My first experience with Battles was little big planet a few years ago. I loved playing that game, but whenever the level with atlas was played I immediately would turn down the volume. My friend talked highly of battles, but I thought of them as pretentious and really weird. So a few years went by and no mention of battles had occurred in quite some time until Gloss Dropp finally came out. Another friend of mine told me that the member that sang on atlas (Tyondai) had left the group and they now had guest vocals on the new album. So I listened to Ice Cream and acted like it was okay, but in all actuality I was blown away. Never in my life had I heard such a unique sound that was completely original and innovative. So I gave them a second chance and decided to start from the EP's because I enjoy hearing how a bands sounds got started. I remember I was gardening and SZ2 started. I stopped what I was doing and just listened to the track. Then the drums came in and what I thought at the time was bass ( was actually keyboard) came in as well and I couldn't stop smiling. It was everything I wanted to hear in music. Somehow this band was able to achieve all of my music expectations and this was the same band that I use to bag on for years. From that point on I was completely hooked. A couple months later I was able to see them at the treasure island music festival. Without planning I decided to take a hit of LSD at the festival and was curious to see how my first experience with battles was going to be (especially with acid). I remember YACHT was putting away their equipment when I saw Dave, John, and Ian just chatting back stage and I got a sudden feeling of surrealism. I instinctively started yelling at Ian and after making an ass of myself by yelling at him, he noticed me and gave a grin and a wave. I felt so stoked to know that I was able to say hi and meanwhile all my friends were just laughing at how ridiculous I was being. Then naked and famous played on the opposite stage while battles setup and it was the longest 45 minutes ever. I just patiently waited front stage to see what kind of wonders battles was going to pull off. All i kept thinking was, Battles is going to blow everyone's minds so hard after this. Then it finally happened. Africastle begun. The sun had started to set and was now directly behind their stage. Dave strumming the intro, John on his knees waving the jingle bells around, and Ian non chanlantly playing the violin-esque riff. The waves from the bay of SF were crashing into the island and water droplets were flowing in the air. It's as if time had slowed down for just a brief moment and then, boom! John gets up and hits the floor tom. Dave busts out that sweet DL4 loop and switches to bass. Then the rest of africastle was truly amazing. I told Dave he rocked after the song and he looked and laughing said, thanks! After their breath taking set I was standing their in shock still when I saw that Ian was chilling right next to the stage talking to a lady and her kids. I immediately got excited and was about to run when I stopped and thought, wait a minute, I'm on acid and I'm about to Ian Williams, what the hell are you going to say to him. So I thought about it for a bit and then p