I saw Swans! 

he's mentioning To Be Kind over a year before it came out. Awesome.

When I saw Swans, I was right up front without earplugs. I seriously thought I lost my hearing and had to take a break outside for a few minutes. I told Gira after the show that this was probably the loudest experience of my life, and he said, "It's loud, but there's a lot of sounds in there"

And I saw Ducks!

I made the mistake of not wearing earplugs when I saw them in 2010. I couldn't stand for a day.

I'm seeing Swans in an hour and I'm excited/terrified.

For me, it was Sunn O))) in NYC at the Masonic Temple. Because it was in NYC, they pulled out ALL of their equipment, amps, cabinets. It was fucking insane. I was right in front and my glasses were shaking on my fucking face.

THEY INVITED ME!

Would love more live reviews.

You were directly next to me when I saw Swans at Toad's in CT. I recorded a lot of that set on my dslr. Youre unintentionally in a bunch of it.

Remember to wear your earplugs kids!

I've seen them twice. Once a in may 2011 and then last year, also in May. Both times really loud but last year's was extreme, very physical, and I was standing right the same spot I was in 2011, a couple feet away from stage. It lasted almost three hours (or so it seemed) and by the end I was drained, physically and mentally. It was during a festival and the beer I drank after the show was the best, most tasty, fucking beer I had the whole year.

I just saw them a couple of days ago. It's fucking incredible. My legs didn't work and I couldn't stop laughing afterwards. I got to shake Gira's hand as well, plus got the vinyl of to be kind signed by him

"There are millions and millions of stars..." after finishing To Be Kind and hearing the song that those words come from, I'm a bit worried about seeing them Tuesday.

Looking at the set list...only 2 songs form The Seer...the rest from To Be Kind (released 16 months after this show) I love this...not many bands do this...or can do this...they are always moving forward

Swans Ha! That's nothing, the other day I saw Swans, Ducks and geese and even saw a fish!

haven't made my list yet, but when i do, i'll be making a video. :-)

Saw them hundreds of years ago at the rat in Boston when they were filthy loud and damaged. That show hurt my chest. Then again in Austin prolly 96, met Michael through his sound man at liberty lunch.he was nice, quiet, friendly.they were quite musical and yet still strong. Thank you Swans.

Went 7 years ago to see them in a small venue. Wore earplugs and it still gave me tinnitus! Every time the band hit an accent it literally felt like someone punched me in the chest...simply amazing event. I have to wonder how those guys have any sense of hearing now.

i feel the show's loudness and room temperature are catalyst along with other things where the effect is best witnessed when one doesn't think, but only feels. Like that short moment you closed your eyes. I don't believe Gira's actions on stage are necessarily to be cool or something rehearsed or premeditated, but rather just movements that come with being the center of this force.

I saw Swans too.Even have a signed copy of The Great Annihilator by Michael Gira..That band was AWESOME !!

Caught them last week in London after missing their previous show here (huge mistake), I feel lucky to have caught them at this stage of their musical sound. Little Annie and Thurston Moore (who also kicked ass) supported them before, and Swans played a 2 1/2 hour set that consisted of 5 songs. Physically drained is EXACTLY the word, but almost a spiritual experience. Earplugs are suggested but I legitimately enjoyed the cacophonous moments more by taking them out. The sheer volume of the experience adds to the overall experience in a way that can't be put into words. Draining, uncomfortable, mantric, and worth it - basically, the underlying ethos I see in their latest studio output, coalesced into the live performance. The opener, 'The Knot', is a live-exclusive that essentially summarises Swans' entire sound into ~40 minutes of assault and wonder, and is one of the most incredible tracks I've heard from them.

i'll be trying to do as many as possible. i also mentioned yellow loveless in a quickie segment. :-)

Just watched their show this Monday in Moscow. It was LOUD - for about 1 day after I had a little annoying noise in my ears, but surprisingly during the show you just get adjusted to it and actually enjoy the loudness (no earplugs for me). But ears is one thing, the other thing is that you basically feel the sound with your body, with our internal organs, with your hair - the bass, the drums pummeling. Their music live is so physical - you don’t just hear the sound - you feel it.

OMFG I saw Swans last night in Montreal. TOTALLY BLEW MY FFFFFFFF SOCKS OFF. Those start stop tracks, at that volume, with that gear. Like Oxygen. Unbelievable. Really amazing experience.

