Laptopbattle.org SF show review @ betterPropaganda

[Munch]

Being at the show I enjoyed both artists. Though I do not know about this approach of intense combat. Its a battle, not a war. Still, I'm sure the judges picked the artist they felt was the suitable winner based on the qulifications of the contest and not just based on musical preference. And likewise I'm sure the decision didnt come easy. So everyone should get off their high rocker and get on with their lives. It is done and there is not much anyone can do about it.

[terbo]

BATTLE. Atonal Non Sequiturs. Noisy Chaos. BATTLE.

The people in the laptop battle who go there- into the noise- ALSO are electronic beat music producers. Battle style has nothing to do with DJ or dance styles, we all do those too. They're not the same thing. I'm also in a rock band, we don't use turntables, we use guitars and real drums. Would you expect our rock band to play an hour long set non-stop over a 4 on the floor 909 sample at 120 bpm?

For example, Aneurysm has a new dance record coming out, and can play DJ sets or live PA sets in a bunch of styles, which he does regularly. He doesn't bring this shit to a BATTLE though.

I was getting paid to DJ dance music in a bar in the late 80s. I know how to beat match records. I released my first vinyl 12" in 1991. I released six albums of electronic music, much of it dance tracks. I've DJ'd on four continents, and was the first person to ever DJ at the Burning Man Festival, to an empty dusty playa on a Friday afternoon in 1992. And I've won two battle trophies.

I know that a battle is a BATTLE and not a disco or IDM lounge.

That being said, I'll probably bust out 'Saturday Night Fever' at the next battle; I had that ready in the laptop at Club Six.

[mutor]

To my esteemed adversary, mister terbo (who, along with me gets the prize for crappiest laptops there... a special mention category if there ever was one):

This wasn't ever positioned as a Noise Battle, but I was really glad to see you up there. Fact is, I was dreading a bunch of sleepy IDM with judges straining to determine which clicks and pops were best.

That wasn't the case, despite some ebb and flow there were periods of good energy from a variety of approaches. There was all sorts of stuff (aside from the Ableton monoculture). The diversity of it made it better. Some people didn't like the noisier stuff, while I got some boos for what I did. I ended up having a lot more respect for it over the course of the evening than when I got there. I also came to this wondering if I'd win a single round and took 2 with the third somewhat controversial (if it's gonna be judges, make it judges, if it's crowd, make it crowd... and if it's close 30 second sudden death rematches!).

I had a great time. They got a lot right... the format was cool. The no controllers idea was great (I'm addicted to my little knob boxes and numeric keypad...). The sound issues, well, those might have happened anywhere. Next time, better communication would be great (I didn't get confirmed till friday before the event... not leaving me a lot of time to plan the systematic destruction of sukka opponents). But I don't think I would have been in it if it was a "noise battle", and seeing different people interpret the rules differently was one of the most interesting things going on.

I learned a lot, had a good time, and would *totally* do it again. - andyw

[LordofMurder]

Damn Ted. I used to respect you. Then you take off your two time noise champion mask and reveal nothing but a bitter washed-up player hating bitch.

So, bitch. You best stop wasting your time writing reviews, and working on your software and get in the lab, take a couple of drops, and try to figure out why your shit didn't ever get the honor of being second.

Then you come out and say "it's all good". Man, I like your shit, and who knows, maybe some day, under the right standards you could beat someone like TMach- You mother fucking Clubber Lang ass hippie.

You gotta realize that you are an entertainer, and when I watched the guy who's going to Seattle play, he was performing.

I was glad that I got to hear so many players do their shit last month. But you motherfucker, are the only one who lost. And all your words and retractions ain't gonna fill up that space where your ego used to live henhouse.

[LordofMurder]

By the way. My name is Brandon, and you know who I am Ted.

[terbo]

I find it very interesting that a number of people in this forum continue to wrongly believe and insist that I wasn't playing live at the battles; perhaps I erred in not explaining my techniques for educational purposes before the battle, I should have considered that I was in an event with novice competitors and novice officials, my bad.

I've uploaded the interactive piece I created specifically for the SF laptop battle, it's 60 megs, macintosh format. I encourage all audio combat artists to make their own interfaces for their battles.

www.terboted.com/mac/Terbo_laptopbattle2004.sea

I have never at any time used, endorsed, been sponsored by or otherwise been affiliated with ABLETON LIVE brand software in any way, shape or form and have no plans to do so at any time in the future.

Brandon- great hearing from you, you're always a very welcome guest in our space. We'll probably both be working as MCs or officials on some battle tour someday, eh. Next time you visit, we'll talk shop. And it's awesome that your brother got to win his first battle. There will be more.

[LordofMurder]

Doubtful that I'll ever MC a battle mate. You live with some of the coolest people I know, but if I ever wanna do anything at 'your' space, you won't be the guy I'll talk to. And if you are, I'll just skip the whole thing. As far as talking shop...what am I going to ask you, how to allow my ego to destroy my integrity and diminsh my achievements?

