New! BLACK MIDI live at The Windmill 2019

BLACK MIDI stoked from their Schlagenheim album launch in Kingston play to a febrile crowd of friends and family at South London's The Windmill. Sound is removed from intro for copyright reasons. Skip to 1.30 for action!
Filmed by Lou Smith
Titles below kindly supplied by Soapy and
Edoardo Tampieri
1:35 953
6:33 Speedway
9:41 Near DT, MI
12:14 Of Shlagenheim (with extended intro and outro jam)
28:00 Years Ago
31:28 Ducter
37:50 Untitled
42:32 Talking Heads
45:06 Western
52:12 bmbmbm (with blues outro)
SCHLAGENHEIM out now on Rough Trade records, Produced by Speedy Wunderground's Dan Carey.
store.roughtra...
/ blackmidi

[@waxkevorkian7884]

Best country band ever

[@safari797]

Best country band ever

[@user-pz4um9hi1j]

Imagine it, taking copious amounts of pcp in gillies, but there is a troupe of experimenting rockers there, but M a t h

[@tyde4610]

Lofi hip hop beats to relax/study to

[@sicktomystomach]

For real shoota

[@thebige7302]

She stopped studying

[@Whattheheckdude02]

@@thebige7302 she stopped studying To move...she moved with a purpose

[@googoes]

“What tempo are we playing at.” “Yes.”

[@LouSmith]

You hum it son, We'll play it.

[@moka8267]

Rather "No"

[@BarronVonSchnoot]

This is a very funny observation. Did you invent this joke? It’s funny because the first quote asks for a response that requires a numeric value, and then the response is just “yes.” I would not have seen that coming.

[@googoes]

BarronVonSchnoot i didnt say i invented the joke, its just that i like the joke and when i have an opportunity, i will take the time to make the joke. If i credited myself with inventing the joke you should be mad

[@timvapid]

These are the children of 2012 /mu/

[@LouSmith]

They were practically born then. They must have been practicing during gestation.

[@LouSmith]

I reckon.

[@regu6681]

not at all. these guys definitely have a good taste in music.

[@birth0fserpents]

the hats really add to the whole experience

[@ShinyFlakesShinyFlakes]

It’s like they’re aliens from another planet who came to earth trying to fit in by thinking everyone here wears cowboy hats

[@24666dem]

psychesoulinthehole ...and the aliens made cowboy hats look so rad that all the people on earth actually did start wearing cowboy hats.

[@thisperson6708]

They’re like young Michael Giras

[@gabrielmarcal683]

this new city, this new townn

[@sidewalkfins]

thatsthepurposewhatapurposeohmygodwhatamagnificentpuuuuurpose

[@apothecurio]

They all have such an incredible internal metronome that they can stray so far from the main idea of a riff and come right back right when you thought they had lost the beat.

[@LouSmith]

Maybe they're a new breed, having had a couple of generations of digital precision incorporated into the DNA. The drummer sure helps stick it together.

[@lymntria]

Lou Smith i think you’re right. this is the forefront of new rock music being done in an unpretentious way like all good rock always has been.

[@schlagenheim]

I like how my favorite jam was put in Sugar/Tzu 26:37

[@sale9667]

44:03 when morgan comes in on a different beat than matt was expecting, cracks me up so much omd

[@ironicockxssleep64290]

His face was the most visible "huh ?" Ever 😭

[@jmckenzie962]

What's really amazing is that this kind of music would've been technically possible to make 50 years ago, like imagine Black Midi performing this set at Woodstock. Everyone would've absolutely lost their minds.

[@LouSmith]

They would’ve just stared!

[@hickorymccay2994]

Technically, it would. But nobody would be able to think of this stuff without things like Slint and King Crimson already existing.

[@Emerson9301]

two words: Sun Ra

[@ShinyFlakesShinyFlakes]

This drummer basically lays down the perfect canvas that these brilliant musicians are then able to paint upon

[@safari797]

This drummer basiclly lays down the perfect canvas that these brilliant musiciare then able to paint upon

[@FloydGoldkatz]

Ths drmmr bascall lys den t p.

[@tyde4610]

t d b l d t p c t t b m a t a t p u

[@BarronVonSchnoot]

I read this EXACT quote on a different Black Midi video.

[@LouSmith]

Must be true then. 😂

[@lucaslock]

I was there! I played on stage! Wow!!!

[@bestfullyy]

lmao

[@LouSmith]

Lucasmkv yeah! we got evidence.

