Tortoise - Swung From The Gutters - Don't Look Down

Our rooftop performance series hosts Chicago post-rock stalwarts Tortoise, who offer a batch of intricate instrumentals both old and new.
Directed and Produced by RJ Bentler
Director of Photography: Mark Zemel
Sound Engineer: Jeff Curtin
Graphics: Dan Provost
Production Assistants: Vincent Divito, Evan Coppotelli, Chris Person, Greg Finch
B-Roll: Mauricio Leiva, Will Colby
SUBSCRIBE to Pitchfork.tv: bit.ly/yK2Fbp
------
Follow Pitchfork.tv on Twitter: bit.ly/KJ2PhP
------
For more videos from Pitchfork TV: bit.ly/M1lvs8
Like Pitchfork on Facebook: / pitchforkmedia
Check out Pitchfork on Tumblr: / pitchfork

[@ervinisimo]

One of the most underrated bands in the last 25 years

[@BNHSM]

Not at all, I mean yeah among average people, but those who really understand music we all know em. They literally reassigned the post rock genre

[@peterphilip]

1,000% TNT is a classic.

[@anglinoutdoors3544]

Ever...

[@RealFrankZappa]

Most underated comment in the last 5 years 🙏🏻💪🏻🍻

[@JOEYNOSEBEATS]

One of the coolest bands of all time

[@ld111134]

Jeff Parker and John Herndon, with bassist Nate McBride, played our wedding celebration in July 2011

[@adriencolle6399]

Lucky dude!

[@mot00rzysta]

awesome ! hope your marriage is still intact :)

[@NOWtheband]

That's nice 4 U's.

[@schore69]

i hope you made them play the most uninspired and generic set of cover songs for a wedding... you know, just for the lols.

[@iancontreras7688]

Gosh, this is freaking fantastic. Incredible musicians, like seriously. So damn loose, yet right in the pocket.

[@aakkoin]

amazing instrumental song

[@karolchmielewski9401]

*amazing song

[@robotsongs]

* amazing album.
If anybody here has NOT listened to TNT, y'all are doing yourselves a disservice.

[@garrettgeisendorfer2456]

Drums are so clean!

[@samuelcarstens6152]

This song has so much range it can relax me into slumber or keep me awake depending on the situation.

[@andrewmaynard5198]

This is where jazz should be today.

[@cymbolic_space1832]

go check out brian blade and the fellowship band, phronesis, and the bad plus good friend, jazz is doing some neat things haha

[@raphixx92]

This song is incredibly good live.

[@eirikdentz]

Holee shiiiite. Those dueling drums!

[@Marcelrocha884]

Oh, they are so immensely great!!!

[@timneave3240]

This is bloomin' lovely. Tortoise and some nice 'planes too....

[@fataodisco]

Great musicians! Great music!

[@thespungolator3421]

an airplane passes silently overhead

[@Davisolved]

the streetlights…

[@oldjoants]

Title of upcoming Tortoise track

[@tabe8850]

Airplane wanted to hear awesome.

[@hammettfcb]

Great band.

[@TheEpicImpaler]

Can anyone here tell me why this band isn't bigger than Sigur Ros, Mogwai and God is an Astronaut?

[@Joey29455]

Raul Mejia And Tortoise isn't really active anymore... no album for 6 years.. no touring etc..

[@obsession5534]

Raul Mejia Tortoise is much more experimental

[@zdgSRghE]

***** I'd say GY!BE is more experimental and they are one of the most popular post-rock bands.

[@obsession5534]

good point

[@thedayofthedog6477]

Because most people don't appreciate subtlety and nuance. Don't get me wrong, I love those other bands as well. But that's the reason in my opinion. The magic of Tortoise is usually under the surface and who has time to meet the artist halfway anymore?

[@donshamblin55]

This audio is spot on 😈

[@xiayu27]

I'm sure that whoever gives this a thumb down liked it so much it hurt.

[@TheMrAndovas]

Badass!!

[@TaddeoZacchini]

Always the best.

[@melonn.208]

ずっと好き。
屋上で演るだけで、それだけで良さが増します。

[@arleyrojas-musico]

Fantastic!

[@CoriDimi]

great!!!

[@AdityaChatterjee42]

this is what I imagine being an avocado sounds like

[@wp6007]

hahaha so random

[@Claytone-Records]

Golden Green things browning in the solarium.

[@streethalo]

yes

[@arcon178]

Funny, yet feels so true.

[@trapezoidspangle934]

Reminds me of early Santana. Caravanserai is a great album. Particularly for its time.

[@moustachesteph]

vraiment les meilleurs.

[@AntonDoesMusic]

7:22 there's more I could say about this song and video, but that's a pretty unique cymbal stand attachment for his ride.

[@onowonow]

aw just fucking yes

[@thenoiboi]

that is a criminally low view count (as is the case for every tortoise video, i suppose).

[@FrankBittom1]

Que buen Sol !

[@salamanderslacks6927]

Ay Caramba

[@cymbolic_space1832]

this is some of the best live tortoise footage ever. even better than the video of the one trying to fornicate with a sneaker.

[@maxepstein9094]

too much sky!
too much birds!

[@robot.kareem]

it's post rockish

[@thenowhere4882]

,not enough

[@aletgp]

anyone know what is that crash?

[@iChoricci]

THANK YOU, BETTINA ⚡️⚔️⛓✌🏼❤️⛓⚔️⚡️

[@otherthings]

Or Mahavishnu Orchestra. Either way, it's damn good.

[@narbodiople]

name of the credits song?

[@AlvaroHermoso]

Gigantes

[@mariorossi4149]

Who is the drummer in white shirt?

[@herochki]

John Herndon

[@darlenawojcik2150]

With this song I feel I just robbed a bank but am on foot.. I might could just blend into the crowd if I can just be noncalont enough,, but still extremely pressured af.

[@Ponchy]

maybe it's just me but come on... the birds and the plane? during the best parts too.

[@twiguydk]

I totally agree! It's like the ultimate resolution to that part of the music, comes up exactly thrice, and just when I want to see Jeff Parker stick that riff... birds?!!!

[@thenowhere4882]

It's a pretty sweet juxtaposition, but maybe that's just me.

[@vincecu4403]

and Does anybody knows where this was recorded? like what city?

[@cymbolic_space1832]

Bangalore North Carolina

[@dylansmith3904]

Fairly sure these don’t look down segments were filmed in NYC

[@jeffcurtin6185]

141 Spencer St. Brooklyn NY on 5/31/09

[@karson0000]

Drummer in the white shirt looks like Ringo Starr

[@matycee]

Not entirely sold on the need for two drummers here. If I had to choose, I'd nix the heavy hitter.

[@adenning96]

TRTS is the best.

[@mulatso7959]

So outside of the pocket it's inside somehow

[@paulapicella633]

drummer has a moog. what?

[@NOWtheband]

yes

[@moka8267]

They're multi-instrumentalists

[@MichaelLasotaWheresWaldo]

Why's everyone copying the Beatles?

[@moka8267]

Idk but they clearly havent heard Tortoise

[@ericktheroman]

enough with the fucken planes :(

[@perraccca]

That bass looks so cool

[@edmondjones6775]

Maybe they should try morrmusic. Pretty good label!

[@BootsORiley]

They run their pwn