At the Drive-In - "One-Armed Scissor" LIVE on the Late Show

lyrics:
Yes this is the campaign,
slithered entrails
in the cargo bay
Neutered is the vastness
Hallow vacuum check the
oxygen tanks.
They hibernate
but have they kissed the ground
pucker up and kiss the asphalt now
Tease this amputation
splintered larynx
it has access now
cut away, cut away
Send transmission
from the one-armed scissor
cut away, cut away
Banked on memory.
Mummified circuitry,
Skin graft, machinery,
Sputnik sickles found in the seats
Self-destruct sequence
this station is non-operational
Species growing
Bubbles in an IV loitering
Unknown origin
Is this the comfort of being afraid?
Solar eclipsed
Black out the vultures
as they wait
cut away, cut away
Send transmission
from the one-armed scissor
(cut away, cut away)
Dissect a trillion sighs away
Will you get this letter?
Jagged pulp sliced in my veins
I write to remember
Cause I'm a million miles away,
Will you get this letter?
Jagged pulp sliced in my veins
I write to remember...
I write to remember...
I write to remember...
cut away, cut away
Send transmission
from the one-armed scissor
cut away, cut away
(cut away cut away cut away cut away)

[@coreywest7237]

Weirdly one of the most coherent live versions of One armed scissor ever.

[@Gibble3226]

lmao

[@juliaanikowski6995]

😂

[@y_magaming9798]

I remember seeing these guys at a show out here on the Navajo reservation right before they blew up. My step dad used to play in a Navajo metal group that would play shows all over the state. We got to go every once in awhile. When they performed it was only about ten of us. I was about six or about to turn six. I just remember seeing them and even my step dad at the time was like "what the fuck was that?" I remember it so vividly. It snowed and we had been driving almost all day. I wanted to just stay in the room. So glad my mom made me go. I'll never forget that

[@ckaledin]

Loved this story, thank you for sharing! Huge wave of Indigenous Black Metal coming up on Bandcamp these days, the internet has definitely made it easier for bands on reservations to find wider audiences. Love to see it

[@jacedjohnson3541]

That’s a great memory to cherish

[@bertvsrob]

amazing

[@patrickfawbush9560]

1st time I saw them was right after In/Casio/Out came out. Hadn't heard the record yet. It was in some guys basement in Bloomington, Indiana, with about 20-30 people. To say I was blown away is a vast understatement.

[@MsMiguel70]

What a great tribute. I’m tearing up. Good job to all involved. Hard to top a story like that boss.

[@ryanquigley3830]

Cedric going airborne at 1:15 but you can only see his legs flailing lmao. Amazing

[@Tigerpuffer]

"Alright guys, we may never be on TV ever again... so let's go absolutely insane." Their music may not be terribly accessible for the mainstream (probably for the better), but that kind of fire and intensity will make a big impression on anybody.

[@aalexandromoreno]

+Tigerpuffer I think they're way more palatable than TMV.

[@oooooooooooo2332]

Tigerpuffer that'$ so true. This is what being a performer, artist and musician up in a stage is all about. And in first place this was a main ingredient in their recipe to be who they are today ☆☆☆☆☆☆ And it's also a point many bands forget to do. Its as important as making great sounds. Its not worth a band of super talented musicians that up in stage are just a rotten carcass with no emotion at all.

[@dinielonge]

Damn I thought im the one who writing this comment

[@mojopin70]

They were brilliant most exciting band i have heard in 20 years. Nothing around like this now.

[@TheENERDchi]

@@bowhunter6431 that's Cecrix's and Omar's band after ATDI broke up.

[@PuppyKnuckleAirsoft]

god damn... the audience must have been so mind fucked they didn't even know what was going on haha

[@RamonesFan201]

this is the beginning of Post Hardcore to a mainstream audience!

[@CarlosHernandez-vf3vt]

Lol seriously. They were probably like wtf 😳

[@longebane]

@@CarlosHernandez-vf3vt yeah. I love them and TMV, and also love the album version of this song. But if I were in that crowd, not knowing them, I'd absolutely also be thinking wtf? His singing is just so off-tune that the entire instrumentation is utter chaos. Sounds akin to a highschool garage band

[@lmwfy]

@@RamonesFan201 history in the making

[@usualdosage7287]

@@RamonesFan201 i think shudder to think and jawbox beat them to the punch with mtv 120 minutes

[@ibaldosid]

The VHS fuck up in this exists purely to remind me how fucking old I am

[@yourefriendlyneighborhoodbuddy]

😣 you cought that to

[@magemega4262]

Thought I was finally having a stroke.

[@Ruby-ev9ym]

For real I’m old as dirt

[@kme8134]

Beats being born into the age of tik tok and porn hub. We were the lucky ones haha.

[@stolengun1]

Still one of the best bridges ever.

[@happyhellday3]

And one of most iconic choruses ever.

[@onepintmusic4946]

That's my favorite part

[@7StringSlaughterNU]

Dudes, this is exactly what music needs to be doing right now...melting faces and changing lives.

[@arranod]

7StringSlaughter using you know instruments instead of a fucking computer and auto tune

[@jaynixon3129]

@@arranod Exactly, what I really admire about Cedric's voice is that it always seems a little bit flat or sharp on the notes that he's singing but he does it in a way that feels natural and adds a unique style to his sound as a vocalist, in the same way well known guitarists have their own developed sound. There are so many cookie cutter vocalists on talent shows that sound pleasant and can do smooth runs, but we forget them because they're not unique.

[@teeheebomb]

don’t worry bro i’m on it

[@telephonic]

Idles are the nearest thing to them.

[@jones848]

Let's bring punk back

[@SweatersDotCom]

I don't care if this is their "mainstream" song. It's just so damn good.

[@lerakxkorb]

the point is that theyre not mainstream

[@markboyd1696]

Dude I get what you're saying. Such a great band. When bands like this release something that might be considered catchy to the "mainstream," it's always joyfully left of center. I'm right there with you. I don't care if this is considered "mainstream" either. It's brilliant and it rocks.

[@KahurangiSteez]

@@markboyd1696 These days it's faded back into underground. That dude made this comment in like 2009, no one would call it mainstream today

[@iwillnevergetone5]

@@KahurangiSteez right. play this for a typical Top 40 music listener and they'll cover their ears and leave the room. we're still good w this one lol

[@GingerSinger248]

It was only mainstream because people listened to it. This song was not written for radio or mtv it just is that good.

[@-GRAVESITE-]

One of the few albums I don’t have to skip a song

[@allanfrew5045]

Quite simply the best performance I've ever seen.

[@manuam98]

If Zach de la Rocha and Robert Plant had a hyperactive child

[@Wisconsin222]

Hahaha it’s true

[@Ottavisrepairs]

Pretty accurate. And relevant. They don’t make them like this anymore

[@williamscandiavallejos9376]

jajajajajajaajjaaj

[@michaelgraham9774]

@Agus N Dude I love your comment. I honestly hate the boomer rock fandom. You'd think Angus Young's balls would get pretty stale after a while to them

[@dyr234]

and Ian mackaye is the uncle lol

[@fleekwoodmac3705]

I got my first guitar about four days later. I was like 16 and I had no clue you could do that. I was listening to Fat Wreck Chords stuff at the time (power chords/minimal effects.) I remember sitting there in my room with my little crt TV thinking ...... Holy shit. Still playing 21 years later. Have Omar to thank.

[@Musichitecture]

A band with no fucks to give. Love this!

[@420_investment_banker]

According to interviews with Cedric, after this performance David Lettermen told them 'don't quit your day job.' (source in the comments)

[@Croot_Music]

8-9 years later they're playing on his show as The Mars Volta. Fuck you Letterman

[@missgirl6439]

He's a showbiz guy. They don't care about heart or art.