I've been lucky enough to see Swans on numerous occasions! Never let a chance to see them get by you if you can as it's a pretty rare event. I think the BEST Swans show ever was actually when they were in the Angels of Light phase, back around 2000, I think. They we're playing in Tucson at the Hotel Congress, which at the time was still a pretty small venue. They were so tight that night. They practically overflowed the stage with all of their gear. Nuance was everything with AOL.

I saw swans...up on the banks.

I just saw them live last night. Two hour set, absurdly loud, never seen a show quite like it. Wouldn't have pegged Gira for being 70 based on how hard the band goes.

Saw them last night, and it was unbelievable. Unlike anything I've ever seen.

Cool story Anthony but I don’t think you going to the park and seeing some birds is really relevant to channel

seeing swans in one hour

WHAAAAAAAAAAA?

Saw Swans live in Liverpool and Manchester during Children of God loud and amazing. Great review btw.

I'm saving up what little I get to see these guys in September. You have NO idea how excited this makes me.

I saw Swans in August last year here in Berlin. I listened to some of their studio stuff before, and I liked it, but most of the time they don't really fit into how I perceive and enjoy music. Still, I knew I had to experience a live show from them. I was not disappointed. It was one of the best show I'd ever seen, despite not being too familiar with their music. They're going to come here again this year and I'll defnitetely be there.

Could never have the energy to do a whole tour of that. Night after night

I saw Swans on this most recent tour, before I'd actually heard The Seer. Was deaf in my right ear for three days. One of the best concerts I've ever been to.

*HUGS HUGS*

I got a photo with M Gira at a show. It felt kind of juvenile but whatever, hes a super genius.

Saw them yesterday for the first time in Montreal. First row, no earplugs, for more than two hours. My ears are still buzzing and I'm not sure when it'll go away, but damn. It was worth every second of it.

SWANS:WORST TO BEST SWANS:WORST TO BEST SWANS: WORST TO BEST SWANS: WORST TO BEST

Hopefully seeing them in May

And to know that I'll die without seeing them live...

LOL, what am I supposed to do? Jump up and down while screaming my name?

I saw ducks very cool

Coward was the absolute most heavy thing I've ever experienced in my life.

When I saw Swans in Buffalo, I actually met Thor Harris. He was one of the nicest, most humble people I've ever met. Really great guy.

"The fact that you're just getting pummeled and pummeled and pummeled ..." Sounds fun to me. :)

seein em may 17th in boston, i'll be bringing a box of earplugs for me, my pals, and anyone else i see bleeding from their ears

Funny, I saw them twice and I must say the best experience for me was when I did not were earplugs. Children of God tour.

yes, you're right!

Can you do some more show reviews?

Saw the live yesterday. Forgot my earplugs and didn't enjoy it as a result. Remember earplugs.

Some people say that Swans have gotten softer over the years; I can't say I was around when they started or anything, but when I went to see them a couple of years ago, I had to leave the concert hall. I really, really thought I was going to die. Something with the bass and the loudness of it all just made me really feel like I was going to throw up, and I was kind of losing sense of whether or not my heart was beating at all. It was really trippy. I probably woulda been OK dying then and there.

oh no!

In past shows they we known for being more atmospheric and intense- I have read commentary about how some seasoned metal head have said that it was very claustrophobic and the crowd reacted uniquely to that.

ticket to what?

seeing them tomorrow night. can't wait

I saw them in London, great show!

Saw them back in october. Absolutely breathtaking. Pretty much everyone was standing with their mouths ajar.

happy birthday, this video

I saw Swans recently, and hadn't heard them before. "Pummeling and abusive" are great words to describe their set. I enjoyed it, but honestly afterwards I felt like I had been brutally tortured by an evil warlock.

Foals - Holy Fire

were you there?

If there was an audio introduction of your voice describing what I was about to listen to, on every musical release, I would never listen to music.

Saw them this year for the first time too. AMAZING.

One of the few times a band dies a medley and it's a good idea and works. Usually I loathe medleys and they usually suck. Hats off to Swans for pulling it off.

I saw Swans live a year ago. So amazing.

Going to see them tonight in Budapest. First time, even though I've been a fan for 20 years. Very excited.

Anthony (and everybody else), wanna know how I call the middle part of The Seer (the track)? Evil Empire. Because when I hear it... I see red lava lakes... slaves hitting rocks with hammers... guards whipping them really hard... Devilish Caesar overlooking from a badass throne... Insane, and I love it!