[@FisTheEvil]

how tf did u even play upside down what the fuck were u doing

[@lucaslock]

@@FisTheEvil I'm left handed 😔

[@lunel2048]

yeah Lucas!! you're part of the legend now !!

[@calvjnroberts]

54:29 FIBONACCI SEQUENCE

[@kobeoverby3015]

Just about died laughing when I heard it

[@jazzblasterrr]

Around 13:00 is some of the craziest guitar virtuosity I’ve ever heard from such a noisey young band.

[@onegcds]

Yeah dude. That intro was sick!!

[@hex9318]

Most of the members were like 19 years old when the first album came out. Crazy.

[@ward958]

so many purposes, so many giras

[@babyonboardsk]

never listened to country before, I dig it

[@LouSmith]

There's always a way in.

[@terry10tnj]

I miss these days it feels like black midi went by so fast but to be honest I always got the feeling they weren’t going to be around very long. So blessed I got to see them when they came to Ohio two years ago. Love what greep is doing solo but I hope we see more from the others soon especially Morgan that man is probably the most talented drummer of his generation.

[@LouSmith]

It's good to show up, state your case, and then piss off. They definitely left their mark on the scene and on the future (present) of music.

[@user-yz1zj6fp6i]

the schlageheim jam in this is one of the best things i’ve ever heard

[@LouSmith]

Must've been still fresh!

[@daltonfitzpatrick7752]

So cool to hear John L in the early stages during the Shlagenheim jam. These guys have come such a long way already.

[@LouSmith]

💜💜💜

[@danielsmith1293]

A great young band, in particular the drummer.

[@LouSmith]

They're all pretty good. Morgan on drums is definitely next level. Been drumming since he was a tot.

[@okayokaynowkids7673]

Dam right , he is awesome

[@guiltyfeethavenorhythm]

​@LouSmith this ur definition of pretty good boss ?

[@guiltyfeethavenorhythm]

​@LouSmith then again if ure watching bands at the windmill every week there's gonna be high standards

[@LouSmith]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZCTZqSAicqBhKssi=mVPo6kK4g3W0QTvx

[@musicforthemassesok]

I see a lots of stupid comments about those guys and his performance, sound, hats, etc. The lp that's out now is amazing, its just will take four or five months and they will be everywhere. slint + talking heads + swans cosplay

[@LouSmith]

You saw them here first!

[@musicforthemassesok]

@@LouSmith ty for the video mate, greetings from argentina :)

[@LouSmith]

@@musicforthemassesok Glad to hear we have reach. De nada.

[@lukastaylor9544]

Hats

[@cactussmitho9875]

@@musicforthemassesok vamo Argentina

[@nediareyaprostovodospady]

They're so tight and so original. It seems that no one can quite pinpoint their sound.

[@LouSmith]

Just let it wash over you ...

[@bobisavov86]

28:46 my man here setting up his cymbals as we speak

[@LouSmith]

All in a day's work.

[@williamscerbo458]

this version of talking heads is godly

[@williamscerbo458]

also 30:38 epic gratata

[@megamatt1915]

They're so simple and complex at the same time. Love em

[@LouSmith]

Smashtime like all the best things.

[@rag4877]

Who knew a band featuring a cowboy, an australian outback guide, a regular guy and the best drummer of all time could make such great music

[@LouSmith]

It’s that regular guy. Just holding it all together.

[@rag4877]

@@LouSmith totally

[@Gollas4k]

the whole band is great but daaamn that drummer.... he's the one holding it together, irreplaceable, new age bonham

[@LouSmith]

I think they're all holding it together, except maybe for Matt at The Mercurys, but he is pretty exceptional.

[@sketchesforyou8020]

@@LouSmithMatt’s not all there, iykyk.

[@nolandolaher2817]

at 42:23 the tele guitarist sounds like he’s mimicking the smoke detector from Nathan For You. what an innovative sound

[@jandcstopmotion7774]

*blues smoke detector

[@Pretzels722]

They actually launched into a blues jam at the end the Absolute Mad Lads.

[@LouSmith]

Not for the first time!

[@lostuser1094]

Commentating to say I was here when these guys rule the world

[@LouSmith]

Noted! We'll let you know.

[@guycomments]

Geordie Greep simply is the best guitar player of our generation

[@LouSmith]

He's good.

[@gapthfc]

Why does the bassist sing in an american accent? (i guess it's too late to change it now)

[@LouSmith]

I see what you did there. It is very like a BCNR song. Is it? I know they're mates.

