Battleme

Battleme first appeared in the season 2 finale of Sons of Anarchy on FX Network with the song, "Burn This Town." It was a departure from the guitar heavy band Lions that Drenik fronted.{{cite web|title=Austin Sound |url= http://www.austinsound.net/2010/02/05/mp3-lions-no-time-for-blood/|work=No Time For Blood|publisher=Austin Sound|accessdate=5 February 2010}} These spurts of lo-fi acoustic folk produced numerous songs that began to see Drenik breaking away from the heavy psychedelic outfits he had previously played in, one of which "No Time For Blood" was featured on NPR's KUT "Song of the Day."{{cite web|title=Song of the Day|url=http://www.explodinginsound.com/2010/02/battlemes-no-time-for-blood-kuts-song.html|work=No Time For Blood|publisher=Exploding in Sound|accessdate=2 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221203831/http://www.explodinginsound.com/2010/02/battlemes-no-time-for-blood-kuts-song.html|archive-date=2010-02-21|url-status=dead}}

In the summer of 2010, Drenik relocated to Portland, Oregon to solely focus on the project. He built a studio in the basement of his house and began recording the demos of what would become Battleme's self-titled debut full length. After tracking over 40 songs, the record was narrowed down to 10 and sent out. Thomas Turner of Ghostland Observatory responded and signed Drenik to his Trashy Moped Recordings label. The two began working on the final version of the record in the fall of 2010 with Turner producing. In conjunction to working on the full-length record, Drenik released a quieter solo EP, Big Score, on his own imprint Get Loud. The record consisted of six previously recorded concrete folk numbers.{{cite web|title=Austin Sound |url=http://www.austinsound.net/2010/11/04/mp3-battleme-i-got-fire/|work=Battleme I Got Fire|publisher=Austin Sound|accessdate=4 November 2010}}

On March 8, 2012, the video for Battleme single "Touch" made its premiere on MTV Buzzworthy.{{cite web|title=MTV Buzzworthy |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2300437/battleme-touch-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426055756/http://www.mtv.com/news/2300437/battleme-touch-video/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 26, 2016|work=Video Premiere : Battleme 'Touch' |publisher=MTV |accessdate=8 March 2012}}

That same year, the band also appeared at Music Fest NW (Portland, OR), Capitol Hill Block Party (Seattle, WA), SXSW (Austin, Texas) and Lobster Fest (LA, CA) in 2012.

Several Battleme songs appeared in Sons of Anarchy season 3, including a cover version of Neil Young's "Hey Hey, My My," which has received over 50 million YouTube views and an assortment of remixes by the likes of Stefan Biniak and others.{{cite web|title=Stefan Biniak - The Johnny Rotten Bootleg |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKC26EzheX8|work=Video | date=2 December 2012 |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=2 December 2012}} Battleme's collaboration with Bob Thiele (Sons of Anarchy, The Forest Rangers) on songs "Time" and "Lights" was released on November 19, 2012, on the Sons of Anarchy Volume II soundtrack via Columbia Records. On December 6, 2012, Esquire picked the Battleme / Thiele collaboration "Lights" as one of the 10 Best Songs of the Week, stating, "Because if the Flaming Lips had written an original song for their Dark Side of the Moon live shows, this is what it might've sounded like.".{{cite web|title=Esquire|url=http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/g1343/songs-of-the-week-prince/?slide=7/|work=Songs of the Week| date=3 December 2012 |publisher=Esquire}} Drenik began appearing with The Forest Rangers on multiple original cuts for the show. He remained working with them through 7 seasons of the series.

In the spring of 2013, Drenik left Trashy Moped Recordings and signed with El Camino Media, an LA imprint headed by former EMI VP of Publishing Matt Messer. He went into the studio in April to work on his 2nd full-length album with producer Doug Boehm (Girls, Guided By Voices, Tokyo Police Club).{{cite web|title=Stunt Company|url=http://stuntcompany.com/battleme-1/|work=Battleme|publisher=Stunt Company}} The record was released to positive reviews with American Songwriter stating, "a timeless collection of rock anthems."{{cite web|title=American Songwriter|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2014/07/writers-room-us-vs/|work=Battleme|date=2 July 2014 |publisher=American Songwriter}}

The video for the first single, "Just Weight", premiered on Filter.