[@Wien]

OldManMcScrotumFace I love at the drive in, and I love Letterman even more for that.

[@420_investment_banker]

The interviews are a bit tedious at the start because the guy talks for like 5 minutes by himself, but once it starts they're a good listen.

[@timothywilliams1115]

OldManMcScrotumFace why is everyone getting shitty at Letterman for not appreciating At The Drive In? he's like 70 years old! my grandfather was raised on Frank Sinatra i wouldn't expect him to rock out to this. but at least Letterman let them perform on his show. before anyone says anything, i know it would have been his producers booking it; but he would have enough pull to influence the musical guests if he truly had a problem with them booking non-mainstream acts.

[@clownshoes87]

One of the best live performances from any band on TV.

[@OgSleep]

Ever

[@thecoderofyoutube]

This might be greatest TV show sound mix I’ve ever heard. The drums are amazing.

[@GlennSyndallius]

Letterman actually always had insanely good mixes! I'm a Tom Waits fan (as well as ATDI!) , he did a performance of his song called "Make It Rain" , it was incredible. I have a feeling Paul Shafer was involved in deciding how to do many of the mixes, he's a musical genius that guy.

[@mattbroughton750]

The rhythm guitar was nowhere?

[@fav13andacdc]

I love how Omar's going insane for the first couple minutes and then at 1:26 his playing gets really tight. It just shows that he can actually play when he wants to.

[@nivagcomicsreviews7074]

Omar is a great guitar player. His shit Is insanely good and don't get me started on mars Volta he like Jimmy page on acid

[@superstimulatedminotaur3681]

@@nivagcomicsreviews7074 Sooo...Jimi Hendrix? :)

[@entertain7us148]

Just discovering this band now. Frontman is fucking brilliant.

[@jekylwhispy]

They're all great. Omar's guitar work is also so imaginative & more than competent. & some of their bass lines!

[@Andrew-on5do]

entertain7us14 I know your comment is 4 months old so if you already haven't check out the mars volta. Same frontman and guitarist.

[@searchanddestroy1417]

Hope you heard the the Mars Volta after this lol

[@mikeday1861]

@@searchanddestroy1417 Dont forget Sparta.

[@kiernanmooney6210]

lol Hell yeah, Cedric is great.

[@blacklikethesun]

The mixing was really decent here. Especially the vocals. Almost sounds like the album

[@pseudocaveman]

"Jagged pulp sliced in my veins, I write to remember... I'm a million miles away, will you get this letter?" I love that.

[@brianeps]

His lyrics are so awesome and thought provoking

[@harrisonsteudlein8537]

This song just hits different

[@RickThatcher]

Fuck I love this. They're all over the fucking place but the energy is insane.

[@TySnouffer]

Relationship of Command still slays me to this day . . .

[@HockeyPwnsBaseball]

The best performance of One Armed Scissor that I've seen. That was epic

[@SoCoTurbo]

Damn right!!! I was single when this comment was made, I'm now divorced!!! 😂

[@xshadowscreamx]

They really tried to hold it together for David lettermen.

[@kirad]

@@xshadowscreamx he still told them to not quit their day jobs after the show apparently

[@danielgalli6760]

best tv performance by far

[@thedefectivedetectiv]

The audio is pre-recorded like every television performance.

[@jamesrendall7216]

Lol, he did a fucking push up

[@nicbongo]

James R. Check out electric 6, the lead singer smashes them out lol

[@joeylieder1879]

That stage hasnt been the same since.....

[@360lgfx]

An explosion of talent, energy, and creativity! Clearly a band that was 5 years ahead of its time! If I had the opportunity to attend a live show of these guys, name your price for the ticket, don't care if I have to eat ramen for the next 2 months I would be there at that show in a heartbeat.

[@jerrygibbs2791]

Rock on the range 2016. Put your money where your mouth is.

