whole time. People are dancing and moving and asking loudly for the old band’s classics. Battles answer with three gems that the audience recognizes immediately cheering. Futura and Ice Cream (from Gloss Drop) fill the hall with excitement but the true explosion is on Atlas, the classic tune from the band’s debut, Mirrored. “People won’t be people when they hear this sound” is one of the strongest auditory shock of our times, an ear-drilling mantra.
The location’s unconcerned beauty is the perfect frame for a perfect night. Meanwhile, we understood clearly that the new Battles’ album sounds divinely live, and it will be the autumn soundtrack in our earphones. First row guy knows what we mean.
Words: Giovanna Taverni
Photos: Federica Rinaldi