In the spring of 2014, Battleme toured the US in support of Future Runs Magnetic, opening for The Toadies and The Supersuckers on three US legs. That summer, Battleme opened for Veruca Salt for 10 shows on the Midwest and East Coast legs of the tour.{{cite web|title=BATTLEME ON TOUR WITH VERUCA SALT IN JULY! |url=http://battleme.tv/battleme-on-tour-with-veruca-salt-in-july/ |website=battleme.tv |accessdate=19 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727234837/http://battleme.tv/battleme-on-tour-with-veruca-salt-in-july/ |archivedate=27 July 2014 }}

On October 29, 2015, Billboard premiered the first track, "Shake Shake", off Battleme's upcoming record Habitual Love Songs. The record was released on January 15, 2016, via El Camino Media.{{cite web|title=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6745964/battleme-shake-shake-video-premiere-habitual-love-songs|work=Battleme Premieres "Shake Shake"|publisher=Billboard |accessdate=29 October 2015}} On December 19, 2015, the track was featured on Seattle's KEXP as "Song of the Day".{{cite web|title=Song of the Day: Battleme - Shake Shake |url=http://blog.kexp.org/2015/12/18/song-of-the-day-battleme-shake-shake/ |website= kexp.org|accessdate=18 December 2015}}

In January 2016, "Habitual Love Songs" was released to positive reviews, with Relix noting, "From the driving riff and disaffected vocals of 'Shake Shake' to the jangly Wilco-sequel country sheen of 'Back To You', Battleme delivers something for everyone." The album premiered on BlackBook that same month, with the blog stating it's "full of sexually charged, slithery, Stones-like blues rockers."{{cite web|title=BlackBook Premieres: Battleme's Habitual Love Songs | url=http://bbook.com/national/blackbook-premiere-battlemes-habitual-love-songs/

|work=Battleme |publisher=BlackBook |accessdate=January 14, 2016}}

In October 2016, Drenik's full band embarked on a headlining tour of Europe, ending with five live appearances in Greece. The shows were well received, with a number of show reviews, like Greece's FeelA RockA, concluding, "Without exaggeration, this is one of the best live performance I have attended. Battleme reached the bar sky high, earning full respect from the audience."{{cite web|title= Ανταπόκριση: BATTLEME - Drunken Gramophone, Κύτταρο, 04/11/2016 | url=https://www.feelarocka.com/2016/11/feela-rocka-webzine-battleme.html

|work=Battleme Live on Kyttaro |publisher=FeelA RockA |accessdate=11 November 2016}}

In November 2016, Drenik announced via his website that a live, solo EP was slated to be released in January 2017 via El Camino Media. The four song set was recorded at the Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas on May 3, 2014, and includes a live version of "Burn This Town", originally featured on the Sons of Anarchy Volume 2 Soundtrack.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/battlemeatx|title=Battleme {{!}} Facebook|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=30 November 2016}} In February 2017, Drenik embarked on a European solo tour playing select shows in Italy and Portugal.{{Cite web|url=http://www.musiccoasttocoast.it/battleme-web-interview/|title=Battleme {{!}} Music Coast to Coast|website=www.musiccoasttocoast.it|access-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911024100/http://www.musiccoasttocoast.it/battleme-web-interview/|archive-date=11 September 2017|url-status=dead}}