I find it very funny that you haven't realized that the problem ain't with whatever fucking software you used to make you attempt at winning the battle.

Like the other compeditors couldn't have programmed something 'hardcore' as you seem to think that your shit is. Twittering Machine has toured with and been part of a noise band for the past five years, and I'm sure he'd be glad to teach you a thing or two, because frankly your shit is pretty much just loud. You've probably never heard that because most people with any dignity save their negative opinions of their artistic peers for themselves, and don't go dissing people on public forums because they couldn't survive in a BATTLE environment.

Bitch, fact. That was not a noise battle. It was a laptop battle. In NYC I used to go to a lot of MC Battles. There was no noise played there despite the fact that 'battle' appeared in the promotion. Mostly though I saw talented artists get up, compete, lose, and give props to the people who beat them.

It's called honor, a very antiquated concept. Goes back to among other things Bushido, the way of the warrior. The code is 'live to die'. You were living to win. All you talked to me about before the battle was how you were the two time champion of some other battles. You were cut down by a swordsmen younger, and less experienced, though seemingly more passionate and hungry. And when you died you pissed, shat, and cried like a bitch. And had the nerve to diss, and continue to diss an very cool event, just because you are no longer a part of it.

I find it very fucking pathetic that your atrophied ego needs to insist that you were the superstar bogged down by amatuer competition. Does that include the seriously enjoyable barrage that Anurysm put up? Or Duran Duran Duran?

I want you to reread your posts here, and look at them from the third person. What the fuck do you think people are going to say to you? Are you honestly that fucking blinded by your own radiance? What does Burning Man have to do with any of this? Or the continents you've DJ'd on? Or the the fact that you were paid to play records in bars in the 80's?

Nothing at all. You are like all the other ego maniacs who spoil (or attempt to) spoil good things. You're attitude is virulent, and must be erradicated. Please just stop.

[terbo]

well, if i am to be eradicated, come get me mutherfucker, because you know where i live.

and that gig was hella weak, duran duran duran called it his 'worst gig ever' and he got second place. (he had his picture taken with his 'prizes' and then they were taken away from him!). aneurysm was not pleased with it either ('qualificationless officials' was his quote), he's won one of these events before and had his volume cut and timeslot cut short while he was performing by one of the organizers in the round he lost, not cool. both those guys were a whole league better than Tmachine. most everyone had left by the time the final went down, hella sad, the show should have peaked for the final.

i'm mostly interested in using this opportunity to teach others about battling, so we don't have to waste our time or endure disappointing weak newbie events like this in the future. i have a tremendous interest in battles continuing. i'm not going to sit idly by while people who've never been to a laptop battle complain about the event being too loud (it wasn't) or the crowds too raucous (they weren't), or that folks like myself weren't playing live (i was). some of us have done this before; one new first time winner in their first ever battle from one event in a new circuit will not redefine a movement we've already been working on for the past years. don't expect me to roll over and be silent in the face of someone's unreleasable IDM techno tracks being awarded first place at a laptop battle where any form of music was allowed in the rules.

i don't mind being dissed, it's all part of it, i expect it. and everyone should expect me to diss them back, even when i win. ever watch pro wresting on the tv? there's no room for gracious winners. i'm yelling and screaming at the audience at every battle, victory or not. and i'm yelling and screaming here. and people are hearing it.

[LordofMurder]

Main Entry: hu·bris
Pronunciation: 'hyü-br&s
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek hybris
: exaggerated pride or self-confidence
- hu·bris·tic /hyü-'bris-tik/ adjective

Main Entry: pa·thet·ic
Pronunciation: p&-'the-tik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French pathetique, from Late Latin patheticus, from Greek pathEtikos capable of feeling, pathetic, from paschein (aorist pathein) to experience, suffer -- more at PATHOS
1 : having a capacity to move one to either compassionate or contemptuous pity
2 : marked by sorrow or melancholy : SAD
synonym see MOVING
- pa·thet·i·cal /-ti-k&l/ adjective
- pa·thet·i·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb

Main Entry: soph·ist
Pronunciation: 'sä-fist
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin sophista, from Greek sophistEs, literally, expert, wise man, from sophizesthai to become wise, deceive, from sophos clever, wise
1 : a captious or fallacious reasoner

Main Entry: 1bitch
Pronunciation: 'bich
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English bicche, from Old English bicce
1 : the female of the dog or some other carnivorous mammals
2 a : a lewd or immoral woman b : a malicious, spiteful, or domineering woman -- sometimes used as a generalized term of abuse
3 : something that is highly objectionable or unpleasant
4 : COMPLAINT




You my friend are a poster child for ecstacy abuse. Rave on Ted. Rave on.