[@SanglierMort]

@@LouSmith immediatly thought of BCNR too! maybe a tribute to Slint.

[@LouSmith]

@@SanglierMort Yeah. Getting a load of Slint reference. BCNR are always at BM gigs and vice versa.

[@Jmd667]

BCNR fucking rock man ! So many great bands not the scene atm both them and Black Midi are the mutts nuts

[@georgesutton3870]

bridgers ref?

[@thomasspielhofer3229]

Just discovered this band via KEXP - been listening to their LP on repeat. Can't wait to see them live ... sound quality in this video fails to highlight their voices, but still love their energy.

[@jamesmckenney9517]

I love to imagine that trippy lady in the front row is the singers mom hahah

[@LouSmith]

James Mckenney imagine away!

[@lew6876]

26:37 Sugar/Tzu outro

[@drunk_wolfs]

Man i miss matt I hope hes doing alright

[@bananatarash3704]

Me tooo i hope well get to see of him one day again

[@drunk_wolfs]

@@bananatarash3704 hes playing for wu-lu now , a fantastic band

[@Itchigo2254]

their facial expressions are killing me af

[@Kuzo53]

this band is absolutely incredible. Discovered them yesterday and I can’t stop listening

[@LouSmith]

Curtis Young yeah. It seems a good many people are being captivated thus.

[@TheBlueKidBuu]

i wish Of Schlagenheim was that long on the album

[@LouSmith]

It's almost an epoch here.

[@LouSmith]

Unleashed!

[@lorenz0]

John L

[@jolielanning7419]

I like that watching this a year later I can tell that the improvised section before Years Ago is like the very baby version of John L

[@LouSmith]

It’s great to have the record of the birth of things. Nowadays they tend to ask me not to film😔

[@jeremyg7972]

@@LouSmith black midi does?

[@LouSmith]

@@jeremyg7972 Yup. Via management. Shame, given my connection from the get go, but there you have it.

[@jolielanning7419]

@@jeremyg7972 aw man, that sucks :(

[@LouSmith]

Pretty standard across bands tbh, but hey, glad to have been there at the start to document and share it. That’s what i love to do.

[@poopyjoe7883]

43:25 is probably my favorite moment of the whole show, geordie and cameron are so into the half time groove that morgan pulls outta nowhere (:

[@articunojay]

1:35 953 6:33 Speedway 9:41 Near DT, MI 12:14 Of Shlagenheim (with extended intro and outro jam) 28:00 Years Ago 31:28 Ducter 37:50 Untitled 42:32 Talking Heads 45:06 Western 52:12 bmbmbm (with blues outro)

[@LouSmith]

I just knew some kind soul would do the honours!

[@LouSmith]

@escapethemoon Thank you! Got there in the end.

[@bryantreed9147]

Goated live i fear

[@TheGov0712]

so glad the jam at 22:00 is a song now

[@LouSmith]

The same.

[@MarlauNezti]

3:28 i truly cant tell if that was suposed to happen

[@LouSmith]

Certainly sounds a bit random. Who even did it?

[@17groucho]

Best most refreshing band for ages. I salute you!

[@LouSmith]

Yay!

[@blip1906]

43:26 everyone smiling here is dope

[@zenbidwell6486]

Saw them last week at EartH in Hackney, absolutely out of this world live. Bumped into the lead vocalist at the start of the gig and he was really chill. Album is fantastic, best album of the year in my opinion. Definitely seeing them again soon.

[@LouSmith]

Serfs up! would give it a run for its money, also Musica Alla Putanesca, but it's definitely up there! They're so hot right now.

[@zenbidwell6486]

@@LouSmith I've not heard of that before, but might have to go and give it a listen

[@LouSmith]

@@zenbidwell6486 New Albums by FWF and Madonnatron ... Both blinders.

[@snowreliant6709]

this version of near dt mi live is the best one ive seen

[@LouSmith]

Good news.

[@guscrane1477]

Didn’t realize John L dates back this far

[@100crisps]

honestly, seems like they were just jamming right?

[@LouSmith]

Some jams are stickier than others.

[@Plastiquesmile01]

All it takes is this bunch of upstarts to wander in a throw everything in a pan and completely re-cook it all effortlessly. Yet I have the radio on and all I get shoved down my ears is the same old repeats. Good work Black Midi and others (vaguely) like you..