In June 2017, Battleme announced via multiple outlets the release of a new record, Cult Psychotica, via El Camino Media on Oct 6, 2017, along with a series of European tour dates in support.{{cite web|title=Pure Grain Audio: BATTLEME Announce "Cult Psychotica" | url=http://puregrainaudio.com/news/battleme-announce-cult-psychotica-release-date-and-european-tour-dates

|work=Battleme |publisher=Puregrainaudio |accessdate=June 22, 2017}} The album's theme was heavily influenced by the American political system and, more overtly, the outcome of the 2016 election.{{cite web|title=Indie Spotlight: BATTLEME| url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/indie-spotlight-battleme|work=Battleme |publisher=BMI.com |accessdate=October 5, 2017| date=2017-10-05}} On August 27, 2017, Classic Rock via Team Rock premiered Battleme's first UK single, "Testament" stating "Testament is the latest single and comes bearing blues-based riffage of the most swashbuckling calibre.{{cite web|title=Team Rock: Tracks of the Week | url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2017-08-25/tracks-of-the-week-new-music-and-videos-from-ghost-war-on-drugs-and-more

|work=Battleme | date=25 August 2017

|publisher=Team Rock |accessdate=August 27, 2017}} A few weeks later, Flood Magazine (US) premiered Battleme's first US single, "Hot Mess", stating "in Drenik's hands, the draining of meaning and morality from the world results in nothing less than a post-punk-powered dance party. It's the same impulse that brought us The Rapture and Franz Ferdinand in the years after 9/11, newly revved up and goosed practically to oblivion and back."{{cite web|title=Flood Magazine: PREMIERE : Battleme Descends into Post-Election Hot Mess | url=http://floodmagazine.com/46265/premiere-battleme-descends-into-the-post-election-hot-mess/

|work=Battleme |publisher=Flood Magazine |accessdate=September 6, 2017}}

On October 27, 2017, AllMusic reviewer Matt Collar hailed the record's achievement with an 8 out of 10 rating, stating "the album is a red-eyed collection of fuzzy rock anthems, all centered on Drenik's throaty, nasal-pitched sneer. What he lacks in outright vocal resonance, he makes up for with strutting rock attitude and literate, philosophical lyrics that are equal parts Lou Reed and Elliott Smith."{{cite web|title=Cult Psychotica |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cult-psychotica-mw0003102421|work=Album Review : Battleme 'Cult Psychotica' |publisher=All Music |accessdate=27 October 2017}}

In their end of the year recap for 2017, Classic Rock listed the single 'Testament' as one of the year's best picks.{{cite web|title=Party Animals and Headbangers|url=https://battleme.org/new-blog/2017/12/15/classic-rock-magazine-uk-includes-testament-on-2017-best-of-playlist|work=Best of Classic Rock Magazine|publisher=Classic Rock Magazine|accessdate=May 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517082314/https://battleme.org/new-blog/2017/12/15/classic-rock-magazine-uk-includes-testament-on-2017-best-of-playlist|archive-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=dead}}

{{BLP unsourced section|date=September 2014}}

• "Hey Hey, My My" featured on season 3 of FX Network's Sons of Anarchy finale and soundtrack
• "Dead Man" featured on season 3 of Sons of Anarchy
• "Miles Away" with Slash featured on season 3 of Sons of Anarchy
• "Burn This Town" featured on season 2 of Sons of Anarchy
• "Here With Me" featured on season 4 finale of NBC's Chuck
• "Gun" featured on season 6 of CBS's Criminal Minds
• "Killer High" featured on season 4 of Sons of Anarchy
• "Big Score" featured on season 4 of Sons of Anarchy
• "Time" featured on season 4 of Sons of Anarchy
• "Lights" featured on season 5 of Sons of Anarchy
• "Trouble" featured on season 2 of Necessary Roughness
• "Shoot the Noise, Man" featured on the soundtrack of NHL 13
• "I See Through You" featured on season 6 of "Sons of Anarchy"
• "Shoot the Noise, Man" featured on PGA Golf commercial.
• "Shoot the Noise, Man" featured on Project Almanac Film Trailer.
• "Hey Hey, My My" featured on episode 2.3 of 13 Reasons Why

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Category:Living people

Category:Musical groups from Portland, Oregon

Category:2009 establishments in Texas

Category:Musical groups established in 2009

Category:Musical groups from Austin, Texas

Category:Singer-songwriters from Oregon

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas