When I started listening to Battles around 2009 I had no idea they had been around so long. I felt cheated! I had missed out on their tours and everything. The reason I learned about them is because Thom Yorke (Radiohead) had playlisted Atlas at some DJ events he did. At first I thought it was too weird. I listened to Mirrored and thought it was way weird. And I couldn't get into the EPs. But Gloss Drop pulled me in. I think it is so brilliant, one of the best albums of 2011. After that I went back and listened to the earlier stuff with new ears and now I love it all.
I finally got to see Battles in Dallas, October 2011. I wish I had been able to see more concerts. I met Ian and Dave after the show. I asked Ian if he liked Stravinsky. He said "Sure I like whiskey." No, Stravinsky. I compared their music to the Rite of Spring when it first premiered. It was so revolutionary it caused the classical music fans in attendance to riot. I told him how I wish I'd found them sooner, but that Thom Yorke got me into them. He was surprised Thom was a fan. Then I met Dave. I was wearing my Radiohead tshirt and told him the same thing about Thom. Thom is such a fan I assumed they knew each other, but Dave had no idea about Thom's support of them! There was some teenager asking Dave to sign his teeth. Yep, his teeth. So Dave wrote BTTLS on his teeth with a sharpie. I got to talk to Dave for a while and he is so nice! I told him how I wish I'd found them sooner but still I am glad to get in on it relatively "early" (only their 2nd LP).
Well, how did you discover Battles? What did you think at first? Were you blown away or skeptical? Have you ever met the band?