[@LouSmith]

Plastique Smile yup! They do get the odd radio play nowadays. Got superlatives thrown at them on round table recently.

[@Plastiquesmile01]

@@LouSmith Glad they do creep onto the radio. Everyone hypes unfortunately but you only know when you hear something for yourself. Good on 'em

[@LouSmith]

@@Plastiquesmile01 Yeah! but these guys aren't just hype. Their fans are super dedicated and their following from festivals growing exponentially. Their producer Dan Carey has been really hitting all the right acts just now.

[@Plastiquesmile01]

@@LouSmith I didn't mean they're hype. Was talking generally. Good to see something happen organically. The right way.

[@matthew7233]

love the track that Cam sings at 37:50!

[@200headshock5]

It's 7-eleven it's a single track not on the main album incase anyone is searching it

[@LouSmith]

@200headshock5 I'm sure they are.

[@asiago315]

love for the black's midi debut

[@LouSmith]

Always. Did you check the even earlier ones on my channel?

[@frankk5588]

44:10 HELLFIRE‼️‼️‼️‼️

[@LouSmith]

There it was, all along.

[@seanm241]

54:32 as well

[@edoardotampieri5828]

51:52Gordie ALMOST played the lick ahahah

[@hex9318]

what lick?

[@edoardotampieri5828]

@@hex9318 THE lick. look up "the lick compilation" and u'll get wat i mean after two clips lol

[@hex9318]

@@edoardotampieri5828 Oh thaaaat lick.

[@24666dem]

Bring on the noise. Bring on the funk.

[@LouSmith]

Yaow!

[@mattpatrick6555]

black midi, Shame, and Idles should tour together! Wow

[@LouSmith]

All good. Who would headline though? Back Midi and BCNR seem natural bedfellows to me.

[@wr9366]

Lou Smith idles would headline

[@tomwilko7841]

I caught on to ur channel because of fwf and I’m so glad i did, u put in work mate, many thx from an old northerner

[@LouSmith]

Yay! You're welcome buddy. I'm an old northerner myself!

[@-jessieh-]

this version of talking heads daaaamn

[@briangarcia8384]

that bass tone is niiiiice.

[@noahherrera39]

If anyone’s wondering, the untitled song at 37:50 is name Seven Eleven, or 7-Eleven

[@ecoterrorism_liker7251]

finally a live version of talking heads

[@LouSmith]

indo popstar happy to oblige!

[@vinkoska]

Look for Black Midi at Flesh & Bone Studio ;)

[@johnlongman6195]

59:20 the hardest yeeeehawwwww

[@tylerbosworth4513]

Could watch Morgan play drums all day, unreal technique

[@geromy3154]

that one lady in the crowd is proper vibing

[@LouSmith]

Haha yeah. Not always the case at BM gigs.

[@evantoal9949]

Dude that little break down in western

[@marcuswatt9727]

Ubu crossed with Sonny Sharrock. Amazing.

[@johnnyboy2k]

Respect to the fact that the lead vocalist is using a Sennheiser E945 mic.

[@lorenz0]

“schlagenheim such a weird frickin name for an album let me guess its gonna be wacky”

[@LouSmith]

Well you’ve had plenty of time to find out.

[@lorenz0]

@@LouSmithI was quoting the banter in the intro lol

[@LouSmith]

Well they would know. Either way, plenty of time has been had.

[@tannersundwall12]

God the fills around 49:15 are unreal

[@veerchasm1]

No MIDI cables on stage

[@LouSmith]

veerchasm1 none necessary!

[@mazinomer4231]

palm has copyrighted midi pickups on guitars xd

[@hchchc948]

The jam at 20:00 is my favorite thing ever. I wish they made a full studio recording of this instead of making it a small part of a different song

[@LouSmith]

🙏🤘🔥💜

[@christianhall2665]

Ikr it sounded like a mix between the John L breakdown and the ending of Sun/Tzu

[@carlrdbro1230]

amazing performance, can't wait to see bm at Roskilde

[@LouSmith]

It surely was. Have a great one.

[@Kuzo53]

really wanna hear a studio version of that untitled track

[@LouSmith]

Keep pushing ...

[@lachlanbremer4757]

Wait that sounded like jailbreak the Tesla at the start, or am I hearing things

[@coppellgirl]

I'm pretty sure it was haha

[@matt23012301]

it was jailbreak the tesla with one of their negative reviews over it

[@onegcds]

That transition to Speedway was tight!

