Swans in “To be Kind: A Short Film”

A live showcase of uncompromising noise pioneers Swans, featuring an intense performance of ‘Oxygen’ by Michael Gira, as the band announce their biggest UK show to date at London’s Roundhouse.
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[@nem6952]

The acoustic version of Oxygen is not any less menacing than the album version

[@grippped1375]

to sing this song, your lungs need a lot of... OXYYYYGEEEEENNNNNNNN

[@lewismaddick1240]

Very good

[@willy1957]

Only two could do it, Mike Patton and Peter Hammill.

[@SaumBodhi]

AHHH LA LA LON LON LON LON LON LONNNN

[@woodge7]

or a lack of

[@emory0]

So the conclusion is that the success of Gira & Swans is purely a function of stubbornness: They just kept playing what they were going to play whether anyone showed up to watch or not, and eventually the rest of the world gave up and knew the Swans and their music weren't going away.

[@Sighbot]

Essentially, yes.

[@HiGlowie]

You hear that a lot with great artists. Most were just incredibly persistent people.

[@painovoimaton]

It also sounds pretty cool

[@daroachdoggjr7497]

yea basically

[@featherycoffee1401]

I can't believe I just called an album where an old man frantically screams ayayayayovig the album of the decade and still agree with it. Swans are just genius.

[@nobody845]

Michael Gira steals all the orange juice

[@BassRocker617]

my man's out here howling into the void and then coughing up cigar loogies on beat at 2:44, eternal reverence

[@Josuke126]

Absolutely incredible.

[@power823]

this is art and music, perfect

[@ewx2341]

Elston Cordner Music is an art.

[@paulsenkans3401]

Updated Howlin' Wolf for the 21st century! Good on you MG.

[@palkristjansson7517]

0:19 lolololol Anyway, greay version of Oxygen!

[@willy1957]

These recordings are on the Oxygen EP.

[@nowness]

ON REPLAY: Michael Gira’s intense, irrepressible Swans bit.ly/ZTTHSq

[@SirRunk666]

1:07 I understand it's most likely chewing gum, but I like to think Norman had just taken a bite out of a sandwich.

[@Based_Stuhlinger]

Joe Preston!

[@SirRunk666]

@@Based_Stuhlinger sup

[@DerHerrMitR]

Swans are aural blood magic.

[@da3m0nic_79]

Best description I’ve ever seen of the band

[@Fkdurecords]

Michael Gira, in Italian “ gira “is for spinning and he does and he does and he does...

[@JOE-nr4hi]

Swans are killer 100 💯

[@fredtiff1836]

Swans are awesome

[@10kCrows]

I'm in love

[@cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245]

Just got my ticket!! Sep. 7th Crescent Ballroom

[@alonzocalderon7987]

amazing, long live to the king and thanks for the traducción

[@willy1957]

In spirit close to Peter Hammill

[@estudiosfolkloreiberoamericano]

I can get it. That's pure magic e.e

[@rossmcdonnell7998]

Anyone know where to find that last acoustic performance of oxygen's video?

[@Sighbot]

Just look up "Oxygen Acoustic (Version)".

[@willy1957]

The Oxygen EP with the “ To Be Kind” 👶 cover like

[@willy1957]

Bandcamp have a Young God’s shop Carlin, in case you don’t know yet.

[@clumpter4534]

The milk of m Gira

[@ArmandsMovieIndustry]

Anyone know what chords he's playing in that acoustic version of "Oxygen"?

[@frband]

+ArmandsMovieIndustry Just play tritones you'll be fine!

[@zippycampbell5155]

Best ever !!

[@Caelumredding]

Does anyone know why they had 2 bass players?

[@ceannairereibiliunach8133]

Noise pioneers , god i hate that term ,Swans are a great band that can make a cacophony sound uplifting but to hone in on that aspect alone means you just don't 'get' them .

[@giosin8711]

+Brian Dempsey I agree. That term is silly. Swans are pushing the boundaries of music, musicianship, and art in many levels. They are not, under any circumstances, a "noise" band, they are a window to the endless territory of the meaningful experiences in life.

[@cct17]

Giovanni Sinistra Have you not heard Filth?

[@Sighbot]

A band isn't represented by a few albums they make, but rather their whole discography. Swans has an otherworldly sound, ranging from industrial and abrasive like Filth and Cop, to some more goth rock-like music from White Light From The Mouth of Infinity.

[@Hhuiza0]

Far from Pioneers in noise tho, Merzbow, Big Black, Sonic Youth, Einsturzende Neubauten all predated predated the Swans EP (Which is nothing impressive compared to other No-Wave bands and was not really noise) but the basis for noise rock where layed by the Velvet Vnderground and Lou Reed in the 60s 70s, made huge impact, but pioneer is disregarding the ones doing half a decade, a decade, even centuries if you boil it down to musique Concrete which is the root

[@spitgorge2021]

@@cct17 filth isnt noise rock, swans said so. filth is closest to no-wave, if anything

[@gooeyllewy3729]

anyone know the chord he's playing for oxygen lmao

[@TheCandyHole]

LMAO HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

[@coltonc8562]

Sounds like 2 chords. I'll try to figure it out later but no promises I'm not the best.

[@richardroberson2564]

I used to know how to play it. Mabye I can relearn it, its only 2 chords I remember.

[@clumpter4534]

@@richardroberson2564 did u remember it

[@sethswimmer4011]

What was that second song?

[@buckleygeneration]

She Loves Us.

[@alecisseri6502]

She loves us

[@patricktejadaadriazola4551]

+Michael Carpenter hola saben que concierto es? she love us concert??

[@richardroberson2564]

I gotta listen to that then

[@Bryan-ce6bo]

for my money it’s The Seer