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.

[@stolengun1]

Still one of the best bridges ever.

[@happyhellday3]

And one of most iconic choruses ever.

[@onepintmusic4946]

That's my favorite part

[@StuTheDon17]

Nothing beats a good bridge

[@ryanquigley3830]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@indiana3457]

Let's bring punk back

[@-GRAVESITE-]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@ibaldosid]

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

[@AAVVVAAADDAAAKAAADAVRAAA]

😣 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.

[@eighteen-naked-cowboys]

@@kme8134 keep telling yourself that 😂

[@clownshoes87]

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

[@OgSleep]

Ever

[@Musichitecture]

A band with no fucks to give. Love this!

[@blacklikethesun]

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

[@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? :)

[@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?

[@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.

[@RickThatcher]

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

[@nathanpreece]

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

[@allanfrew5045]

Quite simply the best performance I've ever seen.

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@joeylieder1879]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@jamesrendall7216]

Lol, he did a fucking push up

[@nicbongo]

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

[@harrisonsteudlein8537]

This song just hits different

[@TySnouffer]

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

[@basedsouljah]

24 years strong still my friend... Send transmission: 12 years later 😅

[@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

[@wasperminingco]

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

[@D0wNF4LLofficial]

It's the name of a space craft

[@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?

[@seanmurphy7452]

It's Jim holds the whole song together! Brilliant

[@fugamantew]

Only squares tell this to themselves...

[@andrewpolec.]

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

[@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

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

That dance he does before the bridge is phenomenal

[@rbarnett3200]

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

[@simonharding3109]

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

[@chicanapunkLA]

His voice is one of a kind

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

The drummer is NOT FUCKIN AROUND with them drums man.

[@angelbast3rd133]

He's severely underrated.

[@MsMiguel70]

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

[@ToxicDevil00]

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

[@ipleasenothing]

watching this when it first aired live legitimately changed my life

[@LucaFranzolini]

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

[@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.

[@conqueringviking]

Please do not ever delete this 🙏🏻

[@ronaldlatwis8714]

Ok 2024 is now and I still remember watching them David Letterman was the show back then. I was completely blown away by AtDi and fell in love w the band complete sonic masterpiece TO MY EARS! Just awesome to watch the furious attack and those guys were insane in the greatest way! Love this short lived band!!!

[@xLesPaulGibsonx]

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

[@galleryofrogues]

Travis Guidry I cant see him well enough to tell

[@owenbitowski7572]

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

[@tone-capture9292]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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!!!

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@JarrettErasmus]

one of the most exciting bands to ever come out

[@johnbabcock9766]

One of the greatest tv live appearances ever

[@meanmachine3453]

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

[@DrFaust-pr8vw]

The last "I WRITE TO REMEMBEEEEER" is the climax of the song, i wish he had done it here but i guess in a live situation you can only do but so much with your voice.

[@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

[@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

[@wasperminingco]

They are definitely sending transmissions through their one-armed scissors and drums.

[@VooDooChild1595]

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

[@WhatNotandWhatHaveYou]

Love the juxtaposition between Silence/muted language and regulation level language.

[@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.

[@charliesno]

This melted my face off. Again. Damnit, I had just gotten it back

[@stuartsaint4581]

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

[@BeginsWithTheEnd]

Apparently Letterman said to them after the performance, "Don't quit your day job, gentlemen."

[@nandojimenez1929]

pure energy.

[@Turncoat_Carl]

I would love to see this in HD.

[@GazmoSin1960s]

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

[@lsimmo78]

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

[@23jale]

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

[@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.

[@mradriankool]

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

[@MyeAlibi]

It's about the fucking energy and stage presence. Nobody had seen or heard anything like this on stage. They were a force of nature and regularly outperformed other "big acts" at music festivals. It's about two mediums for At The Drive-In; there's a studio medium and a live show medium. Two completely different experiences, but both equally awesome.

[@Justin-ct6gm]

Cocaine's a hell of a drug

[@engelillop]

rock's a hell of a drug

[@Elena-er7zp]

engelillop obviously not, if they need heroin, coke etc

[@borkel]

@SB Cedric's friends died because of drugs, he's against using drugs now

[@MrSnuffian]

SB no cause two went on to form Mars Volta while being sober the entire rest of their lives.

[@brettdonahue876]

They've stated that they made this music on exctasy and weed. The Mars Volta was coke fuelled. Now they are straight

[@zuzuminx]

i freaking love this video lololol

[@magnumhoff]

If you've not seen it, you also need to check out the insane performances (One Armed Scissor and Rolodex Propaganda) on the UK show, Later With Jools Holland. I believe it was their first ever UK tv appearance and the first time I ever heard them. It was an unholy racket and I was sold immediately.

[@williamphillips24]

I saw this and bought the CD the next day.

[@n5r15]

Never really got into this band but i fucked LOVE the Mars Volta.. That being said, the performance is HILARIOUS, lol. I mean what the fuck, did he do a fucking push up between lines at :40? hahaha. Although i'm probably alone in this and im sure i'll be flamed.

[@espn1234]

Haha glad you caught that! "Pucker up and kiss the asphalt now"

[@xBlackOut23]

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

[@Blueclues16]

Benjamin H does it make you feel nostalgic?

[@culisneis3]

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

[@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

[@angerysig1]

Welcome back, boys!

[@likemy]

excellent drumming

[@dravinovicenders4027]

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

[@kjtyus6535]

I loved this band and The Mars Volta

[@tomviolence56ll5]

These Guys Are Like The Doors: 1: The Singers Have The Same Hair Cut 2:They're Insane 3:They Do Drugs (99.9% Sure Of That)

[@Leoleoband]

naw, Jim Ward is straight edge. The rest of what you said is pretty spot on

[@zeitgeistdinahmoebwanafefe8721]

@@Leoleoband Cedric, Paul and Omar used opiates.

[@GreasyMcNasty]

They sobered up from drugs after joining Scientology. Then the quit that too (thank god). I still have respect for them for breaking free from both.

[@wespenn6139]

@@GreasyMcNasty they joined Scientology? What? I read something about a rape accusation from Cedric about his wife from someone in the church, but that's it.

[@michaelgraham9774]

@@Leoleoband Are you sure Jim is straight edge? I'm pretty sure I saw him drink a beer in another performance from these guys.

[@cordial]

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

[@murf1201]

imagine if these guys had of stayed together........

[@maddyodea3499]

there would be no mars volta..fuck that.

[@angel0pompin]

in fact, there r together now!

[@bearclaw10]

Maddy O'Dea volta was pretentious prog wank

[@rbrt.a7063]

@@bearclaw10 neh

[@dogdydod5247]

@@bearclaw10 strongely disagree

[@matthewryan9391]

Old boyz abound My heart swellzzz ❤❤❤❤

[@ewian]

M I N D - B L O W I N G

[@Blu_caller]

Still one of my top 5 all time

[@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.

[@zealot027]

Actually, ATDI just did a brief reunion tour (it was only like 6 shows or something) in 2012. They didn't really reform. Then, The Mars Volta did break up. So neither band is active at the moment. The members of ATDI are all still active, though, with ORL being in Bosnian Rainbows, Cedric doing his own project, and the other guys playing in Sparta.