[@elchucofried5683]

360lgfx may 6th of this year the tour starts in there home town

[@arranod]

360lgfx saw them open for Rage Against the Machine back in 99, was blown away by them

[@electricblanket1]

5 years??? you are a moron. This is one of my favorite bands but have you heard of Fugazi, Black Flack, Bad Brains... five years from what??? who is doing that 5 years later??? they are just great and maybe not expected. But who tha fuck was doing that 5years later, you sir a simple moron who knows nothing about music.

[@nathanpreece]

This is what live music and raw energy is all about. An energetic performance that somehow keeps the song's structure perfectly.

[@JasonTylerRicci]

There's something about this song that just stands out. I can't even explain it. I can listen to these guys and this track anywhere, any time

[@joshmartins560]

I saw them in 1999 at a radio station festival. Had no idea who they were. They came out and went totally INSANE!!! I was like "what the duck did I just watch" in a good way lol

[@neil12011]

No one in the Letterman audience escaped with their faces intact, for they had all been melted off, courtesy of the sonic assault from ATDI.

[@seanmurphy7452]

It's Jim holds the whole song together! Brilliant

[@andrewpolec.]

I so wish I could have seen this the night it aired on national television. Just jaw-droppingly raw and beautiful.

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

That dance he does before the bridge is phenomenal

[@tone-capture9292]

This is somehow hilarious and totally riveting at the same time.

[@Durfit]

Aaaannnnd, they're back! I've dreamed of this news for a long time...

[@cclbiah]

+Bryan Kral same buddy

[@skoopism]

+Bryan Kral Indeed... I do believe I shall be going to the Roundhouse show(tickets in post,apparently) :-) xxx

[@happyhellday3]

And now they're gone again :(

[@jiveassturkey8849]

Blasphemous that they came back without Jim Ward

[@chicanapunkLA]

His voice is one of a kind

[@Calicocutpants]

Tony really is the unsung hero of this band. Always keeping time through it all.

[@ipleasenothing]

watching this when it first aired live legitimately changed my life

[@jessiegarcia82]

I miss when rock n roll had balls

[@JarrettErasmus]

one of the most exciting bands to ever come out

[@S.P.E.A.R.]

The drummer is NOT FUCKIN AROUND with them drums man.

[@MsMiguel70]

So f’ing great. I hope Dave plays this once in a while

[@simonharding3109]

One of the absolute greatest performances I've ever seen!

[@rbarnett3200]

A brave soldier surrendered their job to invite ATDI to play live on in the late show. I love whoever did that.

[@owenbitowski7572]

Best live version of this song. Comes so close to falling apart but somehow manages to hold it together. Brilliantly chaotic

[@LucaFranzolini]

brutal performance and punk attitude. Very very nice 👍👍👍

[@VooDooChild1595]

I love Omar's stage presence here, man. Fuckin' chaotic and groovy.

[@jesusmendivil7196]

This song/performance must of scared all the old people that watched David letterman back in the day.

[@oldpantsnewjersey]

Nope.

[@neonmeate8180]

You're really overestimating both how original this music is and the average age of the Letterman viewer.

[@joetrosclair8434]

😂😂😂 Oh you children are precious sometimes

[@chainedriderlmt3796]

@Jay M Not all 'old' people who watched Letterman were cool back in the day.. you never know, all that great music could have just gone right over their heads. it would be interesting to find out the ratio to fucken square and turned on people in the Letterman audience.

[@imakuni67]

How about when Conan had Slipknot on?

[@johnbabcock9766]

One of the greatest tv live appearances ever

[@duncannortier7079]

THAT GUITAR TONE

[@XCenturionX]

+Disco Jesus The guitar tone: Like trillions of other bands we've heard in the past

[@mateus19_81]

its the regular tone, dude

[@duncannortier7079]

lol ok, you are all being quite the negative nancies. Am i not allowed to enjoy the tone? Yeah whatever its not unique but my comment was more to do with the iconic sound of the band and the place in which this tone thrives than its originality.God damn you're a rather dull lot.

[@XCenturionX]

+Disco Jesus And you call yourself Disco Jesus? Careful with the name calling there bruh, because you could earn one real quick! You could say their style, or the vibe is unique...yes I would agree, but the tone? No. Again, nothing unique or different in the guitar tones. Heard, and seen it all before unlike you who hears things from KZbin. I actually went out on tour with these type of bands

[@duncannortier7079]

Luis Rodriguez luv u too bae

[@meanmachine3453]

I love that Letterman had At the Drive In of all bands on his show

[@nandojimenez1929]

pure energy.

[@likemy]

excellent drumming

[@ToxicDevil00]

Probably the only performance they did on TV that didn't have them going apeshit

[@davidsnow6171]

is a one armed scissor just a knife???

[@afroinness]

+David Snow mind blown

[@elchucofried5683]

David Snow its a fucken samurai sword

[@shupamelapijaboludo]

is the fucking mix of vodka and redbull

[@jemimallah2591]

dont explain the joke dude

[@GeckoPixel]

It's a guitar. You send transmission though it.

[@xLesPaulGibsonx]

didn't realize vince vaughn was such a good bass player

[@galleryofrogues]

Travis Guidry I cant see him well enough to tell

[@krikeymate]

This appearance is how I came to know this band and I have been a big fan ever since as well as following Cedric & Omar through The Mars Volta. The energy in this performance is infectious. I was blown away and instantly hooked.

[@gordonchristophertubo3164]

Of all the tech we have now, I wonder why no one has gotten a 1080p of this very important piece of music history.

[@greatgabbay]

I always liked the mars volta soooo much more than at the drive in, but somehow at the drive in is growing on me to degrees i never imagined. Omar is a modern genuis. If you can ever see tmv live, do it, its worth every penny. I have yet to be sooo moved by an intro during a concert.

[@ghostpos]

yeah i love both

[@ed-od9sd]

note to every band that exists now : just follow half the intense they put out on a path

[@Deadpool-px2nm]

There's literally a whole genre of bands like this now... But to be fair, At The Drive In popularized the genre

[@xBlackOut23]

They were wayyy ahead of their time. Still listening to this day!

[@Blueclues16]

Benjamin H does it make you feel nostalgic?

[@23jale]

Now that's what you call a performance! Full on energy and emotion.

[@idiotsavant7276]

At the drive in was a perfect example of bands that wrote great music and then just threw words at the wall and the vocalist made it work because he or she was just that good.

[@unsunghalo9743]

Like Beck

[@unsunghalo9743]

Was at Emos Austin Tx good ole days

[@conqueringviking]

Please do not ever delete this 🙏🏻

[@lsimmo78]

Wow, what a performance. They stayed true to themselves and played with a passion rarely seen on television in contemporary times.

[@bobwalton4630]

reading a book called "Sell Out" about 90's and 00s punk and emo bands and their relationships with major labels. I am a huge music fan I don't know why this band passed me by. They are incredible

[@GazmoSin1960s]

Now this is how you rock a late night talk show. Or any show!

[@murrayisarobot]

Love how raw and raucous they were live. True punk rock fashion. Hopefully they definitely are reforming, and come over to the UK. They won't be the same as this, but it would be amazing to see them.

[@OgSleep]

Amazing performance now that energy!!! They put their soul into it

[@KimiMD]

In my top 5 favourite bands. First saw them on Jools Holland here in the UK and I was a techno lad at that time. They absolutely blew my mind and thought this is the greatest noise I'd heard in years.

[@joebynum7877]

One great band who eventually split into another two great bands... Sparta and The Mars Volta

[@thomasrainbow]

I could never get into either band at all. I think At The Drive-In was a flash in the pan. Once in a lifetime band. Relationship of Command is a near masterpiece.

