Last night’s Battles show was sold out before the doors even opened, and there were a lot of bummed out kids who didn’t plan ahead sulking away from the will call window. Word of mouth must be working pretty well for the band; their last show in Seattle filled the Croc but wasn’t nearly as huge as their return at Neumos. Locals Bronze Fawn opened with their building, emotionally swollen instrumental rock a la Explosions In The Sky and the Mercury Program. They let the crowd know that one of their members was in Thailand (I assume a second guitarist), so we weren’t “getting the full Bronze Fawn experience.” The band had its moments, but I don’t have anything particularly positive or negative to say about them. They sounded like several bands I’m into (specifically Mercury Program), but weren’t able to keep me more interested than a conversation with visiting friends from out of town.

Pleasureboaters were an odd choice to open the show, but I was personally excited to see them for the first time as I have been really enjoying their debut album “Gross.” They’re dance music, but also punk, and their sound is completely abrasive. Overall I was a little disappointed with their outing. The vocals were too high in the mix, and were noticeably more shrill and out of key than on the album, losing the gritty quality I was used to and replacing it with high-pitched sass. This was their first show with albums available, and it was a big break to be playing for a sold-out Neumos crowd, but I don’t think they won over as many fans as they might have been able to. The main problem was that the band simply played for too long. If they would have chosen their best 7 or 8 songs and called it a night it would have left a much better impression than playing probably every song they’ve written. I know it’s hard when there’s a huge crowd watching to show restraint, but when you’re opening to a crowd who are dying see a band like Battles it’s always best to leave them wanting more, not wishing you’d wrap it up already.

News flash: Battles are still one of the best live bands in the world. The way the four of them read each other’s movements and play off each other’s parts is truly inspiring to watch. Their set wasn’t as solid as the one at the Croc; there were a few noticeable flub-ups and extra-long transitions that are inevitable for a band trying to weave together as many complicated parts as they are. Really though, unless you are intimately familiar with Battles songs and/or are watching their expressions and interactions closely it’s probably not likely anyone would notice. Stanier keeps the drums going steady as they work out the kinks, and then they transition seamlessly into a new song. It wasn’t as perfect as before, but that’s hardly a complaint. You can’t be bummed about a show being “merely amazing.”

I was on the floor by the stage, as close to guitarist Ian Williams as I could get so as to watch his magical hands. Unfortunately, the attention of myself and everyone in my close proximity was hijacked by some piece of shit kid who couldn’t handle his mushrooms storming around the floor headbutting people, stepping on everyone’s feet, and generally being a real fuck. It wasn’t until the band started playing “Tonto” that the drugged out idiot started really losing his shit, hands on his head like he was having a mental breakdown, knocking people around in a furor. A security guard came over, and with the help of several audience members pushing him from behind, dragged the asshole out of the pit. Everyone in the section threw up their hands, hi-fiving and cheering. It was like a malignant tumor had just been successfully removed from out collective body. For the rest of the show we were free to dance respectfully and devote our full attention to a band that deserves no distractions.