[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpGp-22t0lU[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LLAN29W-4w[/youtube]

Ok - I don't get it.

What am I looking for here? Except for the fear of tight spaces angle, I don't get it.

Chapman Stick somewhere I didn't see?

Please explain.

Thanks.

I thought it would be good to share inspiration that doesn't necessarily contain Stick.

I saw the Battles live a couple years ago and found it inspiring to see two guitarists tapping in one hand and playing keys with the other. Parts of their two handed style seemed vaguely reminiscent of Discipline era King Crimson with an indie twist.

Ok - I can see that. Kind of visually interesting indeed. The vocal way is interesting to a point. That first video has a tight pocket to it, but I guess it would be easy to play all of that stuff in such tight quarters. Ok - thanks!

The vocals quickly become a catchy element after a few listens. They are tight live as well. I would like to see them with a Stick!

The whole genre of Math Rock seems to align with the agility the Free Hands technique offers.

Anyone else out there into the Battles, Don Caballero, Mercury Program, Aheulchatistas, Alog, Upsilon Acrux? If you know these artists, who else should I look into? Thanks.

Battles was my "big find" at the beginning of last year, and I find them to be very reminiscent of "Disicpline"-era King Crimson. In addition to tapping quite a bit (albeit on guitar), they also might be of interest to Stick players because of their masterful use of looping technology. Their style is built around this tech, and they really push it to its limits and beyond.

As far as other bands, check out Lite from Japan and the very underrated "Math Rock" band Rumah Sakit. Their self-titled first album is the one that got me into the genre in the first place.

Wow, very cool.
Thanks for posting!

It's just Battles, actually, no "The."

These guys were my big find of '07 -- it's basically prog for the indie rock kids, and much less bloated than your typical Mars Volta record. The singer is the son of free-jazz sax player Anthony Braxton, and both he and the other guitarist do a ton of tapping (albeit one-handed, leaving the other free to play keyboard lines or twist knobs on the pedals).

I didn't know the band name contains a "The". I thought it was just Battles.

[edit]...that's what I get for not reading all the way down the thread before posting... [/edit]

I've listened to the album Mirrored a couple of times, still trying to "get it" ... I've come close in a few places and intend to keep at it.
(I sought it out on the recommendation of cartoonist Jeph Jacques, creator of Questionable Content.

in the ecm parallel math universe is nik bartsch's ronin which i really like
anything w/ contra bass clarinet is almost required to rock

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GERwAQ9196k[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwFqjV3u5O8[/youtube]