[@LouSmith]

As a gnat's

[@daviedovey]

another great video, Lou, thanks for doing these, I've seen lots of good ones this year

[@LouSmith]

Thanks man. It's been a good year!

[@jamo6126]

No Reggae?? AAAAAAA

[@cellarofficial3744]

James Oxales personally I think it was their weakest track

[@everest88]

@@cellarofficial3744 HeCk no.

[@TheJohnGway]

I hope these guys make it to Toronto! Much love!

[@BestMaxScheffel]

November 8 at the Velvet Underground

[@TheJohnGway]

Max S. fuck I wish I saw yr post early they already sold out

[@DJTuna64]

I'm going to go see them in a couple weeks! I'm ready to have a great time

[@sebastianblanco482]

Hellfire

[@stanley_nakariakov]

historic

[@LouSmith]

💜💜💜

[@jeshjohnstone2109]

Thank you

[@LouSmith]

You're welcome.

[@nathandrums0]

I was expecting country... got something else entirely... not even disappointed in fact I hate country lol.

[@LouSmith]

NSF Drums haha! You were expecting country because of the hats? I think they picked them up at SXSW.

[@flesym8088]

Thanx Lou !

[@LouSmith]

Bat Mane you know I love to please.

[@LaGuerre19]

Imagine being there Jfc, TBE

[@LouSmith]

I was. 😉

[@uweroscher7126]

Captain Beefheart Spirit is back

[@mskcrc]

mom ODing on CBD oil at 3:08

[@LouSmith]

Haha! How did you know?

[@mskcrc]

@@LouSmith PTSD

[@LouSmith]

@@mskcrc Haha! you or her? or me?

[@user-gv8vv2id7t]

LOL

[@mskcrc]

@@LouSmith me... that was my mom once

[@LegPuppy]

Were you there Lou? Didn't see you. Obviously you were busy filming but thought I may have spotted you

[@LouSmith]

I must've been eh? Yeah, didn't see you either. Pretty much came, saw and went! saw good though!

[@LegPuppy]

@@LouSmith it was awesome. It's great to see them grow. I definitely think they are sounding more and more like the Pixies, which is awesome!

[@LouSmith]

@@LegPuppy They're killing it alright. The hype is real.

[@bernhardsart]

Love 'em!!!! Thanks for Posting!!!!

[@LouSmith]

Randolph Lautsch yeah! Thanks for commenting!

[@teeth3396]

Legendary shit

[@whatsyrcardnumba7061]

its like king crimson meets primus

[@schmuck-e7c]

They make me feel manic since Yank Crime

[@elfaminosas]

Come play to Indonesia

[@LouSmith]

Hold on to that dream.

[@lorenz0]

Yooooo John L after Of Schlagenheim

[@LouSmith]

If only we'd known.

[@hofmann161]

A band that can fucking do it

[@kipkasper1796]

Really bummed they didn’t play Reggae, one of my favourites off the album

[@LouSmith]

You can't please all the people all the time.

[@kipkasper1796]

Lou Smith very true, still a brilliant set none the less

[@LouSmith]

@@kipkasper1796 Yeah. I thought so,

[@ktakyon]

44:10 when geordie? release the single from HF now!

[@The1stMrJohn]

😱😵👍😀 fabulous 🎵🎸👏 ⭐💥

[@robothair]

great band, like Mädchen 84 with more chops and smoother skin

[@nicksimons7391]

lol were they playing jailbreak the tesla at the beginning ??

[@nicksimons7391]

Ethan Edwards that’s fucking legendary

[@LouSmith]

Nick Simons yeah! Video title: BLACK MIDI WINDMILL Copyrighted content: Jailbreak the Tesla Claimed by: UMG It'd be one thing if the claim had been black midi, but if all the ad revenue for it had gone to umg for the intro that would have seemed a bit unfair. It's getting harder to run a channel like this. Rough trade are pretty twitchy about content and would have blocked the whole video if they had seen revenue was going elsewhere. It means I don't get a penny for any of the meteoric number of hits for this vid. I get less money each month for exponentially increasing viewing stats due to cunning bots which identify content whilst the upload is 'processing' and monetise it for their master. 60k plus hits a month translates roughly to about a whole £20 if you're curious.

[@mazinomer4231]

yeah haha, i know a few of the boys have posted about injury reserve on their instagrams

[@LouSmith]

Mazin Omer boys will be boys.

[@dasdead]

proves how fucking sick black midi truly are