[@piotrwowro5057]

@@thomasrainbow Im really not sure what it means to be "near masterpiece", its a masterpiece which grows on you as you let is speak, unique, i get a feeling of perfection from it. Im too really skeptical about checking out other bands because how fullfilling " ATDI work is

[@mradriankool]

A lot of oldies, thought 'ah just like back in the day of the MC5'

[@cordial]

This is so good even I don't even understand how good it is.

[@olrockoiprac3872]

Very good!! Agressive ,raw and powerful

[@jiveassturkey8849]

I love old You Tube comments, the ones from 10+ years ago. It’s like reading history.

[@wespenn6139]

Honestly dude! The fact that this performance was two decades ago is mind-boggling. One of these days we will become history- and ones like us will view our footsteps. Online- or through word of mouth. They will too.

[@paulerxx]

I forget where I read it but I remember seeing an article saying At The Drive-In would've been the Nirvana of post-hardcore/emo. If they just kept going for a few more years!!!

[@Bronk0Nagurski]

One of the best live performances ever...this seriously f###ing rocked!

[@williamphillips24]

I saw this and bought the CD the next day.

[@ohilikeyou]

I remember when these lads appeared on my tv screen. They were moving in a way I hadn't seen rock bands at the time move, their start stop rhythm had me suspended in air and then the chorus hits shooting my eyes wide open. The breakdown comes and I feel like floating in space and when the song ends I'm left trying to collect the pieces of myself and wondering what the hell just hit me.

[@angerysig1]

Welcome back, boys!

[@timkeane1409]

wow just amazing

[@matthewryan9391]

Old boyz abound My heart swellzzz ❤❤❤❤

[@stuartsaint4581]

The BBC version was incredible where they start tossing chairs up into the middle of their own stage.

[@culisneis3]

Still cant belive these guys came out of El Paso, TX.. Proud El Pasoan

[@Turncoat_Carl]

I would love to see this in HD.

[@BRDfrmthafiveotree]

thanks for putting this up you saved my day..this is a instant favorite i think ill watch it again

[@ThePromisedWLAN]

This was the 90s version of The Doors on the Ed Sullivan show.

[@dvrds]

This was in the year 2000

[@Somewondude]

@@dvrds lmao!

[@shagbeme]

Don't compare this trash to The Doors

[@Propagandhizer_07]

@@shagbeme ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)

[@f4lc0n15]

@@shagbeme shut the fuck up

[@davidR0WDIE]

At The Drive-In was everything that Mars Volta will never be. They were by far the most entertaining live band I have ever seen. This performance is very mild compared to a normal ATDI show. I have some small shows on tape. I'll upload them soon.

[@nwmstudios]

WOW!!!! That was insane, such an awesome performance for a TV Show.

[@christopherdougherty236]

These guys were awesome!!! This album was so different!!!

[@elissag3201]

2019 ✨💗🙂

[@dravinovicenders4027]

Lol all the old.people watching this live thinking wow at the drive in sounds like a nice relaxing band LMAO

[@remedyzskate]

Best late night drum sound ive ever heard.

[@mouldeck]

i have never seen this video without the mute moment @ 1:23 too bad, one of the best songs ever, and one of the best live performances i've seen

[@bobyqv2]

I'm a punk rocker who listens to strict NOFX, 88 fingers Louie, a wilhelm scream, afi, and other bands like that, and even I like this.

[@user-user-user-user.]

None of those bands you listed are really punk rock, bro. That’s like K-rock, radio friendly mush.

[@lifeandliberty0172]

Yeeaahhh....sorry, mate , but that's all shit.

[@architectureadventures300]

You're not punk dude, you're a teenage girl

[@happyguycol]

their actually quite docile in this vid compared to other live performances, lol

[@shawnjefferson1918]

I like how wild they perform!!! amazed

[@Leoleoband]

Yeah they get crazy live

[@Blu_caller]

Still one of my top 5 all time