Battles Touring Japan, L.A.; You Got A Problem With That?
Plan to have band ride "Dr. Strangelove"-inspired bomb onstage scrapped; looked too gay

[Posted Tuesday, January 6th, 2004 06:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Whether they're taking it to the streets, dueling in elaborate aqua-tournaments deep beneath the mighty Atlantic, or floating far above the Earth in their anti-gravity deathbowl arena, one thing is made perfectly clear: Battles love battling. The band is comprised of Ian Williams, formerly of Storm & Stress and math-rock standards Don Caballero; John Stainer, formerly of Helmet and currently a member of Mike Patton's Tomahawk; experimental composer and all around stand-up guy Tyondai Braxton, and Dave Konopka of fellow Bostonites Lynx. WCW tag-teams don't got nothin' on these futuristic fighting machines!

If you haven't had the privilege of hearing Battles live, fear not-- the band has three separate releases planned for the coming year. The band is reportedly in the mixing process for all three: a single for Cold Sweat, an EP for Monitor, and a full-length debut for Dim Mak. Though specific dates of release are, at this point, mere speculation, the band's EP is set to be released in the frosty winter months of 2004. But I want it now!

In the meantime, the guys are embarking on a January wartour, encompassing the states of California and Japan. Battle onwards:

01-07 Tokyo, Japan - Shibuya Ax (w/ The Mars Volta)
01-10 Shinjuku, Japan - The Loft (w/ Enon)
01-11 Shinjuku, Japan - The Loft (w/ Pele, 54-71)
01-13 Kawasaki, Japan - Bottoms Up (w/ 54-71, Bandwagon)
01-15 Nagoya, Japan - Tokuzu (w/ Enon, 54-71)
01-16 Osaka, Japan - Firefly (w/ Pele, 54-71)
01-17 Kyoto, Japan - Metro (w/ Pele, 54-71)
01-19 Tokyo, Japan - TBA
01-21 Los Angeles, CA - The Derby
01-22 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
01-23 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo

Battles: http://www.bttls.com
Cold Sweat: http://www.coldsweatrecords.com
Monitor: http://www.monitorrecords.com
Dim Mak: http://www.dimmak.com