When I saw Swans they played so loud that I got ill/almost fainted. Loudest concert I've ever been to and my fav. band is A Place To Bury Strangers :P Also, the show almost lasted 3 hours.

i saw them 2 months ago and thought it was one of the greatest live experiences in my life.

I was standing next to Roger Miller at this show, we were stage left next to the drums, behind the PA,out of the line of fire. it was pulverizing loud and Roger had a look of glee on his face,

Hmm... I'd love to go see them live but I'd also like to preserve my hearing. Do you think I'll get tinnitus even while earing earplugs?

I saw Swans in October last year and it was certainly the loudest concert I've ever been to. Actually, it was probably the loudest thing I've ever heard. I was a great show and I was beat up after it.

Saw them yesterday! Tried wearing earplugs but it seemed like I was missing the experience, the sound lacked impact. So I just took them off and decided to have my eardrums destroyed. It was worth it.

I saw Swans last year and it was the most overwhelming musical experience I've ever been a part of.

THANKS!

Anthony, what WAS the loudest show you've ever experienced?

I'll see them tomorrow night... very excited!

I saw them there on Wednesday! Totally incredible.

I saw them once in Vienna - they were amazing.

Seeing them in April. Can't wait

They're touring again in 2020!

+ theneedeledrop You made a great description of what one can experience at a Swans gig.With all those details about Michael Gira and band mates behavior on stage, their weird synergy and surrender to the flow of the track, with the hilarious sounscapes :)... My experience includes something quite unexpected on a emotional level that cannot be accurately described with words.With the sound level being so intense and aggressive at the end of the show something different happen : I had a sense of deep peace and connection with a what I felt like a indestructible part of me.Something similar to meditation.I went prepared for a extreme experience and got something quite different in the end.I guess it had something to do with the experimental approach that the band has on any other show, something unique and in the moment that they are trying to convey every time.To some it up, it was one of the best - or at least cathartic - experience that I had at a show.Any show. You are doing a great service to the band.Congrats!

i can see 'soundtracks for the blind' next to 'the seer'. what an incredible album!

I ve seen Swans twice in my life its the best thing ever happened to me. I didnt notice the volym to be unbearably high i wonder if there are some fucking regulations in europe so that they werent able to play as high as they would wish.I enjoyed a lot your video. Its not about the bunny though when it comes to Swans, you know.

I saw the man --- he was nice and we talked after the show --- It was meeting a hero an actual hero

That wasn't a keyboard, it was a xylophone played with a bow. It sounds amazing

Maybe I should bring some plugs too...ear and butt. Seeing them Step 11. I can't wait to see them again.

I also liked how Gira was doing a bit of dancing

Congratulations! I'm going to visit Swans show on the 18th of March.

I actually just got back from seeing Swans in Cleveland today. And holy shit, i cant even explain it, it was fucking awesome and intense and i need to see them again

I saw them last year, i couldn''t believe this legendary band was playing near my hometown. OMG! to me this was the loudest thing i have ever seen, like your were saying the soft/loud dynamic is kind of exhausting. They were doing a lot of The Seer, but in a different way, loved it though. Afterwards M Gira was to be found near the merchandise stand (wearing the white cowboyhead), totally relaxed, so cool!!! Go see them if you can, and yeah bring earplugs.

I saw them in dallas and was really blown away. "Coward" was probably my favorite track they played, but I everything else was fantastic as well. Also, did not wear earplugs and it felt amazing.

I was at the show as well. Actually looked for Anthony, but couldn't find him. Odd number of bald heads in the audience that night.

"BLASTING. BLASTING." Man, wish I could see these guys. I bet is was fucking great.

He did in fact change his mind, look up his list of best albums for 2012. Anthony, thanks for the earplugs advice, hopefully I'll get the chance to check it in Warsaw on March 16th :)

Yeah, The Great Annihilator is my favorite of theirs, but I really dig the new stuff. It's so rare to hear such a monster of album that shits on everything else from a guy who's old enough to be my grandpa.

Anthony- Loved this show. Wish I had known you were there (although I had a hunch it was one you would be scoping out)! Especially loved Gira's "throat-slicing-off-with-their-heads-action-speaking-in-tongues" passage about 2/3 of the way through "The Seer". It was definitely the loudest show I've ever been to, but I haven't had the privilege of seeing Sunn 0))) like yourself. 10/10 show in my opinion, a truly conscience-bending performance from one of the best live bands on the planet!